Vanitha Gopalan
Novi,MI
Master of Science
A Message from the Chair
On your graduation day, the BIT faculty congratulate you. You have missed family gatherings, postponed vacations, put in many long nights, participated in many team meetings, wrote many papers, and most importantly gained new knowledge. Take that new knowledge and do great things. Congratulations to you. Be proud of your accomplishment! You made it!
— Dr. Lori Willoughby, Information Systems Chair
Sara Medalen
Inspirational Message, 2020 MPS & ND Teacher of the Year
Sara Medalen believes teachers make the world a better place one child at a time. As a reading and math interventionist at Sunnyside Elementary School in Minot, Medalen gives students the hope and tools they need to overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams.
Her belief that positive change starts with children led to her developing programs that strengthen academics and empower students as learners and change-makers. Medalen started the Girl Power program, which promotes global literacy and empowers girls to make a positive difference for themselves and others. Medalen's Books & Braids program, which combines the development of relationships and reading skills, has earned widespread recognition and was featured on the CBS national news.
Medalen's pursuit of helping students succeed extends beyond the classroom. She is a mentor for Companions for Children, a mentoring organization, and BioGirls which builds life skills through positive mentoring and physical fitness. In addition, you will likely see Medalen riding a mobile library bicycle or driving an ice cream truck through her students' neighborhoods to promote reading.
Medalen is a 28-year teaching veteran and was named the 2020 North Dakota Teacher of the Year. Most recently she received national recognition, receiving the Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence. Medalen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education and deaf education and a Master of Science degree in special education from Minot State University.
A Message from the Alumni Association
Minot State University Class of 2020 and 2021, on behalf of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, I enthusiastically congratulate you on this momentous accomplishment.
Over the past several years, you have been students at Minot State University. For the rest of your lives, you will be Minot State University Alumni. The MSU alumni community is filled with over 26,000 people worldwide who can be an invaluable resource to you from this day forward.
We encourage you to stay engaged, we hope that you will stay connected, and I am very excited to say to all of you, "Congratulations, MSU Alumni!"
— Janna McKechnie, Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving
