Student Leadership and Engagement Award

Dalton Davis is a senior professional communication major with a minor in leadership studies and a concentration in media services from Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Davis has been active in the media on campus, serving as part of the athletic production crew and as KMSU Campus News host, as well as the host of the Minot State football pregame show, “Saturday Showdown.” In addition, he works with WDAY in sports and media production, covering high school sports, and coaches both football and baseball at Minot North High School. Davis is involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Cru and runs a men’s Bible study group. He volunteers for Camp Hope, providing camp experience for children from low-income homes. Davis has been named to the President’s Honor Roll all six semesters at Minot State and received the Kevin Michael Hill and Nels and Edna Solhein scholarships. He is planning a May wedding and hopes to pursue work that genuinely makes a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

Cambry Frantsvog is a Minot native, in her senior year of the nursing program. She is a member of the Nursing Student Association and served as the director of community health for the organization.  Frantsvog has also been a peer mentor for the First Year Experience at Minot State. In the community, she has organized the Henry Towers food and personal hygiene drive, the Powers Lake Transition and Teens Night Out Holiday Drive, blood pressure screenings, and bone marrow donation awareness events.  Frantsvog is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Society of Nursing and a recipient of the Minot State Nursing Leadership Award. She has also received the Trinity Health Foundation Nursing scholarship twice and the Emma L. Misner Nursing Scholarship twice. She has been named to the President’s List and the Vice President for Academic Affairs Honor Roll. Frantsvog was recently hired as a pediatric RN at Trinity Health and hopes to eventually earn her doctorate to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.

Mateo Segundo Funes is a senior double major in international business and business entrepreneurship with a minor in leadership studies from Vigo, Spain. He is a member of Minot State's men’s soccer team and is its social media manager. He has also been involved on campus as an athletics hospitality intern and a member of the Entrepreneurship Club and Leadership Club. Funes has volunteered at Edson Elementary School as a morning greeter and at Longfellow Elementary School as a game night volunteer. He is the recipient of the Severson Entrepreneurship Scholarship and the Roger and Ann Looyenga Scholarship. In addition to Spain and the United States, Funes has lived in Portugal, Brazil, and Argentina, and is fluent in three languages. He hopes to begin his career working for a multinational corporation to gain experience before launching his own sustainable and innovative enterprises that positively impacts surrounding communities.

Peyton Halverson is a senior nursing major from Clermont, Iowa, who was named the 2026 Minot State Nursing Student of the Year. His presentation, “Man Enough to Nurse: Breaking Barriers in Health Care” was presented at the spring 2025 MSU Nursing Scholarship Day. Halverson was a resident assistant and participated as a member of the men’s cross-country and track teams. He serves as treasurer for the Nursing Student Association at Minot State and as the co-director of publicity and communications at the state level. He volunteers with Trunk or Treat at Grace Lutheran Church, the Walk to Support Alzheimer’s, and the Point in Time Count of the homeless population through Souris Valley United Way.  He also volunteers as an EMT in his hometown during breaks. Halverson has been the recipient of the Gunnar Solberg Nursing Scholarship, the Leona R. Rubbelke Scholarship, and was recently invited to join Omicron Tau, a professional nursing organization. He has been named to the President’s List every semester. Halverson plans to start his career as a nurse in the emergency room at Trinity Hospital, with future career goals of becoming a flight nurse and eventually obtaining a nurse practitioner degree in emergency medicine.

Mallory Hoogensen is a senior physical education major and coaching minor from Ankeny, Iowa.  Hoogensen is a member of the Minot State softball team, has served as president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and was a representative on the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference SAAC. She is also a member of the Athletic Advisory Council and has been a research assistant in kinesiology. In 2024, Hoogensen was selected to attend the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum. In the community, she has participated in fundraising and donation drives for the Domestic Violence Center and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She was the recipient of the NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award, the Easton/NFCA All-American College Athlete, the PE Major for the Year SHAPE America, the Larson Leadership Scholarship, the Don and Joyce Anderson Scholarship, and the Jeff and Tammy Risk Scholarship. Hoogensen plans to attend Minnesota State University – Mankato for a graduate degree in sports management where she will serve as the graduate assistant for event operations and promotions, with the ultimate goal of becoming an athletic director.

Jersey Nadine Johnson is a Minot native in her senior year, earning a degree in general studies with minors in deaf and hard of hearing and leadership studies.  On campus, Johnson has been involved with the Student Government Association, Lutheran Campus Ministries, the Leadership Scholars program, the Leadership Club, the FYE peer mentor program, Future Business Leaders of America, and as an orientation leader. In the community, she has been involved with the development of Citizens Alley and worked with the Minot Hockey Boosters 12 and under girl’s hockey team as a dryland coach. She was named Miss Norsk Hostfest in 2024. Johnson was “discovered” by Katy Perry and invited to compete on American Idol and has continued to volunteer her musical talents for Community Rocks, raising money for charities. She has received several scholarships, including the Edson and Margaret Larson Leadership Scholarship, the Langemo Family Scholarship, the College of Business Scholarship, the Dr. Richard Schlapman Scholarship, the Grant and Ruth Norem Scholarship, and the Gertrude M. Eck Scholarship.  Johnson hopes to follow her dream of a career in music. She also hopes to obtain a master’s degree in leadership and continue her passion for community involvement to make Minot a better community for all its residents.

Mason Lemer is a senior professional chemistry major with a minor in mathematics and a concentration in physics from Drake. He has presented his research, “Rapid Synthesis of N-[1-(4-bromophenyl) ethyl]-N-methyl formamide,” at several poster sessions, symposiums, conferences, and meetings, and will present at the 2026 National ACS meeting in Atlanta. He is a member of Future Business Leaders of America, where he has served as local vice president and president, as well as state president. He is also a member of the Science Club and the vice president of the Trap Shooting Club. Lemer is currently serving as the vice president of the MSU Local American Chemical Society Student Chapter. He plays saxophone for the Minot Community Concert Band and is part of the Drake-Anamoose High School Business Advisory Council. Among his many scholarships are the Gerald L. Lamoureux Chemistry Scholarship, the Basin Electric Cooperative Scholarship, the Verendrye Electric Scholarship, and the Glenn Bonness Scholarship. Lemer plans to attend graduate school to pursue a doctorate in chemistry and is considering a career as a university professor or as a chemist in an industrial lab.

Krista Permentier is a senior professional chemistry major from Minot with a minor in non-teaching mathematics and concentrations in honors and leadership studies. Her current research is “Morphologically Controlled Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Light Emitting Diode Radiation LED.” Among her many scholarships are the UND Aerospace Scholarship, the J. Spencer Overholzer Scholarship, the Gerald L. Lamoureux Chemistry Scholarship, and the Phillip and Barbara Fallis Scholarship. On campus, Permentier has been involved with MSU Life and the Lutheran Campus Ministry, including one term as treasurer; served as a First-Year Experience peer mentor for three years; represented Minot State on the North Dakota Student Association; and was recently elected president of the Student Government Association. She has also been involved with Special Olympics, coaching youth basketball for the past eight seasons. Permentier hopes to attend graduate school for pharmacy with the intent to become a hospital pharmacist while maintaining her active participation with Special Olympics.

Nicole Reeves is a senior from Anaheim, California, majoring in special education. She has been a four-year participant on both the track & field and cross-country teams and was named to the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence each year, as well as the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team and the Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award. Reeves has been a senator and vice president for internal affairs for the Student Government Association, a member of MSU Life, and a member of Cru. She has served on the Diversity Council, the Commencement Committee, the Wellness Committee, and as an ASTEP mentor. Reeves has been named to the President’s List each semester and has received the Tim and Kathy Peil Scholarship and the SPED Bush Workforce Grant. She plans to attend graduate school at Minot State in special education and hopes to work as a special education teacher to make a difference in students’ lives and prepare them for a successful future.

Nathan Sagsveen is a senior music education major from Bismarck. He was a member of the Virginia Geesaman Chamber Music Internship Program and served as both vice president and president of the MSU student chapter of the National Association for Music Education. Sagsveen has been the student representative on the Minot Symphony Orchestra board for the past two years, and has been part of the community performance of Handel’s “Messiah” for the past three years, most recently as a soloist. He is also a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, and the North Dakota Music Educators Association. Sagsveen has received the Mary Lou Soukup Music Education Scholarship, the Minot Symphony League Scholarship, and the Bert Skakoon String Scholarship. In addition, he has earned the rank of Eagle Scout through the Boy Scouts of America. After graduating from Minot State, Sagsveen hopes to begin his career teaching in North Dakota, eventually teaching middle school/high school orchestra and earning a master’s degree in music education or educational leadership.

Kyle Sandy is a junior from Velva majoring in physical education with a minor in business management and a concentration in leadership studies. He is an active member of the Future Business Leaders of America, having represented Minot State in numerous competitions and bringing home several trophies.  He currently serves as a vice president for the North Dakota Collegiate FBLA. Sandy has received numerous scholarships, including the Edson and Margaret Larson Leadership Scholarship, National FBLA NLC Scholarship, the ND Career Builder Scholarship, and the Don and Joyce Anderson Scholarship.  He works at the Wellness Center and also officiates both basketball and football at the junior high and high school level. He has also been an MSU orientation leader for the past three years. Sandy hopes to eventually obtain a master’s degree in education or management, secure a position as a physical education teacher, and eventually work his way up to athletic director at the high school level.

Sierra Schramm is a junior majoring in social work with a concentration in leadership studies. She is from Park River and currently has a 4.0 grade point average. She is a member of the Student Social Work Organization, having previously served as treasurer and currently as president. Schramm is also active in Cru and serves as a tour guide and peer tutor on campus. In the community, she has been a volunteer helper with Sunday school, the Salvation Army food pantry, Camp Hope, and is currently collecting funds and hygiene products for the homeless community. Schramm has received numerous scholarships, including the Roger Looyenga Scholarship, the P.E.O. Sisterhood Scholarship, the American Legion Scholarship, and the Jane Taylor Scholarship. She has been named to the President’s List every semester and is currently completing research on the use of virtual reality and its effect on mental health. In the future, Schramm hopes to continue her education or enter the social work field, with consideration for family social work or family counseling as a possible end goal, but mainly hopes to serve and support others.

Megan Swenson is a junior business education major with concentrations in marketing education and accounting from Minot. She holds a 4.0 grade point average and has been named to the President’s List every semester. Her campus involvement includes MSU Life, Future Business Leaders of America, Entrepreneurship Club, Accounting Club, Cru, and working at the Wellness Center. She is the afterschool program coordinator for Our Redeemer’s Christian School, where she has previously served as a junior high volleyball coach, tutor, and junior high art aide. Swenson is also a Bible study leader and an Edgewood Vista volunteer. Her scholarships include the Yvonne Schultz Scholarship, the Severson Entrepreneurship Scholarship, and the Adelaide & Eleanor Johnson Scholarship. Following her graduation from Minot State, Swenson hopes to teach in the Minot area while working toward a master’s degree and staying active in women’s ministry. She can envision a future where she teaches and advises at Minot State, helping students explore their career goals.

Emma Mae Taylor is a junior business education major from Tioga with a concentration in accounting and marketing education. Taylor has interned with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and volunteered as a student lead for NODAKON. She has also been involved with the Future Business Leaders of America, serving as the collegiate state vice president. Taylor is also active with MSU Life and the Honors Advisory Council. She is the recipient of numerous scholarships, including the Dilland Family Scholarship, the Robert and Ilze Sando Scholarship, the Roger Mergenthal Scholarship, and the Adelaide Johnson Scholarship. Taylor has completed the Emerging Leaders Program and has been named to the President’s List each semester. Upon graduating, she hopes to teach at a local high school while pursuing a master’s degree and eventually teaching at the college level.

Sara Van Wickler is a senior psychology major with a minor in addiction studies and a concentration in leadership studies from Scottsdale, Arizona. She has served as a research assistant in the memory and emotion lab and in the digital cognition lab and has presented research at the MERWA Conference, the Northern Lights Psychology Conference, and the Esports Research Network Conference, among others. Van Wickler published her research, “From Courts to Computers: Collegiate Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Fair Play and Competition in Esports and Traditional Athletics,” in the Journal of Electronic Gaming. She is a member of the Psychology and Addiction Studies Club and has served as secretary and vice president for the organization. Van Wickler is also a member of the Minot State softball team and has received the NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic Award with Distinction and the Ms. Beaver Award from Minot State. She has been active with the Student Government Association and with MSU Life, serving as the entertainment coordinator. Van Wickler plans to attend Arizona State University to obtain a master’s degree in forensic psychology. Her career goal is to be a criminal forensic psychologist working with lawyers and the court system.