2022 Student Leadership and Engagement Awards

Lafayette Bade is junior from Elk River, Minnesota pursuing a major in corporate fitness and wellness management and an honors concentration. He boasts a 3.96 cumulative grade point average and is a member of the football and wrestling teams and has been named to the All-Academic Team in both sports twice. He serves on the Leadership Council for football and is active in the Kinesiology Club and Severson Entrepreneurship Club. He has participated in the Emerging Leaders Program and serves as a high school and youth wrestling program coach at Des Lacs Burlington. He has completed numerous hours of volunteer work with the Minot State football team. Bade plans to complete his bachelor’s degree in Fall 2022 and begin a master’s program in sports management with the eventual goal of opening his own athletic performance gym.

Minot native Benjamin Bohl is a finance major with a 3.86 cumulative grade point average. A member of the Minot State basketball team since 2019, he has participated in team service projects including reading to students at Our Redeemer’s Christian School and working at the Class B State Basketball Tournament. Bohl has also volunteered at Little Flower Parish and the McKinley Elementary School CLC program, and he has painted park benches at Oak Park. Bohl has served as a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative and is a member of the Severson Entrepreneurship Club. He is a recipient of the Beaver Booster Athletic Scholarship, Douglas J. Jaeger Memorial Basketball Scholarship, Edson and Margaret Larson Scholarship, Yvonne Schultz Scholarship, Herb Parker-Parker Men Scholarship, and the Emerging Scholars Award. Bohl hopes to complete his studies and athletic career at Minot State University before pursuing a career in the business field.

A biology major from Bozeman, Montana, Spencer Gordon currently holds a 3.80 cumulative grade point average, a minor in chemistry, and a concentration in physical science. He has taken an active role in the Science Club and has directed the Science Open House, as well as provided outreach to local schools by bringing science to children in fun and exciting ways. Gordon is a member of the Minot State football team and was named Offensive Scout of the Year. He is a member of the team’s Leadership Council and has assisted with youth summer football camps. In addition, he is part of the Pace Setters and a recipient of the Volunteering Hospital Scholarship, awarded for 100+ volunteer hours. He has been named to the President’s List four times and the Vice President for Academic Affairs Honor Roll twice. His ultimate goal is to attend medical school.

Mary Goroski, from Wahpeton, is a percussionist with the Minot State concert and marching bands and has served as treasurer for the MSU Percussive Arts Club. She has performed in pep band for all home football games and marched in Homecoming parades. In addition, she has been involved with the MSU Percussion Ensemble. Goroski has been active with 4-H, serving as the state fair co-chair and ambassador overall for the organization, and is a member of Chi Alpha. She is an elementary education major with a 3.96 cumulative grade point average and hopes to teach in an elementary classroom and pursue an advanced degree in the field of education.

Philip Green has made quite an impact creating, producing, and hosting a mental health awareness podcast, “Mental Game,” for student-athletes on campus. He has volunteered for Dream Catchers softball games for kids with disabilities and has served as a right-hand man for Miss Amazing, a beauty pageant for girls with disabilities. He is a member of the Minot State football team and the StudentAthlete Advisory Committee, and he was involved with their NSIC It’s a Slam Dunk Don’t Drive Drunk and Make-a-Wish campaigns. Green was named to the 2021 AFCA Allstate Good Works Team and the Scheels and United Community Bank Community Athlete Spotlight. He is a professional communication major with concentrations in media services, sportscasting, and honors with a 3.88 cumulative grade point average. He has served as a host for the KMSU Auction and as sports editor for the Red and Green campus newspaper. He hopes to pursue master’s degrees in sports and business management and eventually pursue a career in the television side of sports. He hails from Parker, Colorado.

Jacob Jensen, from Belcourt, is a computer science and cybersecurity major with a minor in mathematics and a concentration in honors; he has a 3.95 cumulative grade point average. Jensen has been a standout member of the Minot State cross country and track & field teams and was recognized with an NSIC Elite 18 Award in 2020 and 2021; named to the NSIC Academic Team of Excellence in 2020 and 2021 for cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field; and named an NCAA Academic All-American in cross country and indoor track & field. He is a member of the Computer Science Club and the Robotics Team, volunteers at Souris Valley Animal Shelter and Medicine Moon Run, and is a Belcourt Youth Activities Program Mentor. He was recognized as the Mentor of the Year for his efforts. He has received the UND Aerospace Scholarship, Gordon R. Olson Applied Math Scholarship, and Robert L. Holmen Scholarship. Following graduation, Jensen hopes to pursue a career in computer science and help his hometown community.

Alayzia McLeod is majoring in individualized studies in Spanish language and pre-medical sciences and has a 3.60 cumulative grade point average. She has been actively involved with Campus Players, including lead roles in several productions. In addition, she has been involved with the MSU marching and concert bands, choir, and the MSU Singers. She is an honors student who is active in Honors Society and currently serves as president. She completed the Emerging Leaders Program and is a peer mentor and tutor in the POWER Center. She volunteers annually at the Minot Area Homeless Coalition, packing backpacks for students in need. McLeod is the recipient of the Father Chris B. Walter Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award, the MSU Diversity Award, and the Wuttke Scholarship. She plans to attend graduate school to become a naturopathic doctor with a focus in natural skincare, with an overall career goal to improve the quality of life for individuals in need of a different approach to their health. She is from Minot.

Alicia Murillo is majoring in communication sciences and disorders with a concentration in deaf studies. She is from Corning, California and carries a 3.91 cumulative grade point average. Murillo competes for the cross country and track & field teams and has been named to the NSIC Academic Team of Excellence three times. As a part of those teams, she has participated in the For Belle’s Sake Rescue 5K race and helped execute the Minot State 5K Fun Run. She has served as a cross country camp organizer for third to sixth graders in Belcourt and has volunteered her time at the Souris Valley Animal Shelter. In addition, she is a member of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, a student ambassador, and a Minot State tour guide. After obtaining a graduate degree, she plans to begin a career as a speech-language pathologist, focusing on children who are deaf, hard of hearing, and have special needs.

Minot native Sydney Nelson is an elementary education major with a 3.86 cumulative grade point average. She was involved in Students of North Dakota United for three years, winning Most Active Member in 2021. As part of the group, she was involved in collecting books for elementary school children. She has volunteered as a nursery caregiver and in soup kitchens. Nelson has been named to the President’s List the past four semesters and is a recipient of the Gertrude M. “Tillie” Eck Scholarship and North Dakota Dual Credit Scholarship. She is excited to become an elementary teacher and start her career making a difference in the lives of students.

Monica Okopal is in the nursing program and has a cumulative grade point average of 3.92. She is a member of the Minot State University Nurses Association. In addition, Okopal is a member of the women’s cross country and track & field teams. She has served as a representative on the Diversity and Inclusion Council and participated in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Focus Group. She received the 2022 NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award and the 2021 Fall All-Academic Team of Excellence for women’s cross country. She has received the Hugh Family Scholarship, Hot August Nights Scholarship, and the Dean & Gloria Smith Foundation Scholarship. She also received recognition as the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows 2018 Youth of the Year, the 2019 Nevada State Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Club of America, and the 2019 National Money Matters Ambassador for the Boys & Girls Club of America. Okopal hopes to become a registered nurse in the specialties of pediatrics and labor and delivery, with plans to eventually pursue a master’s degree in nursing or become a licensed nurse practitioner. She is from Reno, Nevada.

Praise Osagioduwa Okunbor is a nursing major with a 3.79 cumulative grade point average from Edo, Nigeria. She is currently a Student Government Association senator representing the College of Education and Health Sciences and a member of the National Student Nurses Association. She is also a resident assistant, student ambassador, staff writer for the Red and Green, and a member of the North Dakota Student Nurses Association and the Minot State Nursing Student Association. She is involved with Project Bee and an after-school learning program at the Community Learning Center. She was named the Academic Support Center Student of the Month in 2021. She received the Frank and Peggy Linha Scholarship, Joan Love Christianson Nursing Scholarship, and the Trinity Health Foundation Nursing Scholarship. Okunbor hopes to become licensed and practice as a registered nurse and complete specialized training as a sexual assault nurse examiner, combining her interest in medical forensics with her desire to support a sensitive population. She also hopes to continue her investment in legislative matters relating to healthcare and support the improvement of care in her community and obtain a Master of Science in Nursing.

Favour Ozordi is pursuing a degree in energy economics and finance with a minor in applied statistics and has a 3.86 cumulative grade point average. She currently serves as president of DECA and has twice been named a DECA Competitive Event Champion, in 2021 for Fashion Merchandizing and Marketing, and in 2022 for Entrepreneurship, finishing in the top 10 in the world. In addition, she has been involved as a Minot State University delegate to the North Dakota Student Association, a Student Government Association senator, member of the Residence Hall Association, treasurer of the International Student Association, and an Orientation leader. She is a mathematics research assistant using SARIMA models to measure the seasonality of rainfall in Minot and an economics research assistant researching factors that lead to the adoption of mobile banking. She has also been a peer mentor for ASTEP (Advancing Students Toward Education and Employment Program), assisting students with intellectual disabilities. Ozordi served as the marketing officer for MAPS Awareness for Mental Health and Substance Abuse in Minot. She has been named to the President’s List and the Engagement Honor Roll, and she received the Distinguished Achievement Award in Economics. Ozordi will be starting a master’s program in economics this fall with a focus on financial economics, investment banking, and fiscal policy. She envisions working with international organizations, where she hopes to contribute knowledge that will lead to policies that impact economies.

Zoya Robbins is a criminal justice major specializing in offenders, risk assessment, and corrections from Aurora, Colorado. She is a member of the Minot State University softball team and serves as the social media manager for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She is president of the Minot State Diversity and Inclusion Council and has been involved with MSU Equality and MSU Pride. She has volunteered with the softball team working in a soup kitchen and has also volunteered with Norsk Hostfest, the North Dakota State Fair, and the Sawyer Haunted House. Robbins is recipient of the Beaver Booster Athletics Scholarship and the Kathy and Tim Pell Scholarship and has been named to the Vice President for Academic Affairs Honor Roll. Following graduation, she plans to travel and play softball in the Czech Republic before pursuing work at a correctional facility as a corrections officer with women or juveniles. She also plans on building her social media platform and sharing her life with anyone who wants to see.

Christopher Scott is a chemistry major with a mathematics minor from Minot. He has been involved in the Residence Hall Association and served as the organization president and has been an Orientation leader, student ambassador, tour guide, and MSU Life member. As a member of the Student Government Association, Scott has been the student representative to the Faculty Senate and championed the S/U grading scale during the pandemic, semester parking passes, sustainability initiatives, Student Center renovation, and the Green Bandana Project. He was elected vice president of state affairs and has been active with the North Dakota Student Association serving that organization as chief administrator and Civic Engagement Task Force vice chair. In addition, he has been involved with the Science Club and has been named to the Vice President for Academic Affairs Honor Roll. He hopes to pursue an advanced degree in physics with the goal of a career in astrophysics or in the space industry, perhaps with NASA or Space X as a scientist or space policy advocate.

With a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average, Amber Stevahn is a biology major with a minor in chemistry and a concentration in physical science from Bismarck who also manages to compete on both the basketball and track & field teams. She has scored more than 2,000 points in basketball and was named First Team All-Conference. She is a tutor in organic chemistry and is a member of Cru. She participated in a Cru mission trip to Dallas, Texas to work with refugees. She has volunteered with several soup kitchens and coached at MSU basketball camps. Stevahn has received numerous scholarships including the Beaver Boosters Athletic Scholarship, North Dakota Academic Scholarship, Hites Family Foundation Scholarship, and the Rose Morgan Science Scholarship. She plans to pursue a graduate degree pairing chiropractic with naturopathic medicine to heal the body both chemically and physically by helping people to change their lifestyle and heal naturally.

Tanner Thompson, an accounting major, has been an active member of Phi Beta Lambda, serving as chapter vice president for two years, state president for 2021-22, and state vice president of operations from 2020-21. He has received two national first-place awards for report writing for Phi Beta Lambda and has also won numerous state awards. He is a member of the Student Government Association, serving as the College of Business representative, and a member of the Accounting Club. Thompson has been named to the Vice President for Academic Affairs Honor Roll and the Engagement Honor Roll. He is a board member for the Ray Opera House Museum Society in Ray. In his role as foundation, marketing, and strategic planning director for Mountrail Health Center in Stanley, he has won over $100,000 in grants for the facility. He is considering attending graduate school as well as pursuing his nursing home administrator license. His areas of interests include business, law, and healthcare administration.

Rhonda Weninger, from Velva, is an art education major with a cumulative grade point average of 3.61. She has been an active volunteer with NOTSTOCK and POTSTOCK, though she admits she has not been as involved on campus as she would like due to raising two teenage daughters as a single mom. She is a 4-H leader with Balfour Roughrider 4-H Club, which has led her to clean ditches and be involved with Operation Christmas Child, a food pantry program, and a Community Mask Awareness and Decoration Contest. She has been named to the President’s List and won several scholarships including the Glenn Bonness Scholarship, Harvey and Arlone Twyman Scholarship, Art Department Endowment Scholarship, Gertrude M. “Tillie” Eck Scholarship, Wilhelmina Thompson Scholarship, and the Frank and Peggy Linha Scholarship. She also received a merit award in the Northwest Art Center Juried Student Show. Her career goals include obtaining a teaching position in the Minot area and continuing her education to teach at the collegiate level. Eventually, Weninger would like to own a store front business where she can combine her love of teaching and art.

Jane Wunderlich is a professional communication major with concentrations in media services, communication arts speech, social media, and marketing. She carries a 3.88 cumulative grade point average and hails from Perham, Minnesota. She is the social media director for the Red and Green and a member of the women’s basketball team. She is currently the KMSU public relations and promotions manager, a member of the Media Ink Club, and a Cru student leader, helping to run Tuesday night dinner and Bible study. In 2021, she participated in a mission trip to Namibia, Africa, serving alongside the Namibians for a month during the COVID-19 pandemic. She received the NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic Award and was twice named to the President’s List. She also received the Broadcasting Auction Scholarship and the Beaver Boosters Athletics Scholarship. Wunderlich is still not certain what her career path might look like, but she is excited by the unknown. She hopes that her future involves travel and exploring all the possible careers available to her.