Minot State University Department of Nursing, in partnership with Trinity Health, held its White Coat Ceremony for incoming 2021-22 students Aug. 24 at Ann Nicole Nelson Hall.

The White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage to emphasize the importance of compassionate patient care at the very start of training. This was the first-ever White Coat Ceremony at MSU.

“After meeting the designated criteria set, the Department of Nursing was awarded a small grant to host the White Coat Ceremony. The grant is an excellent opportunity for nursing programs to highlight the importance of nursing excellence,” said April Warren, MSU nursing department chair.

In conjunction with the Arnold P Gold Foundation/AACN grant, Trinity Health graciously agreed to sponsor the White Coach Ceremony. The sponsorship from Trinity Health covers the cost of the white coat for each nursing student.

“A white coat ceremony is symbolic of a transition or commitment to the nursing profession. It is a rite of passage — a visual reminder of a commitment to hold the nursing profession in high regard, a student’s obligation to a life of service and learning, and passion for what it means to answer the calling to be a nurse,” said Karen Zimmerman, chief nursing officer / vice president for patient care services at Trinity Health. “It is also a visual reminder of the partnership between MSU and Trinity Health. With both of our names embroidered onto the lab coat, it shows our commitment to working together to grow and support the nursing profession. Our partnership has allowed us to add additional students to the MSU program and take steps to meet an increasing need for nurses.

“Our partnership also demonstrates how healthcare organizations can work with academic institutions to support students throughout their academic life and continue that support into their professional life as a nurse.”

Minot State is one of 410 universities total and 50 for the 2021-22 academic year to earn the grant from the Arnold P Gold Foundation and the AACN. MSU joined just two other North Dakota universities, North Dakota State in 2014 and the University of North Dakota in 2015, to receive the honor.

New students recited an oath with a commitment to humanistic — compassionate, collaborative, and scientifically excellent — patient care. Those students were cloaked before family and friends in the iconic white coat that signifies their status as healthcare professionals.

“The Arnold P Gold Foundation/AACN grant also provides ‘Keeping Healthcare Human’ pins for each of our incoming nursing students, which are placed on the white coat,” Warren said. “The pin welcomes each incoming nursing student to their new profession and serves as a visual reminder to deliver the best care to their patients, compassion and empathy must be the hallmark of their care."

The first White Coat Ceremony took place in 1993 at the Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons. Today, hundreds of nursing schools, nearly every medical school in the United States, and many other health profession schools around the globe participate in this tradition of humanistic care.

The Minot State University Alumni Association is pleased to announce its Homecoming Week 2021 events Oct. 6-9.

“Homecoming is always a special time for the Alumni Association and not having an event last year will make this one even better,” said Janna McKechnie, director of alumni relations and annual giving. “Our traditional events are back this year, and we are honoring the Golden Awards, Academic Hall of Fame, and Athletic Hall of Fame winners from both 2020 and 2021. We hope to see many alumni, family, and friends back for this exciting week.”

Homecoming 2021 will kick off with the President’s Club Luncheon, honoring MSU donors who have giving $1,000 or more to the University over the past year, on Wednesday, Oct. 6 at noon. Due to a large class of President’s Club members, the event will take place in the MSU Dome. MSU will also host its annual Community Block Party Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. on the Old Main lawn.

The Golden Awards dinner is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the Student Center Conference Center Thursday, Oct. 7. The 2020 award winners are Chuck Barney, Josh Duhamel, Terry (Ferebee) Eckmann ’81/’82, and John Schwan ’82, with Joseph Brewer ‘04 named the Young Alumni Award Achievement Award winner. The 2021 award winners include Les Anderson ’68, Michael LeBeau ’95, Kevin Neuharth ’74, and Arnold Strebe ’86, with Evan Meiers ’10 winning the Young Alumni Achievement Award.

Friday, Oct. 8 features the Beaver Booster Luncheon at the Minot State Dome (12 p.m.), Academic Hall of Fame at the Student Center Conference Center (3 p.m.), Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet at the Clarion Hotel (5 p.m.), Alumni & Friends Homecoming social at The Original (7 p.m.), and Minot State women’s soccer against Northern State at Herb Parker Stadium (7 p.m.).

The week will conclude with Minot State’s annual parade from downtown to Beaver Boulevard starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9. Tailgating on Beaver Boulevard will follow the parade. Minot State football will finish off the day with a clash with Minnesota State-Moorhead at Herb Parker Stadium at 2 p.m.

The week will also feature reunion socials for all 1970s grads, Sigma Tau Gamma, and the 1970 MSU football team.

For more information on Homecoming Week 2021, visit MinotStateU.edu/Homecoming.

NDPCD is happy to offer the opportunity to view the movie "Hearts of Glass" and participate in a one-hour virtual panel discussion on Tuesday, Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. or Thursday, Sept. 16 at 4 p.m. with the people who made and star in this documentary.  It is a story about people with disabilities realizing their vision of having gainful employment in a business designed to use employee strengths and gifts.  To register for the event, use the link in the INVITATION.

Please share this opportunity widely with any and all of your partners.  This is appropriate for anyone who cares about people with disabilities: self-advocates, family members, friends, advocates, teachers, and professionals. Watch the movie at home and then join one or both panel discussion sessions.  Please contact JOLENE ORLUCK with any questions.

The Wellness Center is excited to offer free virtual fitness classes to all students, faculty, and staff through June 2022. Studio SWEAT on Demand (SSOD) offers hundreds of workouts that you can stream anywhere with the app! To get access to unlimited workouts, go to this LINK and use your “minotstateu.edu” email to create your free account.

The second COVID-19 vaccination clinic for the 2021-22 school year will be held on Sept. 17 from 7:30-11 a.m. in the Conference Center, located on the third floor of the Student Center. The clinic is open to students, faculty, staff, and family members; please bring identification to the event. Future clinics will be scheduled as needed.

Northwest Arts Center
The gallery is located on the lower level of the Gordon B. Olson Library, with its own entrance on the south side of the library. The arts center is open Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 1-5 p.m., and by special arrangement. It is closed holidays.

• Me, Myself, and the Darkness: The Northwest Arts Center presents "Me, Myself, and the Darkness," an exhibition by North Dakota artist and photographer Johnathan Campbell, on view in the Walter Piehl Gallery from Aug. 3-31. As a teenager, Campbell was introduced to the basics of photography and darkroom printing by his mother. He carried that interest to the University of North Dakota where he earned a degree in visual arts in 1995. After working in the paleontology field as a fossil preparatory, a 20-year hiatus, Campbell picked up his camera again in 2014. His current primary area of expression is long exposure photography, with an emphasis on creative light painting. Campbell’s re-exploration of light manipulation often finds him as the artist and subject of his work.
• Americas 2021: All Media: From its first call for entries in 1995, each year the All Media competition has brought diverse artwork in all mediums, traditional and experimental, to our community. This year’s exhibition features 46 artworks from artists across the United States and Canada and will be on view from Aug. 13-Sept. 25 in the Walter Piehl Gallery. We are honored to have photographer and professor Zig Jackson as the juror for the Americas 2021: All Media exhibition. Jackson grew up in New Town, ND on the Fort Berthold Reservation and resides in Savannah, GA where he is a Professor of Photography at Savannah College of Art & Design. His art practice focuses on the changing way of life of both urban and reservation Indians, along with the attendant socio-political issues of Native American culture.
• Americas 2021: All Media Public Reception: A public reception is scheduled Thursday, Sept. 9 from 6:30-8 p.m. Both exhibition and reception are free and open to the public. Please see the reception event or NAC website for more details. Masks are not required, but individuals who are not fully vaccinated or deemed vulnerable are encouraged to continue to wear masks.
• Art Seminar Series: Zig Jackson: Zig Jackson will be presenting in the Art Seminar series on Friday, Sept. 10 at 12 p.m. in Aleshire Theater. Jackson grew up in New Town, ND on the Fort Berthold Reservation and resides in Savannah, GA where he is a Professor of Photography at Savannah College of Art & Design. His art practice focuses on the changing way of life of both urban and reservation Indians, along with the attendant socio-political issues of Native American culture.

Hartnett Hall Gallery
The gallery provides exhibition space for students, faculty, and community artists, and is located on the second floor on the west side of Hartnett Hall in Room 233. The Hartnett Hall Gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Flat Tail Press
Flat Tail Press is an educational printmaking studio at Minot State University. The gallery is located in the landing space on second and third floor of the Minot State Student Center, west entrance. It is open Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-12 p.m.

Emerson Eads, professor and director or choral activities, has published songs, "Love Is" and "When you are Old." The songs are now published and included in Volumes 1 & 2 of the new soprano anthologies sponsored by the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). Recordings will be forthcoming, but until then they have both been recorded and are available on Eads's YOUTUBE channel.

Christina Paxman, professional communication, published an article in Communication Studies titled “I love tater tot casserole, I just make it vegan”: Applying the Communication Theory of Identity to examine vegans’ identity management techniques.

Tate Haskins was selected as the ASC Student of the Month for July. She has contributed to the Academic Support Center’s programs most recently as a new student programs leader and has previously been a peer mentor.

Join the Academic Support Center in welcoming Erika Brorby as the Access Services coordinator. Brorby will be working with faculty, staff, and students to determine students’ eligibility for reasonable accommodations, promote self-advocacy for students with disabilities, and ensure individuals have equal access to campus programs, opportunities, and activities.

The Student Health Clinic and Counseling Services would like to welcome Kelly Dickinson, FNP to our team. Kelly will be treating student’s minor medical needs on campus. Please contact the SHC for appointments or questions at 701-858-3371.

Enrollment Services is excited to introduce its two newest admission counselors: Brett Hlebechuk and Lexi Clark. They are both Minot State alumni, former orientation leaders, and all-around great people. Hlebechuk can be reached EMAIL or at extension 3351 and Clark by EMAIL or at extension 4361.

Tiffany Pierson was named web content specialist in the marketing office. She will be responsible for the development and implementation of strategies that enhance the user experience on the Minot State website including maintenance of key pages and the creation of dynamic landing pages that support marketing campaigns.

Welcome Lauren Young as the new administrative assistant for the Divisions of Social Science and Performing Arts. Lauren will be serving both divisions follow the retirements of long-time staff members Debby Brothers on June 30 and Cheryl Kremer on Aug. 13.

Minot State welcomes new faculty for the 2021-22 academic year. New faculty include:

• Chad Williamson, Department of Biology, Assistant Professor of Biology
• Ethan Valentine, Department of Addiction Studies, Psychology, and Social Work, Assistant Professor of Psychology
• Krystal St. Peter, Department of Addiction Studies, Psychology, and Social Work, Assistant Professor of Psychology
• Penny Craven, Department of Addiction Studies, Psychology, and Social Work, Assistant Professor of School Psychology
• Emily Stephens, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Instructor of Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Shelley Bredin-Oja, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Erin Baker-Giese, Division of Social Science (Sociology), Assistant Professor of Sociology
• Daren Erisman, Department of Mathematics & Computer Science, Instructor of Computer Science
• Kyle Bittle, Department of Business Information Technology, Instructor of Management Information Systems
• Serena Pontenila, Department of Business Information Technology, Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems
• Brady McCrae, Department of Business Administration, Instructor of Marketing
• Jodee Jacobs, Department of Special Education, Assistant Professor of Special Education
• Hilory Liccini, Department of Special Education, Assistant Professor of Special Education
• Randy Conway, Severson Entrepreneurship Academy, College of Business, Director of Severson Entrepreneurship Academy