Minot State University reported its Fall 2024 enrollment as 2,751 students, a 0.4% increase over its Fall 2023 semester enrollment. 

The University saw its biggest growth area in transfer students, with a 7.1% increase and its largest fall transfer class since 2020. A total of 271 students transferred to Minot State for the fall semester, combined with 353 new freshmen and 84 new graduate students, for 708 new students attending in the fall.

Minot State’s Hometown Pride Scholarship, now in its third year, paid dividends as MSU saw a 4.6% increase in students from Ward County. Minot State’s 1,298 students from Ward County are the most since 2021.

The Minot State University Alumni Association has selected four individuals for the 2024 Golden Award and one individual for the 2024 Young Alumni Achievement Award.

The honorees include Dan Langemo, Teresa (Kraft) Loftesnes ’07/’15, Dr. Jeffrey Sather ’94, and Julie (Keller) Stavn ’76. The Young Alumni Achievement Award winner is Jazmine (Wolff) Schultz ’11.

Langemo, a Valley City native who lives in Minot, retired from First Western Bank & Trust (FWBT) in 2015. He moved to Minot in 1979 to manage Norwest Bank (now Wells Fargo) and worked for Bremer Bank before securing a position with FWBT in 1999. Active in the MSU community, he is a longtime member of Beaver Boosters, is a past chair of the MSU Board of Regents, and is currently the vice president of the MSU Development Foundation and the MSU Summer Theatre boards.

Loftesnes, from Norwich, retired in 2021 after 42 years at Minot State in various roles, including her last 14 as marketing director. Starting as a student and finishing with the energy of one, her journey is a testament to her dedication and passion for MSU. The relationships Loftesnes created and extensive volunteer work reflect her love of community and volunteerism.

After becoming a certified paramedic in Grand Forks and manager of Care Ambulance in Yakima, Washington, Sather moved back to Minot to become the clinical coordinator and transition the service to Advanced Life Support. Sather’s lifetime professional passion has been the continuing improvement of rural healthcare in the Minot Community, across the great State of North Dakota and the country.

Stavn, from Bismarck, is a former teacher and coach in the Bismarck Public Schools, earning multiple state championships and Coach of the Year awards during her 41 years in education. Stavn earned a degree in physical education with a minor in special education from MSU in 1976. Following school, she was employed as a physical education teacher in Bismarck for 36 years. She coached basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, swimming and diving, cross country, and track & field.

Schultz, originally from Burlington, is the co-owner of Prairie Sky Breads in downtown Minot. She is a 2011 graduate of MSU with degrees in theatre arts and elementary education. Schultz also spent her college years incubating all-ages, affordable arts opportunities in Minot. She serves as marketing director for MSU Summer Theatre, is the web developer for the Lord's Cupboard Food Pantry and the Retired Teachers Association of North Dakota, as well as president of The Souris Basin Foundation. She is also a board member and performer with Community Rocks.

The Golden Awards are the highest award bestowed by the Minot State University Alumni Association. Selections are based on outstanding service to the University, alumni association, or their community and distinguished leadership in the recipient’s career or community. The Young Alumni Achievement Award recipient is between the ages of 21 and 39.

The MSU Alumni Association honored the 2024 class at its annual awards dinner on Sept. 12. For more information, visit the Alumni Association WEBSITE.

The Minot State University Department of Nursing has signed an articulation agreement for guaranteed admission with Lake Region State College.

The agreement confirms all students admitted to the Lake Region State ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) program will be given the additional option of guaranteed admission into MSU’s online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Completion Program, provided all Minot State admissions and BSN Completion Program requirements are met.

Courses completed from Lake Region State College are considered equally transferable to Minot State’s BSN Completion Program, and students with an associate of arts, associate of science, or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited degree-granting institution are considered general education complete.

This partnership emphasizes the importance of a well-educated nursing workforce, which includes BSN-prepared nurses.

Through this partnership, students will be provided:

1. A clearly defined and easily understood pathway from the Lake Region State ADN Program through the Minot State BSN Completion Program
2. Continued curriculum alignment between Lake Region and Minot State
3. Early and coordinated advising between institutions and students to ensure timely completion
4. Early admission to meet the Feb. 15 deadline for Minot State general and nursing scholarships
5. A complete review of transcripts to assure credit for past academic coursework with appropriate course substitutions and equivalencies

Minot State will also provide faculty academic advisors to Lake Region State nursing students throughout their ADN program.

Minot State University inducted two new members, Vicki Michels ’88 and Jacob Schillo ’15, into the Minot State Academic Hall of Fame to represent its 2024 class. A reception ceremony honored Michels and Schillo on for Friday, Sept. 13, at the Hartnett Hall Collaboration Space on the second floor. Campus and the public were invited to honor the newest members.

The duo joins 11 other past recipients. Becky Becker ’91 and Tim Henry were the most recent members of the Academic Hall of Fame, enshrined in 2020. Veronica (Cavallo) Pinnick ’04 was inducted in 2019, Robert Hubbard ’91 in 2014, Kim Baldridge ’82 in 2013, Robert Holmen ’83/’88 and Joe Alme ’68 in 2012, and Carrie Forshner Evans ’90, Lisa Feldner ’86/’90, Delane C. Kristky ’65, and Rosanne Olson ’72 were a part of the inaugural class in 2011.

Michels received her bachelor’s degree, majoring in psychology, from Minot State University, and her doctorate from the University of Wyoming in clinical psychology. She is a licensed psychologist, professor, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Criminal Justice Chair, and the director of the Addiction Studies Program at Minot State. She was part of the team that helped establish Trinity Health Center’s outpatient behavioral health unit. Michels has served as the president of the International Coalition for Addiction Studies Education, the president of the North Dakota Board of Addiction Counselor Examiners, the chair of the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission Board of Commissioners, and the editorial board for the journal Substance Abuse. She has published research examining factors impacting post-traumatic growth, women prisoner’s mental health, and older adults’ cognitive abilities and mental health.

Schillo, a native of Iowa, served six years as a nuclear weapons specialist in the U.S. Air Force. His military service brought him to North Dakota, where, after completing his service, he pursued a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from Minot State University. During his time as an undergraduate student at Minot State, he began his cancer research career under the mentorship of Heidi Super, focusing on how chemotherapies affect DNA structure in leukemias. He then pursued a doctorate in genetics at the University of Iowa, where he developed novel genetic sequencing technologies that advance our understanding of cancer evolution. Currently, as a scientist at Yale University, Schillo is working to uncover the mechanisms driving lung cancer metastasis, developing new therapeutic regimens to combat the disease.

More information on the Minot State Academic Hall of Fame, including past winners and to nominate individuals, can be accessed ONLINE.

NOTSTOCK returned for its 17th year. For three days, guest artists shared their creativity, energy, knowledge, and artistic talents with the community inside and outside the newly renovated Hartnett Hall.

All events were free and open to the public and took place on the Minot State University campus or in downtown Minot from Sept. 19-21.

This year’s guests included three designers and printers, a ceramic artist, a poet and literary artist, and regional bands. Faculty and area organizations lead new cultural activities.

Mike Tallman specializes in creative work for the music industry with an emphasis on gig posters and album covers/packaging. He is a native of Iowa and has been a professional musician and graphic artist since graduating from the University of Iowa in 2006. Carolyn Adkins is a graphic designer, screen printer, and illustrator based in Milwaukee, WI. At Schnitzel Bear Studios, she offers marketing, art, and graphic design, event planning and promotion, and web design. Chris Gray currently operates as a partner and graphic designer at Half Hazard Press (HHP). Rooted in the heart of the Midwest in the Bloomington/Normal area of Central Illinois, Gray and his HHP co-creators enrich the local art and music community with full-service graphic design, illustration, print, and marketing for some of the biggest bands and properties in the market. 

WORDSTOCK returns with guest Erin Dorney. Her literary artwork and installations have been featured at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Hennepin Theatre Trust, the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, and Susquehanna Art Museum.

ROCKSTOCK is a new activity that connects our arts community with the arts of North Dakota’s past as participants discover and document artifacts. Students and guest scholars will have the chance to sift through soil samples from an ancient Native American quarry of Knife River flint in search of ancient artifacts, such as pottery shards, stone tool fragments, and beads, using wet screening.

Those who love theater participated in the workshop Improv & Movement led by Sarah Honerman, MSU assistant professor of theater, on Sept. 19 and 20 in Aleshire Theater, Hartnett Hall. This workshop was the perfect opportunity to learn improv tools and techniques in a fun, risk-free environment.

Minot State University will host University of North Dakota professor Prairie Public Radio podcaster Jack Russell Weinstein for multiple events on Thursday, Oct. 10, offering a philosopher’s perspective on the elections.

The day-long project is titled “Informed Citizenship and American Politics: A Day in Conversation with Public Philosopher Jack Russell Weinstein.” Weinstein will host a discussion with Minot State students in Hartnett Hall 106 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. The main event is a talk and question-and-answer session at Main Street Books from 5–6:30 p.m., titled “How to Think About the Election Like a Political Philosopher.”

Weinstein is a Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Institute for Philosophy in Public Life at UND. He hosts the public radio show and podcast “Why? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life,” now in its 17th season. More information on Weinstein and an archive of his work is available on his WEBSITE. Information on the podcast is available HERE.

The discussion and Q&A at Main Street Books is free and open to the public. For more information, see the attached FLYER or contact Sachdev by EMAIL. The event is funded by a Minot State Cultural and Intellectual Engagement Council (CIEC) grant and the MSU Department of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Interdisciplinary Studies and is presented in partnership with Humanities North Dakota. For more information on the CIEC, see their WEBSITE.

To learn more about philosophy at Minot State University, visit https://www.minotstateu.edu/philosophy/.

Get ready for a fang-tastic time this Halloween! Minot State University is thrilled to invite the community to a spine-chilling yet family-friendly Halloween Trick-or-Treat event on the third floor of the iconic MSU Dome.

Mark your calendars for Oct. 31, from 5-7 p.m., and join MSU for an evening of ghoulish fun, creative costumes, and sweet treats! Booth set-up begins at 3:30 p.m. Local businesses and student organizations should sign up for the event HERE.

This year’s Halloween celebration promises to be a monstrous success with a variety of activities and attractions for all ages. The third floor of the MSU Dome will be transformed into a haunted wonderland, featuring:

• Trick-or-Treat Stations: Wander through an array of festively decorated booths where local businesses and student organizations will be handing out treats and goodies.
• Costume Contest: Show off your Halloween spirit and creativity! Prizes will be awarded for the most original, scariest, and best group costumes.
• Photo Booth: Capture memories with themed backdrops and props in our Halloween photo booth.
• Games and Activities: Enjoy a range of spooky-themed games and crafts suitable for kids and adults alike.

For more information, contact Kevin Harmon, vice president for student affairs and intercollegiate athletics, by EMAIL or by phone at 701-858-3240.

Western Plains Opera is proud to announce Grammy-nominated duo soprano Laura Strickling and pianist Daniel Schlosberg in “American Song (R)evolution: A Journey through American Song.”

The concert is set for Sunday, Oct. 20, at 4 p.m. at Minot State’s Ann Nicole Nelson Hall. It is free and open to the public, with donations accepted for the performance.

Strickling and Schlosberg will take listeners on a journey through American art song, featuring works by masters of 20th and 21st century vocal repertoire.

They will present world premieres and favorites from their landmark 40@40 song commissioning project, accompanied by insights into the timeless art of storytelling and culture-bearing through song.

For more information or to purchase tickets, see Western Plains Opera’s WEBSITE.

The MSU DECA club has partnered with Applebee's to sell tickets for burgers at Applebee's. For only $8 receive a certificate for a handcrafted burger and fries at Applebee's ($15 value). Certificates are good until Dec. 31, 2024. The contribution from the purchase of this certificate will help the MSU DECA chapter with registration and travel to conferences and conventions. To purchase please email Megan Fixen by EMAIL or contact any DECA member.

Get ready to run for a cause! MSUWell invites you to join the Fall 5K on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at 5 p.m., to support the MSUWell Scholarship Fund. Every step taken helps students achieve their goals. Register today and make a difference while enjoying a fun-filled event.

Wee Links Parking Lot - 720 16th St SW Minot, ND 59701

• Race packet pick up on Monday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the front desk of the Minot State Wellness Center or at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, before the race at Wee Links
• $30 entry fee for community members and $20 for MSU faculty, staff, and students. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. (All proceeds go to the Minot State University Wellness Scholarship)
• First 100 to sign up receive MSU swag

Click HERE to register.

The MSU Community, alumni, and friends are welcome to join in on some fall fun at Berry Acres Pumpkin Patch on Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The MSU Alumni Association is sponsoring free entry for the first 150 people to register online. Papa Johns will provide free pizza, and MSU Staff Senate will provide dessert and hot drinks. That same evening, MSUWell is also hosting a fall 5K that starts at 5 p.m. at Wee Links and ends at Berry Acres, so families can plan accordingly if interested in both events. All proceeds from the race will go to the MSUWell Scholarship Endowment. For more information, see FLYER.

Upcoming dates for the 2024 Flu Vaccine Clinic will be as follows. The flu vaccine will be free for all enrolled students this year and continues to be free for staff and faculty that have Sanford Health Insurance, while supplies last. Staff and faculty are encouraged to provide their insurance information for billing purposes. Consent forms for students are available HERE, and consent for staff HERE. Flu vaccines can be scheduled at the SHC as well, please call 701-858-3371 for any questions. For more information see FLYER.

• Wed Oct. 2, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Student Center Atrium
• Wed Oct. 16, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Old Main Room 103
• Thu Nov. 14, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Student Center Atrium

The Cultural and Intellectual Engagement Council (CIEC) is accepting proposals for academic and cultural projects for spring 2025. Bring in a musician for workshops and performance; an artist, poet, or theologian for discussions—or work up your own project and share with the campus. Collaborations of all sorts are welcome. Application information and previously funded projects are listed on the CIEC WEBSITE. Applications are due Nov. 1.

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 on holidays.

• From the Mind of Arvin Davis’ Pop-Up Exhibition: The Northwest Arts Center presents ‘From the Mind of Arvin Davis,’ a pop-up exhibition on view for a limited time only! Come check out a selection of Davis’s works on display from Sept. 28 to Oct. 5. Arvin K. Davis Jr. offers bright colors, fine line work, powerful brushstrokes, and the intentional use of disorder to explore themes. His artistic perspective spans irreverence, issues with mental health, and social commentary.
• INT'L All Media 2024: The Northwest Arts Center is excited to host the "INT'L All Media 2024" annual juried exhibition for its 29th year. The exhibition is on view from Oct. 3 through Nov. 23 in the Walter Piehl Gallery. 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. We welcome Catherine Graffam as our juror for this year's INT'L All Media annual exhibition. Graffam is an artist and educator based in Portland, Maine. A closing reception and online viewing with the juror are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 24, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Gordon B. Olson Library Gallery
The Gordon B. Olson Library gallery is located on the main level of the library, past the circulation desk. It is open during library business hours.

• Photography Retrospective: A Creative Life: The Northwest Arts Center and Gordon B. Olson Library present selections from Rosanne Olson "Photography Retrospective: A Creative Life,” currently touring through the North Dakota Art Gallery Association. Rosanne Olson is a photographer, artist, and educator. During her 40-year career Olson has worked in multiple genres of photography — newspaper, magazine editorial, advertising, and fine art. The Northwest Arts Center is excited to bring her touring exhibition to the Gordon B. Olson Library gallery. It will be on display from Aug. 22-Oct. 12.

Hartnett Hall Gallery
The Hartnett Hall Gallery is located on the second floor of Hartnett Hall in the walkway and Collaboration Space. It is open during Hartnett Hall business hours.

• ND/SD Photo Exchange: The Northwest Arts Center and Hartnett Hall present the "ND/SD Photo Exchange," an exhibition curated by Ryan Stander and John Benasiak. As with most print exchanges, each artist represented produced enough prints for all the other artists, and a large-scale trade ensued, where each artist received one print from every other artist. Additionally, one set was given to Minot State University and the University of South Dakota for their permanent art collection and for touring exhibits. The exhibition will be on display in Hartnett Hall from Aug. 22-Oct. 12.

Alexandra Deufel, professor of biology, published the following paper: Cundall, D., Deufel, A., & Pattishall, A. (2024). How anatomy influences measurements of snakes. Journal of Morphology, 285. e21758.

Nathan Anderson and Serena Pontenila presented at Dakota Digital Academy’s North Dakota AI Conference: Being Human and Working in the Age of AI, which was held Sept. 26 at Valley City State University. Their session, “Keeping AI Out of the Shadows: Preventing its Use as Shadow Technology,” utilized the A+ Inquiry model as a frame of reference to explore shadow technology, security considerations for generative AI, and considerations for safely and securely implementing generative AI in business processes to avoid the misuse of the technology.  

Nathan Anderson and Derek Olson published a manuscript on Sept. 29 in the Journal of Transformative Learning. Their essay, "Thought Mining: Constructing Transformative Insights by Noticing and Contemplating Resonant Manifestations of the Mind," introduces thought mining as a strategy for making transformative shifts to the way a person thinks. It defines the concept of thought mining, discusses its origin, introduces three types of thought mining, proposes the CORCE (Consciousness, Observation, Resonance, Contemplation, Extraction) model as a framework for facilitating its practice, and presents a few scenarios from a CORCE perspective. 

Eric Pietrzak, an academic advisor in the Academic Support Center, has been named July’s High Five Award winner. In addition to advising, he assists with program support and assessment. When not working, he is an avid fan of hockey, retro video games, and (nearly) all things '80s. He lives in Minot with his wife, Charlotte, his son Liam (8), and daughters, Daphne (2) and Fiona (10 days!).

Debbie Mosser was named August's High Five Award winner. Mosser was first affiliated with Minot State as a private cleaning contractor. When that contract wasn't renewed, she began as an MSU employee and started in Cook Hall. She has been with Minot State for 16 years, 13 of those at Cook. Outside of MSU she and her husband like to garden, camping, and summer and winter fishing. The couple has three children and Mosser has six sisters. Family is important to her and her and her husband's families all live in Minot so they have big family get-togethers.

Kaitlyn Nieuwsma and Kallie Goodman joined the Student Health Clinic and Counseling Services Center team. Kaitlyn Nieuwsma, LBSW, is their new case manager. Her focus is assisting students in crisis situations, finding appropriate resources on campus and in the community, and prevention education events. Kallie Goodman, FNP-C is providing medical care in the clinic on a weekly basis. Kallie’s appointments are free to students. Self-scheduling is now available for clinic and counseling services, schedule HERE.

Nalu Cordeiro, Minot State’s freshman defensive back, earned him national accolades as he was named D2 Football's National Defensive Player of the Week along with Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Defensive Player of the Week. The true freshman from Honolulu, Hawaii set two school records in Minot State’s 42-9 road win at Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday, returning two interceptions for touchdowns in the win, including a 92-yard return for a score, both of which were all-time school records. Cordeiro, who now has three interceptions on the season which leads the nation, scored his first collegiate touchdown with his 92-yard touchdown return early in the second quarter and added a 29-yard return for touchdown later in the game.

Siriana Gudino, Minot State’s goalkeeper, is perfect on the young season, stopping all 10 shots she’s faced through two contests to earn Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Goalie of the Week honors on Monday. Turning aside all five shots she faced in the season opener on the road Thursday, Gudino recorded her fifth shutout at Minot State and led the Beavers to a 1-0 win over host Northwest Nazarene. She recorded shutout No. 6 as a Beaver with five more saves in a 0-0 draw with Chaminade.  

Diego Nunez-Smith, junior kicker, provided nine points and the game-winning field goal for the Minot State football team this weekend, a performance honored by the NSIC on Monday. Nunez-Smith, who kicked three field goals in the Beavers’ 17-14 comeback win over Northern State for Homecoming on Saturday, was named the NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week. The honor is the first for Nunez-Smith and the second for the Beavers. Nunez-Smith got the Beavers on the board in the final seconds of the first quarter with a 23-yard field goal, his second of the season, which opened the game’s scoring. He matched the longest kick of his career with a 38-yard field goal in the third quarter, then with the game tied 14-14 and 1:46 left on the clock, Nunez-Smith booted a 25-yarder which proved to be the game-winner.

The recipients for the M. Bryce Fifield ACCESS Scholarship 2024-25 academic year are Gillian Forke, Hailey Graner, and Ashlyn Kossan. NDCPD has established the M. Bryce Fifield ACCESS Scholarship to help MSU students with disabilities finance their college experience. During the ACCESS Scholars’ education journey at MSU, they will have the opportunity to influence their campus community, bringing disability issues into the mainstream to spark discussions about quality of life and independence. To learn more about this scholarship, click HERE.