Minot State University’s Rick Heit was a recipient of the inaugural University System Staff Excellence Award, a new program initiated by the North Dakota University System (NDUS) in partnership with the North Dakota State Staff Senate (NDSS) this year.

He was one of three NDUS employees recognized during the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) meeting on June 23 for his exceptional service, initiative, leadership, and dedication to his institution.

The NDUS and NDSS created the award to celebrate staff members whose contributions have made significant and lasting positive impacts on higher education in North Dakota.

“Our team members across our institutions do so much to make their campuses the best places they can be for student learning,” said NDUS Commissioner Brent Sanford. “You can tell that the winners of this first iteration of the University System Staff Excellence Award take so much pride in their work. We want to thank them for all they do and for being such important members of our university system team.”

Heit, social media specialist at MSU; Amanda Morse, residence all coordinator, Bismarck State; and Joshua Schroetter, senior technical services manager, Division of Finance & Administration, North Dakota State University, were all recognized at the SBHE meeting.

Each employee was nominated for an award by their peers and received a commemorative plaque during the SBHE meeting. NDSS representatives from various campuses within the NDUS reviewed the completed nominations to determine who would advance to the full NDSS for final consideration. After selecting three award recipients, the NDSS sent the names to the commissioner for final approval.

The committee used several criteria to determine award winners, including the staff members’ work in innovation and initiative; collaboration and community building; leadership and influence; and impact and outcomes.

Minot State University students Elizabeth Chapman and Luke Curren were named national champions at the 2026 Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Leadership Conference held June 6-8 at the Westgate Las Vegas.

Twenty students from Minot State University competed at the National Leadership Conference (NLC). The event attracted college students, educators, and volunteers from across the country. The NLC provides education, competition, and networking opportunities centered on business.

Along with Chapman and Curren, six other students placed in the top 10 in seven categories.

“It was a privilege to attend NLC 2026 with these 20 amazing FBLA students from Minot State,” said Jan Repnow, MSU assistant professor in the Department of Business and FBLA adviser. “Every student who attended is a winner; those who make the stage for Top Ten placements are commendable, but to be named a national champion is simply amazing.  This year, to have two national champions — wow! Our students’ dedication to future growth in their business and professional lives is excellent. They left Las Vegas not only with well-earned recognition, but also with new connections and memories of so much fun at NLC26.”

More than 1,500 attendees from nearly 200 colleges and universities in 29 U.S. states and territories competed in 42 business-related events for scholarships and cash prizes totaling nearly $60,000. Students also had the opportunity to engage in 60 learning workshops and meet with representatives from more than 20 colleges, universities, and employers. Additionally, student members heard from Jared Ebersole, FBLA high school alumnus and co-founder of Lectec, who shared his journey from FBLA member to Shark Tank entrepreneur, and what it takes to build, fail, and lead.

Among the workshops, Repnow presented two sessions on business communications: “It’s NOT about me; it’s about my audience.”

For all Minot State University award winners, see University Communications web story.

Minot State University’s teacher education program has earned an A+ rating from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) for its preparation of future elementary educators in reading instruction.

The recognition comes as part of NCTQ’s 2026 Teacher Prep Review, which evaluates how well teacher preparation programs equip future teachers with evidence-based reading instruction practices aligned with the science of reading.

“We are deeply committed to preparing our students to teach reading well to all learners and are happy to have been recognized for that dedication,” said Lisa Borden-King, MSU associate professor and director of the Teacher Licensure Program.

The A+ designation is awarded to programs that demonstrate exceptional preparation in the five core components of scientifically based reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

NCTQ’s review examines teacher preparation programs across the nation and evaluates course materials, assignments, assessments, and clinical experiences to determine how effectively institutions prepare teacher candidates to teach reading using research-based practices.

According to NCTQ, programs earning an A+ not only adequately cover all five components of reading instruction but also exceed the organization’s benchmarks and avoid teaching practices that run contrary to current reading research.

Minot State Athletics is proud to announce that men's basketball and track & field star Drew Hysjulien, former football great Carmen LoRe, long-time “Voice of the Beavers” Scott Kittell, longtime assistant coach Gary Walhaug, and the 2016 NSIC regular season champion Beaver Women’s Soccer Team have been selected as the Minot State Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2026. All four will officially be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 18, at the Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet at 5 p.m. on the Minot State campus in the Student Center Conference Center. All four will also be honored at halftime of the Beavers’ Homecoming football game on Saturday, Sept. 19, against Southwest Minnesota State. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Minot State Summer Theatre and the Minot Sertoma Club are proud to offer two American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted performances during Season 61. The two are July 14 at "School of Rock The Musical" and July 28 at "Disney's The Little Mermaid." Tickets for a reserved section are available for purchase by calling the box office. Tickets will be reserved for the July 14 "School of Rock The Musical" performance until July 7 and for the July 28 "Disney's The Little Mermaid" until July 21. For more information, see the attached informational flyer.

The library is hosting a display for the 250th Anniversary Celebration of our Constitution. Visit the display for your own pocket-sized copy of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence in addition to other celebratory swag. Now through July 10. See the attached informational flyer for more info.

The Minot State University athletic department is offering 50% off premium seating at MSU football games to staff and faculty as part of a reserved season ticket. Season tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, July 6. Staff and faculty can use a discount code to receive 50% per season ticket. Premium seating features the red chairback seats. Utilize the 2026 football reserved season ticket link to purchase seats. Important Info when acquiring your tickets

• Enter a pre-sale passcode by clicking the button at the bottom left to complete the order. See attached informational pre-sale photo. The pre-sale passcode: 26MSUFB
• After selecting your seats, when you get to the checkout you will use the promo code “MSUFacultyStaff26” which will provide you with a 50% discount for each ticket purchased. See informational discount code photo.
• Complete the order by filling out your contact info and credit card information. Use an email you have access to as digital tickets and information will be sent to that email address.
• There is no cap to the amount of premium reserved season tickets that faculty & Staff can purchase.

For more information or for assistance, contact Jordan Aus, associate director of athletic for revenue & ticketing, by email.

Minot State parking permits for the 2026-27 school year and fall semester will go on sale at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8. The annual permit is $65, and the Fall permit is $40. Employees can purchase their permits online by going to the North Dakota University System Parking Portal website. Purchase instructions are available on the MSU Parking Office website. Permits can be picked up from the Mailroom window Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Have your MSU ID with you at time of pick up.

The Minot State football program and Beowulf Golf Club invite Beaver Nation to support the Beaver football team at the first ever Kickoff Classic Golf Scramble on Monday, July 27. This event gives Beaver fans throughout the community a chance to connect with Minot State football coaches and players before the season starts, along with enjoying some preseason tailgating at the course and a fun-filled afternoon of golf. Cost is $800 for a team of 4 players, which includes golf, carts, a meal, and prizes. The action on the course gets underway with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. Register online at Beowulf Golf Club.

The Minot State men's basketball program is playing in Hawaii, and everyone is invited to cheer on the Beavers in Honolulu. The Beavers will play games at the 2026 Hoops in Hawaii Tip-Off Classic on Oct. 30-Nov. 1. MSU starts the tournament facing Adelphi University (New York). Special packages are offered for fans that include admission to all Hoops in Hawaii Tip-Off Classic games, the MSU rate on a five-night hotel stay that includes breakfast, a tournament T-shirt, and an optional welcome dinner luau on Oct. 29. For more information, see the attached introduction letter and information flyers.

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.

Virginia Conn, facilities management, is featured at the Taube Museum of Art with her exhibition "Life as a Blue Collar Worker," from July 2 until July 31. There will be a free reception on July 9 from 5-7 p.m. at the Taube with light refreshments provided. For more information, see an interview with Conn on the Taube Museums of Art's Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Stephanie Little, assistant professor, Social Work, recently contributed to two national Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) curricular guide projects: "Specialized Practice Curricular Guide for Disaster Relief Social Work" and "Specialized Practice Curricular Guide for Military and Veteran Social Work." Developed by educators and practitioners from across the country, these guides provide resources for integrating specialized practice competencies into social work education. The publications support the preparation of future social workers to effectively serve individuals, families, and communities affected by disasters, military service, and veteran-related issues. These national collaborations reflect ongoing efforts to strengthen social work education and prepare students for practice in complex and evolving service environments. To review, see  CSWE's website or an CSWE online pdf.

Owen Patterson, junior professional communication major, was awarded the prestigious honor of All-American by the Sportscasters Talent Agency of America (STAA). The STAA hosts the annual Jim Nantz Award Ceremony, named after the legendary CBS sports broadcaster. This year, the organization named Patterson First Team All-American as one of the nation's most outstanding collegiate sports broadcasters. A native of Washburn, Patterson completed his second year as the main broadcast play-by-play announcer for many of the Minot State Athletic programs. On top of calling the action for the Beavers, he is an active member in the Minot sports community.

Charlotte Pietrzak has joined the Human Resources Department. Pietrzak is the HR Coordinator and will be a valuable addition to the team.

Serena Pontenila, assistant professor of math, data, and technology; Emily Stephens, assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders; and Nathan Anderson, director of institutional assessment, presented a session with Greg Carlson, North Dakota University System institutional researcher, at the IgniteND conference at Valley City State University. Their session, HEARTS Generative Artificial Intelligence Framework: Faculty Perceptions and Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence,  shared results of a pilot study at Minot State University that measured faculty perceptions and use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI). Their study featured a HEARTS framework supporting ethical, transparent, inclusive, and responsible use of GAI. It explored perceptions of Human Interaction, Ethical Alignment, Accountability Structures, Risk Classification and Controls, Transparency and Trust, and Sustainable and Strategic Deployment, along with levels of GAI use. Discussions included preliminary findings, relevance for educators at all levels, and topics for future research. The conference was presented by Valley City State University AI Institute for Teaching and Learning, North Dakota EduTech, and North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.

Kyle Sandy and Jabez Tuaona were featured in leadership dots. Students from Looyenga Leadership Center Director Jim Sturm's Leadership 201 class are required to subscribe to leadership dots, a blog by Beth Triplett, a leadership coach and consultant. Each day, Triplett pens a short paragraph on leadership. During the semester, an assignment in Leadership 201 is to write a series of leadership dots for submission. To read the posts, to see future posts from MSU students, or to subscribe, see leadershipdots.com. 

Amy Woodbeck, professional and community education coordinator, presented at the Adolescent Mental Health & Well Being Symposium on May 27 in Minot. Woodbeck's son, Adam, was diagnosed with Level 1 High Functioning Autism, Severe Anxiety/Depression, and ADHD, when he was in elementary school. She shared the story of their life, the ups and downs, including the times when he tried to take his own life. Their story of hope and heartache reminds us that we aren’t alone.