ONWARD Q&A SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: Forever linked through athletics, nursing
MINOT, N.D. – Being a collegiate athlete can be demanding, balancing the work needed to excel on the field, court, and ice, with the rigors of academia.
Being a part of the Department of Nursing at Minot State can be equally challenging, as MSU boasts the highest clinical hour requirements in the North Dakota University System.
Mix those together and you have a special type of student-athlete.
While some universities shy away from having their nurses involved in athletics, Minot State has embraced it. This year’s graduating class is no exception as multiple student-athletes graduated, excelling in both sport and profession.
University Communications caught up with five former student-athletes who walked across the stage: Paige Ackerman, women’s hockey, Minot; Paige Ammerman, volleyball, Durango, Colorado; Abbey Kelley, softball, Peoria, Arizona; Emma Mogen, women’s basketball, Watford City; and Makena Welby, women’s hockey, Coaldale, Alberta.
A talented group came to MSU from various hometowns but will leave with two things in common: wearing the Beavers uniform and now graduates of the Department of Nursing.
The group took time out of a hectic end-of-the-semester schedule to finish off our Onward Q&A Senior Spotlight series.
What originally brought you to Minot State, and what were some of the reasons you chose here both athletically and academically?
ACKERMAN: I chose to stay in Minot and attend Minot State because it gave me the chance to stay close to my family while pursuing a degree in nursing and playing on a top-level ACHA hockey team.
AK: I heard about Minot State at a club softball tournament in 2020 when I got recruited by the softball coach. After my visit here, I learned about the nursing community, the athletics community, and the cost. Although the affordable cost of the college was a plus, I was drawn towards my coach letting me be a nursing major, and I was also drawn to how accommodating the nursing professors are when it comes to games, travel, etc.
MW: I’ve played hockey my whole life and always wanted to continue playing throughout university. Minot State offered a perfect balance between athletics and academics. Athletically, I was excited about the opportunity to keep that dream of playing alive. Academically, I knew Minot State had a great nursing program. Coming from a smaller town around the size of Minot and having small class sizes appealed to me because I wanted a place where I could build relationships with my professors, teammates, and the community.
AMMERMAN: I chose Minot State because I was given the opportunity to play collegiate volleyball while pursuing a degree in nursing, which not all universities offer due to time constraints. The nursing program had a 100% NCLEX pass rate at the time, which is really incredible. Not to mention that everyone was so friendly and welcoming on my visit to Minot, furthering my decision to commit here.
EM: I chose MSU because of the small-town community feel. It was easy to feel welcomed and at home with the girls I met on the team at the time, along with the coaches and professors.
Tell us about your experience of being a student-athlete; how fun it was, how tough it was, and a highlight or something that stands out to you.
MW: Being a student-athlete is one of the most challenging but rewarding opportunities I’ve got to experience. Not only do you grow as a player, but as a person. Sports have instilled a sense of discipline, teamwork, and resilience into my character that I carry over to every aspect of my life. Balancing school with practice, weights, games, and road trips wasn’t easy, but the bonds I formed, the memories, the personal growth, and the experiences make it all worth it.
It’s hard to highlight one moment as sports have given me so many unforgettable memories, but every national championship tournament, especially the 2024 St. Louis tournament, playing Michigan winning in overtime after a buzzer-beater goal would have to be up in the top three!
EM: It was definitely time-consuming and challenging, but so worth it. I learned so much about time management, communication, and prioritization. I loved to be busy and get to experience all that I did in basketball and nursing. I learned to be okay with doing what I could with my schedule. My coaches and professors were both very understanding and accommodating to athletics’ busy schedule, which was amazing!
AMMERMAN: Playing collegiate sports is challenging enough, let alone while in the nursing program. Balancing practice, travel, lift, class, and clinical was an extremely challenging and rewarding opportunity. I was lucky enough to have older teammates also in the nursing program who guided and supported me throughout this journey.
AK: My time being a student athlete was nothing short of amazing, but I went through some hard times as well. I had a good community around me with my friends, coaches, teammates, and professors. What stood out to me during my time here is how close I was able to get with not only my teammates and coaches, but also my classmates and professors. I never felt alone and felt as though I always had someone to go to if I needed it, and I will always be thankful for that.
ACKERMAN: I will forever cherish my time as a student-athlete here. The people I have met and the opportunities I have had throughout these four years have shown me how lucky I am to be a student athlete at Minot State. It had its challenges, and some days were a lot harder than others, but I would not change it for the world. My teammates are my best friends and biggest support system, and I could not have gotten through school without them.
How was your experience in the MSU Department of Nursing?
AMMERMAN: The nursing professors are so great about recognizing the commitments of an athlete and helping out in any way possible. Their willingness, flexibility, and support allow us to pursue multiple passions, and for that, I am ever appreciative. I have loved my time in the Minot State nursing program, and I am so excited to take all the knowledge and clinical experience gained into my first nursing job.
AK: As a nursing major, it can be overwhelming at times, but I always want to overcome the challenges that life throws at me. I believe that is why I excelled in what I did as a student, because I never gave up and always gave my best. Yes, the good results on a test always made me feel proud, but what really made me feel happy was when I could apply my knowledge at clinicals to help others. I have a passion for helping others and will cherish the memories made with patients while I was able to help them.
EM: It was very challenging, but I am so thankful it was possible for me to succeed at both school and basketball. I often heard about how schools don't allow you to do nursing if you are in a sport, but MSU thankfully does — and still has amazing passing rates.
MW: School has been very tough and draining, but has also been lots of fun. Being an athlete, I love being challenged, and nursing school has given me that. I’ve been able to relate hockey to nursing school through the sense of time management, teamwork, determination, drive, and the fact that you get out what you put in. Our professors have been so amazing, understanding, encouraging, and supportive, through my entire time here in Minot. Through clinicals, getting to help patients and build those trusting relationships has not only made me grow as a person but also affirmed that I chose the right career path.
Did you choose nursing as a major right away or come to this profession from something else? What were some of the main reasons why you decided to become a nurse?
AK: I chose nursing right away and knew from a young age, this is what I wanted to do. I chose nursing because I have a passion for helping others. I believe that since I have a body that is able to help others, I should use it for the good of others to help them, because I believe that is what Jesus Christ called me to do.
MW: I originally started in exercise science and rehabilitation, and did enjoy it. I knew I wanted to do something medical, and sports were always a huge aspect of my life. I wanted to get a Bachelor of Science and proceed to more school, and had thoughts of medical school. I really started looking into things more, and then, all of a sudden, one day in my dorm room, I called my parents and was like, ya, I’m switching to nursing, and the rest is history. I’ve always been drawn to helping people, and I liked the idea of being in a profession where I could make a direct impact every single day.
ACKERMAN: I declared nursing as my major right when I started school here. I knew in high school that I wanted to be in the healthcare field in one way or another, but my senior year of high school was when I decided I wanted to go into nursing. Nursing is such a diverse field, and there are always opportunities for learning and growth. I want to be there to help people when they need it most and to help make some of their worst days a little bit better.
EM: I picked nursing right out of high school. I wanted to be a nurse because I love helping and interacting with people. I find it so rewarding to be a part of a person’s health journey, big or small!
AMMERMAN: I started from the get-go as a nursing major. I was drawn to nursing due to my interest in the sciences/anatomy, and my nurturing personality. Nursing provides an opportunity to care for others in their most vulnerable state. It is ever changing, and there is always an opportunity to learn or progress in your career.
What area of nursing are you going into, and what are the reasons you picked that discipline?
EM: Pediatrics. I think kids are so fascinating and resilient. I will get to care for babies all the way to older teenagers, making it a challenge and fun to care for a variety of ages.
MW: I’m still undecided of the area I plan on working in. I do plan on going back to school to become an NP after a year or two of working. I think I'm most interested in critical care nursing. I was drawn to it because of the intensity and the level of attention and expertise required. I thrive under pressure and love the idea of being in a fast-paced environment where every second counts.
ACKERMAN: I am going into the postpartum unit post-graduation. I chose this unit because during my clinicals in this area, I really loved getting to work with both mom and baby as one patient and helping moms through the first days of that transition. I have always loved working with children as well, so this area gives me the opportunity to work with both moms and their babies.
AMMERMAN: I am going into medical surgical nursing. I hope to gain quality experience in this area before transferring to an ICU floor. I really love the high pressure, challenging environment, and intensity of care that the ICU requires.
AK: I am still not fully decided, but I am confident that I will be working in the ICU after graduation. I chose the ICU because I want to help patients who need close observation and intensive care, as well as care for their families during hard times. I may also go on to more school to be a CRNA, and experience in the ICU is required.
What are some of the similarities between being on a team and being in the nursing program?
AMMERMAN: The opportunity to be on a collegiate team prepares students for life beyond college. It develops communication skills, time management, and teamwork in a way that is hard to recreate in a classroom. These skills, along with the personal development gained in the five semesters in the nursing program, more than prepares students for the real world. I feel extremely ready for the next chapter in my life and confident in my ability to perform at a high level, which is ultimately due to the life lessons learned in both collegiate sports and the nursing program.
AK: There are many similarities between being on a team and being in a nursing program. You learn time management, teamwork, discipline, attention to detail, critical thinking skills, adaptability, a strong work ethic, and many more qualities that go into being a good athlete and nurse/nursing student.
MW: There are so many parallels. Both require strong communication, accountability, and trust in the people around you. Time management was a huge skill that transferred over. As a student-athlete, you learn to balance practices, games, and coursework, and that discipline really helped when I started juggling nursing classes, clinicals, and studying. Both environments also teach you how to stay calm under pressure and support your teammates or coworkers through tough situations.
ACKERMAN: I think my time spent on the hockey team helped my time management and teamwork skills tremendously. Being on a team gives you a sense of family, and I think my ability to work well alongside others is due to being a part of a team and relying on my teammates to be there to help get the job done.
EM: Both were very time-consuming and stressful. But, I also gained so much from both, like the lifelong friendships I created over the years! You need to balance both and include a social life in order not to get overwhelmed and enjoy all of these blessings!
About Minot State University
Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through
rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.
Published: 05/22/25
