Building community one relationship at a time

MINOT, N.D. – For Kevin ’98 and Tammy White ’09, service is not a project, program, or pastime — it’s a way of life.

The couple’s decades-long connection to Minot State University is woven through classrooms, wrestling mats, community initiatives, and countless students who have found support, guidance, and even a home-cooked meal.

“Relationship building is at the core of who we both are,” Tammy said. “The connections we have both made as teachers and educators, and with Kevin as a coach, sometimes just by accident, those have shaped who we are. Our own kids sometimes get frustrated; they are like, ‘Mom, can’t you just stay home!’ But you never know when someone is struggling or needs something, and maybe something we can do helps them get by. That’s very powerful.”

Kevin, a lifelong Minot native, grew up attending Minot State events long before he enrolled as a student. The University was simply part of his life.

“I’ve been a Minot native my whole life, so I was associated with Minot State by attending events since I was a kid,” he said. “I ended up attending Minot State right out of high school. It was certainly different then, you worked, and you took classes when you could.”

During those early college years, he wrestled for MSU for two seasons, but financial hardship forced him to step away. He began coaching at Minot High School — a decision that sparked a 40-year commitment to developing young people through wrestling.

Eventually, Kevin returned to MSU to finish his degree, an experience he described as transformative.

“When I started up again, college was easy,” he laughed. “It was so different when I came back and actually paid attention. Being older, I wasn’t afraid to ask the stupid question. It was fun the second time around.”

Today, Kevin teaches technology and engineering in Minot Public Schools. But for the last decade, he has also been a volunteer pillar of the revived MSU men’s wrestling program. His motivation is simple: creating a family atmosphere.

“A number of these kids come a long way from home,” he said. “We do meals for the team — Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter. If there are kids staying back, we invite them over. We fed over 40 people last Thanksgiving, and nobody left hungry.”

For many student-athletes, that sense of belonging changes everything. Kevin recalled receiving a message from a former wrestler from one of the first teams after MSU returned to the mat.

“He just wanted to thank me for making this place feel like home when he wasn’t home,” Kevin said. “You get that feedback once in a while, and it feels good.”

Tammy’s connection with Minot State began when she moved to Minot after meeting Kevin at a Clint Black concert more than 30 years ago. She later worked in financial aid and MSU’s graduate school before finding her calling in education.

“We were engaged, and so I started in psychology with Dr. (Don) Burke,” she said. “After a few years, I figured out what I wanted to do with my life. I did undergrad, then my master’s, and now I’m starting my 22nd year as a teacher.”

Tammy credits Kevin’s example for shaping her own passion for service.

“The incredible thing I’ve learned from Kevin is watching how he gives service to our young people and the relationships he builds,” she said. “Kids we knew in their 20s or 30s still come visit us and hang out. It’s just amazing.”

That inspiration, along with the loss of a coworker and dedicated counselor who believed in the potential of every student, led Tammy to launch “Mrs. Fields’s Closet.” The nonprofit named in honor of her friend Becky Field ’74, who passed away unexpectedly, helps students thrive by providing school supplies, clothing, and hygiene products through in-school closets.

“A few months after she passed away, I’m still missing my friend, and I didn’t want her legacy or memory to falter,” she explained. “It’s been amazing to see this program help so many students. I think our lives have been fulfilled by it.”

The program, which began at Longfellow Elementary, now supports students at four Minot schools, including Minot North High School.

“People are seeing that there’s a need for our kids,” she said. “What you do for your community matters.”

For Tammy, whether in the closet or the classroom, the heart of her work is connection.

“As a teacher or a coach, you’ve got to figure out where they’re at first before you can ask anything from them,” she said. “Once they know they can trust you — for the good and bad and ugly — that’s when the academics come.”

Together, the Whites have opened their home, their time, and their hearts to students of all ages. Some have lived with them temporarily. Others drop by to talk through challenges or sit down to a meal. Some bring stories the Whites jokingly admit they “probably don’t need to hear,” but they listen anyway.

Their daughters, Kaylie ’22 and Kelsie, have grown up watching this example. Kaylie is now a Trinity Health flight nurse — a path her parents see as a continuation of the family’s service mindset — while Kelsie, who has endured major health issues throughout her life, continues to explore various professions.

“We emphasized being independent and being a good human,” Kevin said. “Kaylie really grabbed onto that. Kelsie has overcome a lot and has those same tendencies. I think she will move toward something similar in a health field or something that helps others.”

The Whites’ impact is not measured in grand gestures or financial donations. Instead, it’s found in moments — a meal on a lonely holiday, helping fix a car, guidance during a difficult season, or simply being present.

“It doesn’t always have to be money,” Tammy said. “It just has to be something, just being a good human.”

“These kids don’t just need wrestling help — they need help navigating life,” Kevin added. “They’re unsure, they’re scared, and they need more people here to help.”

Kevin and Tammy White continue to provide that help every day, living out a legacy of compassion that reflects the very best of the Minot State community.