D I C K I N S O N
S TAT E
U N I V E R S I T Y
December 2018/January 2019
EVERYDAY HEROES: DSU STUDENT ATHLETES SAVE THE DAY FOR 7-YEAR-OLD SUPERFAN
After we received Bren’s story, we reached out to the football team to arrange for Gavin to meet them in person! The pictures are worth 1,000 words!
Dickinson State University (DSU) held its annual Meet the Hawks experience Sept. 6, at the Biesiot Activities Center (BAC), an event that invites children from the community to come meet the DSU student-athletes. For DSU Assistant Professor of nursing Teresa Bren, and her family, this year’s event turned into something extraordinary. Here is her story: For the first time, I took my kids to the Meet the Hawks event at the BAC. I picked them up from school, and they were very excited to hear we were going to attend. Maddie, age 9, was excited to meet the women’s volleyball, basketball, and softball players as these are sports she has participated in and enjoys. Gavin, age 6, was anxious to meet the football players. Recently, he has fallen in love with the sport of football; when I initially told him that I have three football players in the DSU nursing class I teach, his eyes got large and he asked, “Do you think they could teach me to play?” We arrived at the BAC and proceeded to the line where the kids pick up their t-shirts, a hot dog, chips and a pop. All the athletes were on the field, and Maddie and Gavin appeared to be soaking in their first experience of this event. While other kids were chitchatting around us, these two were quietly observing. We got to the front of the line, and the kids received their T-shirt, food and beverage. We sat down in the grass on the hill to the east of the field while they ate and observed the other kids getting signatures of the athletes on their t-shirts. It did not take them long to consume their hot dog and put their t-shirts on to receive the athlete signatures. Maddie quickly found a friend, and they were off to the field. Gavin stuck by my side until we approached the field and he was quickly off himself. I found myself visiting with some previous and current students as I wandered the field; I would spot Maddie in lines and groups of kids getting her shirt signed, but where was Gavin? I continued to wander the field and spotted Gavin in the distance, but as I moved closer, he was off in the other direction. He was safe, so I let him enjoy the experience. After many of the athletes had left, I decided to gather my troops and leave. We were exiting the BAC and on our way out spotted a friend who was counting the signatures on her son’s shirt. “Sixteen! You got 16 signatures,” she said. Her son’s eyes beamed with amazement. With lack luster, I saw Gavin hang his head at the boy’s response to his many signatures. As we walked to the car, I saw Gavin had only one signature on his right shoulder, but I didn’t think much of it as he was probably busy playing around with friends he had found. We made it to the car; I buckled everyone in and headed home. On the drive home, I heard a quiet voice from the back seat say, “I’m so mad at myself.” It was Gavin. I asked him why he was mad at himself, and with a low and sad tone he said, “I was too shy to ask them to sign my shirt. I am just so mad at myself.” He was genuinely upset with his inability to request the athletes to sign his shirt and must have been in the right place at the right time to receive the one signature he did obtain. No matter how hard we tried to cheer him up, he could not shake his disappointment. Knowing how disappointed he was, I took his shirt to work with me the next day because I have a number of athletes as students in my class. I told the students what happened and asked if they would sign his shirt thinking seven student-athlete signatures beat one. They not only agreed to sign his shirt but suggested taking the shirt with them to their team practices to have their teammates sign it as well. I could not turn down the offer. Gavin received his DSU T-shirt shortly after his seventh birthday (Sept. 15) full of signatures from the women’s basketball and volleyball teams, the wrestling team and the football team. The work these students went through to circulate Gavin’s t-shirt through the teams spoke to the level of care our DSU family holds for each other. I hope Gavin is a Blue Hawk one day; for now, the Blue Hawk athletes are his heroes.
MIND’S EYE ART GALLERY DISPLAYS ANNUAL DSU COMMUNITY ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW
TRHLP HELD BLUE HAWK BREAKOUT ESCAPE ROOM EXPERIENCE
The Mind’s Eye Art Gallery at Dickinson State University (DSU) will display crafts and works of art made by staff, students, faculty, alumni, retirees and friends of the University at the fifth annual DSU Community Arts and Crafts Show. The exhibit is on display through Dec. 12, 2018. Submissions ranging from drawings, paintings and photographs to ceramics, jewelry and more can be enjoyed in the Mind’s Eye Art Gallery, located in Klinefelter Hall on the DSU campus. This show is free and open to the public to enjoy from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program (TRHLP) and Dickinson State University (DSU) hosted Blue Hawk Breakout, an escape room experience last month. Groups of 5-8 people tested their teamwork and puzzle-solving skills, taking on the roles of new scientists tasked with stopping the spread of an unknown, highly contagious zombie virus that is infecting the DSU campus. Each team had 30 minutes to solve a series of puzzles and riddles that led to the cure before the virus spread to the town, and eventually, the world. Blue Hawk Breakout was this year’s big fundraiser for the TRHLP. Nearly 50 individuals in seven groups took on the challenge, raising $700 for the program to continue supporting local charities. “We were all extremely happy with the turnout of this event, especially for it being our first year of putting it on,” said Logan Wagoner, TRHLP student assistant director. “We only hope to continue to grow and improve it in the future to provide an opportunity for more of our community to participate.”
DICKINSON STATE PARTICIPATES IN VETERANS DAY CEREMONIES
KINDNESS ROCKS Kind (Merriam-Webster) /kīnd/ adjective 1. of a sympathetic or helpful nature 2. gentle 3. to give pleasure or relief
Governor Burgum is seen here with Dr. Rich Brauhn, retired vice president for academic affairs and former interim president of DSU
A Veterans Day ceremony held in Dickinson State University’s (DSU) Stickney Auditorium Sunday, Nov. 11, drew a crowd of nearly 250. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum addressed the audience, speaking about his family’s involvement in the military and what hearing their stories meant to him as a young man. The tribute concluded with a rifle salute and a performance of “Taps” by the American Legion Honor Guard. DSU faculty member Margaret Barnhart, renowned author and lecturer of English, also participated in several local Veterans Day events as she was invited to speak at different ceremonies over the weekend. She read from her novel, Under the Twisted Cross, a fictionalization of her father’s experiences as a prisoner of war in Germany. Barnhart visited Scranton Public School and American Legion Posts 151 and 180 in Bowman and Richardton, respectively.
DICKINSON STATE CELEBRATES NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
Dickinson State University (DSU) celebrated Native American Heritage Month in November with a screening of the film The Rider. “The selected film was shown to celebrate Native American culture and to recognize its regional significance to the Dakotas,” said Multicultural Committee Advisor Dr. Steven Doherty. Based on a true story, The Rider stars breakout Brady Jandreau as a once rising figure of the rodeo circuit warned that his competition days are over after a tragic riding accident in which he suffered a near fatal head injury. Back home, Brady finds himself wondering what he has to live for when he can no longer do what gives him a sense of purpose: to ride and compete. In an attempt to regain control of his fate, Brady undertakes a search for new identity and tries to redefine his idea of what it means to be a man in the heartland of America.
When you wander across the Dickinson State University (DSU) campus, you will most likely find students rushing to their next class, hoping to slide into their seat just as the clock strikes the top of the hour. You might spot a community member walking his or her dog, a group of student-athletes jogging together, or maybe a staff member decorating for the next holiday. Next time you take a walk, stick your phone back into your pocket and take a look around, because you might find something you’ve never seen before, like a painted rock lying on the sidewalk. The rocks pictured are just a few of the colorful pieces that have been found scattered across campus in the last few weeks. Some are hiding in doorways, waiting to catch an unsuspecting eye - others are proudly displayed in classrooms and on office desks, waiting for the finder to hide them again. Each rock bears a similar message on the back: DSU Dickinson, ND #kindnessrocks These rocks are part of a global phenomenon: the Kindness Rocks Project, founded by Megan Murphy. Megan is a women’s empowerment coach, business mentor, and meditation instructor, among other things. Having lost her parents at a young age, Murphy would walk along the beach near her home and speak to her parents as if they were walking with her. Every so often, she would find a uniquely-shaped rock, and she felt as if her parents sent them to her, showing they were listening. Murphy began bringing a permanent marker with her, writing messages on the rocks to send back to her parents. She would leave many behind, and eventually, she started to find rocks with messages left by others along the beach. Murphy has inspired so many to spread kindness in a similar way, and now, painted rocks with kind messages can be found all over the world. The movement has even made its way to the DSU campus, with kindness rocks popping up all over the grounds. No club or organization on campus has taken credit for the kind messages that are finding their way to lucky individuals. Perhaps the group or person spreading the rocks around the University would like to remain anonymous. If that’s the case, just know your messages are spreading happiness and inspiring others on campus. This small act of kindness reminds us all that doing a good deed is not about receiving, but about making a difference in the life of another.
DICKINSON STATE UNIVERSITY BISMARCK CAMPUS CELEBRATES 20 YEARS In June 1998, a memorandum of understanding between Dickinson State University (DSU) and Bismarck State College (BSC) was signed to provide a pathway for students who earn an associate’s degree at BSC to complete a bachelor’s degree through DSU on the BSC campus. In the last 20 years, this bachelor’s degree completion program has grown from offering 3 degrees, to more than 20. Since its inception, more than 1,000 students have graduated from the DSU campus in Bismarck. The DSU Bismarck campus was created to provide an opportunity for Bismarck and Mandan area students to complete an affordable general baccalaureate degree program from a state public institution. The primary motivations behind the establishment of this partnership include affordability, flexibility, accessibility, efficiency, career advancement opportunities for students and economic enhancement of the region. In celebration of the twentieth anniversary milestone, Dickinson State University hosted an open house event Thursday, Dec. 6, at the Bismarck campus location.
BLUE HAWK FOOTBALL CLAIMS FOURTH CONSECUTIVE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
ALUMNI S P O T L I G H T
U.S. MARSHAL FOR THE DISTRICT OF NORTH DAKOTA DALLAS CARLSON ’03 The Blue Hawk football team claimed its fourth consecutive NSAA Conference Championship title, but the victory did not come easy. On Saturday, Nov. 4, the Blue Hawks competed against Dakota State University for their final regular season game. They came away with a 41-25 victory over the Trojans. “We are excited for our players to be able to capture a conference championship. We are proud of them for persevering in this game when we had a few bad breaks and were down 19-7. We played an outstanding second half in all three phases of the game to get the win,” explained head coach Pete Stanton. “Congratulations to our seniors for winning four consecutive conference titles and finishing 20-0 at home in their career. We are proud of the men they are on and off the field.”
DSU WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY TEAM CLAIMS FOURTH CONSECUTIVE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE
The Blue Hawk women’s cross country team claimed their fourth consecutive NSAA conference championship. This deemed the team an automatic bid to the NAIA National Cross Country Meet. “The women ran well. I feel like we still haven’t peaked with this group, but their effort was fantastic. They took care of business. Half of all the all-conference selections were Blue Hawks. That’s a testament to their hard work and willingness to grind it out when the race got hard,” stated head coach Shayne Wittkopp. “I’m very proud of both our teams and it’s humbling to work with such a fantastic group of kids.”
DICKINSON STATE UNIVERSITY
Fall Commencement FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2018 2:00 p.m. DOROTHY STICKNEY AUDITORIUM
PROPOSED EQUINE AREAS NEAR THE DSU AGRICULTURE BUILDING
The Dickinson State University outdoor rodeo arena and associated pens were moved south of Dickinson to the Stark County Fairgrounds in 2017, to make room for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. With this change, the equine classes and rodeo program at DSU experienced challenges in accommodating student schedules with an arena several miles away from campus. The DSU rodeo program and the Department of Agriculture and Technical Studies is developing unique alternatives to accommodate student needs. There is a proposal to develop a practice arena for: roping and timed event practice for the rodeo team, a riding arena for equitation and colt starting classes, portable tie-stalls for the temporary stalling of horses that get daily activity, and outdoor pens on both asphalt and dirt surfaces for the maintenance of both colts and riding horses. DSU is collaborating with a committee of local community members to raise funding for this project. DSU is grateful for the arena located south of the city constructed by Stark County, and plans to continue using that structure for competitions and large gatherings.
In 2018, United States President Donald Trump nominated Dickinson State University alumnus Dallas Carlson to be the U.S. Marshal for the District of North Dakota. The U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination and the former director of the ND Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) was appointed. Fifteen years ago, Carlson earned his bachelor’s degree from Dickinson State University’s Bismarck campus (DSU-B) as a nontraditional student with a full-time job. We reached out to congratulate Carlson and asked him to share his thoughts about his experience as a DSU-B student. Why did you choose Dickinson State University-Bismarck for your bachelor’s degree? As an older-than-average student, I chose Dickinson State University for convenience and the ability to participate in an accelerated program. Like a lot of older-than-average students, I had a number of college credits from various institutions. I was living in Bismarck at the time, and Dickinson State offered offcampus classes in Bismarck. After meeting with the staff at Dickinson State, it became clear I could combine the course work and credits that I had on file with the needed courses through Dickinson State to complete my degree. How did you learn that Dickinson State offered classes in Bismarck? I found the program through research. I compared the Dickinson State program with others that were available at the time. Dickinson State seemed to fit my schedule the best. I then met with the advisor that had an office at Bismarck State College. This advisor was very helpful in putting together my credits from other colleges and universities and was able to prepare a path for me to follow. All of the staff and instructors I met with or had classes from were very understanding of each student’s needs, limits and schedules. Without this program, I would not have been able to complete my degree without traveling and being away from work and home. What were the benefits and challenges of being a DSU-B student on the Bismarck campus? I don’t recall any challenges. The benefits were numerous. The convenience of completing an affordable bachelor’s degree by staying in Bismarck was fantastic. As I mentioned, I did not have to take time away from work as all of my classes were in the evening. I was able to meet other students that not only became friends but also were a great resource for some projects at work. What would you tell someone who is considering taking DSU-B classes? Do the research. My recommendation aside, I believe the program speaks for itself. For an older-than-average student, it was comfortable knowing the other students were in the same situation as I, full time jobs and difficult to travel to another college to complete their degree. DSU understood this and made every effort to accommodate the student by researching prior education credits and helping the student every step of the way to completion. What are you most proud of when you look back at your time at DSU-B? Without this program, I would not have qualified to be the director of BCI nor would I have qualified for the appointment to U.S. Marshal for the District of North Dakota. I am proud of our state and university system that recognized a program like this was needed to help full-time working students who want to better themselves. What was the most difficult thing for you as an undergraduate? Finding the time to complete the program. What did you enjoy about the program? Meeting the other students and getting to know their background. Same goes for the instructors; it was interesting to get to know them as well. I feel the instructors were comfortable with the students in a program such as this because all students truly wanted to be there to learn and excel. It was very enjoyable to see the respect shown by the students and instructors to each other.
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DICKINSON STATE UNIVERSITY EVENTS Dec. 7
Spring New Student Orientation
7 a.m.
Dorothy Stickney Auditorium
Dec. 7-13 Toy Drive
All Day
DSU Various locations on campus
Dec. 7
Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells - Children’s Show
7 p.m.
May Hall, Dorothy Stickney Auditorium
Dec. 8
ACT Testing
8 a.m.
May Hall, rooms 312, 314, and 316.
Dec. 8
Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells - Children’s Show
2:30 p.m.
May Hall, Dorothy Stickney Auditorium
Dec. 8
Game Night with Bingo Prizes, and Pizza with Snacks
4 p.m.
Stoxen Library
Dec. 8
Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells - Children’s Show
7 p.m.
May Hall, Dorothy Stickney Auditorium
Dec. 9
DSU Holiday Concert
2 p.m.
Assumption Abbey, Richardton ND
Dec. 9
Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells - Children’s Show
2:30 p.m.
May Hall, Dorothy Stickney Auditorium
Dec. 11
DHS Holiday Concert
7 p.m.
Dorothy Stickney Auditorium
Dec. 11
Open Forum with the President
2 p.m.
Klinefelter Hall - Beck Auditorium
Dec. 13
Teacher Education Pinning Ceremony
4:30 p.m.
Klinefelter Hall, Beck Auditorium
Dec. 14
Dickinson State University 2018 Fall Commencement
2 p.m.
May Hall, Dorothy Stickney Auditorium
Dec. 15
Praxis Testing
8 a.m.
May Hall, Lab 1
Dec. 15
Praxis Testing
1:30 p.m.
May Hall, Lab 1
Jan. 4
Spring New Student Orientation
8 a.m.
Dorothy Stickney Auditorium
Jan. 7
State of the University Address
1 p.m.
Klinefelter Hall - Beck Auditorium
Jan. 10
DSU University Overlay District Presentation for the Public
6 p.m.
Klinefelter Hall, Beck Auditorium
Jan. 11
DSU Women’s Basketball vs. Waldorf University
5:30 p.m.
Scott Gym
Jan. 11
DSU Men’s Basketball vs. Waldorf
7:30 p.m.
Scott Gym
Jan. 12
Praxis Testing
8 a.m.
May Hall, Lab 1
Jan. 12
Praxis Testing
1:30 p.m.
May Hall, Lab 1
Jan. 12
DSU Women’s Basketball vs. Viterbo University
3 p.m.
Scott Gym
Jan. 12
DSU Men’s Basketball vs. Viterbo
5 p.m.
Scott Gym
Jan. 18
Campus Visit Day
12 p.m.
Student Center, Ballroom 116B
Jan. 18
DSU Women’s Basketball vs. Valley City State University
5:30 p.m.
Scott Gym
Jan. 18
DSU Men’s Basketball vs. Valley City
7:30 p.m.
Scott Gym
Jan. 19
DSU Women’s Basketball vs. Mayville State University
3 p.m.
Scott Gym
Jan. 19
DSU Men’s Basketball vs. Mayville State
5 p.m.
Scott Gym
Jan. 26
LSAT
All Day
DSU campus
Feb. 1
DSU Softball Crab Feed Fundraiser
5:30 p.m.
Biesiot Activity Center
Feb. 2
Roughrider Judging
7:30 a.m.
Agriculture Building
DSU Events - www.dickinsonstate.edu/events
Athletic Events - www.dsubluehawks.com
ADMISSIONS EVENTS NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION December 7, 2018 at 7 a.m. January 4, 2019 at 7 a.m. Dorothy Stickney Auditorium
CAMPUS VISIT DAY
January 18, 2019 at noon
DSU Student Center, Ballroom 116B www.dickinsonstate.edu/visitcampus FOLLOW US www.dickinsonstate.tumblr.com www.facebook.com/dickinsonstate www.twitter.com/dickinsonstate
Dickinson State University is proud to recognize American Bank Center as November’s Blue Hawk Supporter. Thank you for promoting Blue Hawk pride in the community!
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The Blue Hawk Bulletin is a publication created by the Office of Communications and Public Affairs at Dickinson State University. dsu.communications@dickinsonstate.edu 701.483.2787