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June 2020 DICKINSON STATE CELEBRATES 100TH SPRING BOHN AND MOBERG NAMED DSU’S 2020 OUTSTANDING GRADUATES COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY Dickinson State University (DSU) celebrated spring 2020 graduates during a virtual Commencement ceremony broadcast Saturday, May 16. The ceremony was also televised on Consolidated’s channel 18. Following the ceremony, DSU welcomed graduates, their families, and the community to participate in a “reverse parade” on Campus Drive. DSU students Christopher Gartner and Suzanna Moberg addressed the graduates at the University’s 100th spring commencement ceremony. Christopher Gartner, a native of Sidney, Montana, graduated from Dickinson State University with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural studies. During his time at DSU, he was a member of the Blue Hawk football team, and was involved on campus with Ag Club and Collegiate Farm Bureau. In 2018, he was voted Homecoming King by his peers. After graduation, Chris will be working as an Ag loan officer in his hometown of Sidney. Suzanna Moberg is from Dickinson, North Dakota, and is the daughter of Kevin and Susan Moberg. She graduated from Dickinson State University with a Bachelor of Science in English education. While at DSU, Suzanna participated in the Student Education Association, choral, chamber choir, residential life, Student Senate and she worked for the DSU Heritage Foundation. She also is a member of the honors fraternities Kappa Delta Pi and Omicron Kappa Delta. This past semester, Suzanna was named an Outstanding Student in Education by the North Dakota Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. Suzanna finished her student teaching this past semester in South Heart, North Dakota, and is preparing to move to Nashville, Tennessee, to begin her career as an English teacher at Hunters Lane High School in the fall. In addition to the student speakers, participants heard from DSU President Steve Easton, as well as Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Marilyn Lee, and other local and state representatives. Dickinson State awarded seven master’s degrees, 149 baccalaureate degrees, and 46 associate degrees during the virtual spring commencement ceremony. Several students also graduated from the Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program. More than 200 students were eligible to participate in this year’s ceremony; this number includes all spring and summer 2020 graduates, as well as students who graduated last fall but did not participate in the December ceremony.
Karissa Bohn and Suzanna Moberg were named Dickinson State University’s 2020 Outstanding Graduates during the virtual Outstanding Graduate awards ceremony held Friday, May 15. The Outstanding Graduate Award is the highest honor bestowed on two graduating seniors by the University. Bohn and Moberg were nominated along with 16 other students by faculty in their academic departments for exceptional performance in their fields of study. Karissa Bohn, daughter of Pat and Dana Bohn of Mandan, North Dakota, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in environmental science and minors in biology and leadership. Bohn decided to follow the footsteps of her siblings, Meyer and Kayla, as well as her father by attending DSU. Bohn served as a research assistant with the Department of Natural Sciences, in which she conducted photosynthetic-based research on crop and range land. She assisted professors in the labs as well as communicated and presented the data at the EPSCoR Annual Conference. Bohn was also a member of the Science Club at DSU for four years, including serving as the vice president during the 2018-2019 academic year in which she helped coordinate events, such as the annual plant sale, seed sale and recycling drive. She served as an Event Leader with Science Olympiad for the last three years as well as the Discovery Dome her sophomore year. During the summers of 2018 and 2019, she worked with the USDA Forest Service. Since January, she has been working with Baranko Brothers Environmental as an environmental scientist. Another area in which Bohn thrived was within the Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program (TRHLP) where she excelled quickly. She became a student assistant director during the second semester of her freshman year, a title she held until graduation. She mentored fellow honors students as well as coordinated events and meetings for the students involved in the TRHLP. Bohn was instrumental in planning fundraisers, such as the Hawk Walk, Escape Room, Brave the Shave, and the group’s silent auctions during the Blue Hawk football season. Often the one handing out the awards to her fellow classmates, Bohn received the TRHLP Female Freshman of the Year Award. Bohn sees herself staying in western North Dakota due to her love of conservation, reclamation and remediation. She has accepted a full-time position with Baranko Brothers Environmental. In time, she would like to pursue a master’s degree in Environmental Policy or Reclamation. Suzanna Moberg, daughter of Kevin and Susan Moberg, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in English education. Raised in Dickinson where both of her parents work in education, it only seemed natural that Suzanna would attend her hometown college. During her time at DSU, Suzanna was involved in many organizations on campus as well as in the community. She served all four years on Student Senate and was the Student Body President for two terms. During her time as Student Body President, Moberg helped lower technology fees for students, revitalize the Blue Hawk Hub, and served as a voice for the virtual commencement ceremony. This leadership role led to serving on various committees, such as President’s Cabinet and the Academic Affairs Task Force. She participated in chorale and chamber choir from 2016-2019 during which she traveled with the group to New York City to perform at Carnegie Hall in 2017 and 2019. In addition, she performed the national anthem either as a solo, duet, or trio with her sisters at many athletic events, community events, as well as for the American Legion. Moberg’s love and devotion to her faith is evident. Since 2016, she has spent her summer months working for Badlands Ministries. Teaching Bible studies, designing the curriculum, and supervising camp staff were some of the many duties she was given. In addition, Moberg served as a confirmation mentor with St. John Lutheran Church from 2017-2019. The many honors Moberg has received during her college career include being named the 2018 Homecoming Queen, the Outstanding Student in Education for the North Dakota Association of Colleges for Teacher Education in 2020, as well as being selected as a student speaker for the 2020 spring Commencement ceremony. Perhaps Moberg will be most remembered for her time as a co-host of the weekly Hawk Talk show as well as the Blue Hawk game day during some of the home athletic events. Moberg will be packing her bags this summer and embarking on a new journey, having accepted a position as an English teacher at Hunters Lane High School in Nashville, Tennessee. In the future, Moberg would like to pursue a graduate degree so that she can one day become a college professor.