D I C K I N S O N
S TAT E
U N I V E R S I T Y
April 2020 EASTON NAMED 13TH PRESIDENT OF DICKINSON STATE UNIVERSITY
working overtime to continue the quality education of DSU’s wonderful students, even though we cannot meet with those students face-to-face in traditional classrooms the rest of the semester.” Easton has a strong personal connection to Dickinson State University. Easton, who graduated summa cum laude from DSU in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Accounting, was the third generation of his family to choose Dickinson State. His son became the most recent Easton to graduate from DSU in 2016. After earning his undergraduate degree at DSU, Easton enrolled in Stanford Law School where he earned his Juris Doctorate in 1983. Easton practiced law for almost 20 years before returning to higher education as a professor and administrator. “It is a huge honor to be given the chance to continue to work with Dickinson State’s students, faculty, staff, and other supporters,” said Easton. “In my short time back, I have been very impressed by the can-do spirit of DSU. Right now, during a challenging semester for DSU and other colleges, DSU staff, faculty, and students are shining. Their creativity and hard work in transitioning to the temporary online learning environment are awe-inspiring. It is unfortunate that everyone does not have the opportunity I have to see that hard work and creativity. What a special place our beloved college on the hill is!” About NDUS
During a State Board of Higher Education meeting held via interactive video network (IVN) technology March 26, interim Dickinson State University president Stephen D. Easton was named the permanent president of Dickinson State University. The State Board of Higher Education selected Easton as the 13th president of DSU. He served as the University’s interim president since December. As interim, Easton replaced Dr. Thomas Mitzel, who was named president of Kentucky Wesleyan last fall.
The North Dakota University System is a unified system of higher education governed by the State Board of Higher Education. Organized in 1990, the system includes two research universities, four regional universities and five community colleges. The mission of the State Board of Higher Education and the Chancellor of the North Dakota University System is to unleash the potential of higher education in the state to enhance the quality of life, and the social and economic vitality of all served by its public colleges and universities.
The Board interviewed Easton on the Bismarck State College campus. The decision was made to interview and then later select Easton based on the leadership he has shown during necessary budget cuts happening at DSU. Board Chair Nick Hacker said, “President Easton has proven that he can lead during difficult times and the Board has confidence that he can bring Dickinson State University to the next level to meet the new dual mission model that is certain to serve student and workforce needs now and into the future.” During his interview, Easton talked about his leadership philosophy. “My dad, a DSU grad and longtime college administrator, taught me to put students first, whenever possible. Dickinson State is blessed with a staff and faculty dedicated to that philosophy. This unusual and challenging semester demonstrates their commitment to our students. It is inspiring to see DSU’s staff and faculty
FOUR STUDENTS REPRESENT DICKINSON STATE AT HONOR BAND EVENT
PRESIDENTIAL Scholarship Awards The award is valued at $1,600 per year based on full-time enrollment.
AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY
$1,600 per year L to R: Morgan Hutzenbiler, Christa Araujo, Amber Sickler, and Anton Krebs
Last month, four Dickinson State University students traveled to Minot, North Dakota, to practice and collaborate with their peers during the 19th annual North Dakota Intercollegiate Band event at Minot State University. Those students included Christa Araujo, who plays the French horn; Morgan Hutzenbiler, a percussion student; and Anton Krebs and Amber Sickler, trombone players. The event began with an audition for chair placement, after which they rehearsed for several hours under the baton of guest conductor Dr. Kenneth Singleton. “This was a great experience and opportunity for us to collaborate with other musicians throughout the state,” said Morgan Hutzenbiler. “It showcased how music can really bring people together.”
REQUIREMENTS
FIRST YEAR FRESHMAN Cumulative High School GPA of 3.25 OR Minimum Standardized Test Score of ACT 22, SAT 1100, or equivalent standardized test score NEW TRANSFER STUDENTS Cumulative Transfer GPA of 3.0 Applicants must also meet all Dickinson State University bachelor’s degree admission requirements and enroll full time.
For more information, visit dickinsonstate.edu/scholarships
“May you live in interesting times.” Some say this is an ancient Chinese curse. Others say it is wonderful to live in interesting times. One way or the other, these are certainly interesting times for all of us and for Dickinson State. In these wonderful days when spring finally starts to overcome winter, our buildings are almost empty. The classrooms where so many amazing faculty members have taught so many of us over the years are quiet. The hill we have such affection for is almost devoid of activity. But fear not. While other campuses across the country may be yielding to a hint of despair, Dickinson State perseveres. Blue Hawks are mighty tough birds, after all. We have faced tougher issues. This one will not defeat us. Our faculty has worked hard to convert their courses to online and other remote delivery systems. Our staff has worked equally hard to support the faculty and the students. It is truly inspiring to see DSU’s faculty and staff working hard for our beloved students. Teaching and advising continue, though they have switched to slightly different formats. Our students—the reason we exist—continue to receive the individual attention that we so treasure at DSU. Because we know how much our students value their interactions with faculty, staff, and fellow students, we held off as long as we could—much later than most in American higher education—before deciding to end face-to-face teaching for the rest of the semester. Frankly, it was painful to make that decision. But we made it because we need to protect our students and employees, as well as the greater Dickinson and southwestern North Dakota communities, from the additional spreading of the COVID-19 virus that would have resulted from in person instruction. In the same vein, it was painful to cancel graduation and other on campus events. Those events, which bring so many DSU supporters to our campus, are part of the lifeblood of our DSU community. We treasure every chance we get to interact with each of you. We will miss seeing you this semester.
In response to a ‘call to action’ from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the Department of Nursing at Dickinson State University (DSU) worked with area medical professionals to donate supplies that would typically be used in classrooms and labs. Dr. Cheryl Lantz, chair of DSU’s Department of Nursing, gathered and distributed personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Southwestern District Health Susan Kuntz, RN (left) is handed a box of PPE by Unit in an effort to combat the Dr. Cheryl Lantz (right), chair of the Department COVID-19 pandemic. of Nursing at DSU. The equipment delivered included about 24 boxes of gloves, 80 isolation gowns, a case of surgical bouffant isolation caps, and about 3 dozen face masks. Lantz’s vehicle full of supplies ready to be donated!
DICKINSON STATE UNIVERSITY offers over 25 affordable and flexible online programs tailored to you
But we will get through this. To the extent possible, we will use online formats for events we usually conduct in person. The Blue Hawk Booster Club Rendezvous was a great model for us. You don’t keep the Blue Hawk Boosters down! As soon as they heard we could no longer have a live event, they converted the Rendezvous—their most important annual fundraiser—to an online format where they raised substantial money for the athletic scholarships that keep our sports teams alive. It was different, but it was still fun and successful. We will follow their lead for other events this spring. We look forward to the day when we will be able to again host face-to-face classes and other live events. In the meantime, though, DSU will remain a lively institution where students learn from outstanding professors. You may have to look online to find us, but when you do, you will see that . . .
LEARN MORE dickinsonstate.edu/online
Hawks Are Up! Steve Easton DSU President While the DSU students were on spring break, I “stepped up” the deep cleaning in Scott Gym. I’m spending extra time making sure surface areas are extremely clean and sanitized for when everything is back to normal. Our entire custodial crew is dedicated to extra sanitizing on campus. Hawks are up! Dale Dolechek Facility Operations
“Taking advantage of home school! These Hawks are very grateful to DSU for keeping us safe during this pandemic! Thank you to our professors, president, custodians, and all other staff at DSU for making these adjustments to help us finish out our school year! We are truly blessed!” #stayhome and #spreadpositivity #HawksAreUp @blue_hawk_vb on Instagram
Hey, everyone! Things have been a little hectic around here, so I wanted to take a step back and tell you a bit about the work our Admissions team has been doing. Things might look a little different at the moment, but we’re continuing to do our best in communicating with our future Blue Hawks! Recruiters in the Office of Admissions have been texting and emailing Dickinson State University’s (DSU) applicants and accepted students. This includes students that have applied or been accepted for this summer and fall, as well as spring, summer and fall of 2021. The number of responses we have received is amazing and we are spending a good chunk of time chatting directly with students! Many of these students appreciated that we sent them a message letting them know the DSU admissions team is here for them during this crazy time. Many students are home from school and are thinking of their future, so they had questions about housing, New Student Registration, and FAFSA. A few even reached out about visiting campus once we are no longer working remotely! This has been a tumultuous time for our incoming students, but it is exciting to see them thinking about their future at Dickinson State! I want to take this opportunity to let you know that everyone at DSU is working hard to keep our campus and community safe and informed. In times like these, we are so thankful to call ourselves Blue Hawks! Best Wishes, Stephanie Osborne Enrollment Recruiter at Dickinson State University
Brooke Hansen, a senior in the nursing program at Dickinson State University, spent a few hours helping her professor transition her Nursing Synthesis course online. Dr. Cheryl Lantz, chair of the Department of Nursing and Hansen’s professor, video-chatted with Hansen as the two set up her course using a software called YuJa. With help from the Technology Resource and Education Center at DSU, the pair succeeded and Lantz’s students will now be able to post their presentations! Lantz wanted to extend her thanks to Hansen. We’re proud to have Blue Hawks like these stepping up to help where they can!
BLUE HAWK SOFTBALL: STRONG START TO A SHORT SEASON
By: Kristen Fleury, Women’s Softball Head Coach
With the sudden cancelation of the 2020 spring season, the Blue Hawk softball team finished their 2020 campaign with an 11-5 record. The Blue Hawks were in Tucson, Arizona on their spring trip when the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Blue Hawks played six games in Arizona going 6-0 and finished the season on a high note. Fortunately for the Blue Hawks, there were no seniors on the 2020 roster, meaning the program will return a talented young group next season. The NAIA released the following official statement, allowing all spring student-athletes to return next year without losing any eligibility for their short competition participation this year: “In an effort to provide relief, no spring sport student-athlete will be charged a season of competition. Any spring sport student-athlete who was enrolled full-time in 2020 will be awarded two additional semester terms of attendance or the equivalent.” With everything going on in our world today regarding COVID-19, it was a sad day for us when we learned our 2020 season was canceled. We were fortunate to be together with many of our family members around supporting us. Though our season was cut short, being in Arizona at the time during our spring trip, a time for our team to grow and get better, I feel we did just that. We were blessed with the opportunity to play six games, six more than many other teams in the country. Our athletes really lived in the moment and took advantage of the opportunities we had on the field together, even with the thought of ‘this could be our last game’. We have a great young group of student athletes who showed great strides throughout our short season and we are excited for the future with them. The future is bright for our program and we will continue to grow and get better, and we look forward to coming back even stronger next year.
ALUMNI S P O T L I G H T
JEREMY MESSER ’07 Owner MESSER DENTAL
Jeremy Messer with his wife, Lindsay, and children, Hudson (5) and Hattie (3).
Tell us a little about your life before you attended Dickinson State University (DSU). I grew up on a farm and ranch south of Richardton, North Dakota. My grandfather, Phillip Messer, originally started it, with my dad, Jerome, and his three bothers, Mark, Greg, and Scotty, all joining him after they graduated high school. I graduated from Richardton Taylor High School in 2003. Why did you choose become a Blue Hawk? I was really set on attending a larger university after high school, but in the end I chose to stay close to home and attend DSU. When I really sat down and thought about it, I realized that the smaller campus and class sizes would most likely fit me better. I now know that it was absolutely the right decision, as it was the perfect choice for me. In what year did you graduate and what degree did you earn? I graduated in 2007 with a major in pre-professional biology and a minor in chemistry. Following DSU, I attended Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon, and graduated in 2011 with a doctorate in dental medicine. I then completed a one-year general practice residency at Palmetto Health Richland Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, graduating in 2012. Was there a certain professor who made a big impact on your life? Man, this is a really hard one because there was certainly more than one. I really don’t know if I could pick one. I would say all of my professors in the science department in Murphy Hall. I have really fond memories of so many of my instructors and classmates. What is a favorite memory you have of your time as an undergraduate? There are two big ones I can think of, the first being the day I met my wife, Lindsay. She also attended DSU and graduated in 2006 with a degree in elementary education. We met the summer of 2005, before my junior year, and had a little spark, and now we have been together almost 15 years and are blessed with two kids. I would say that spark worked out pretty well! Another great memory was also spending a lot of time shadowing Dr. Shannon Galster while I was in undergrad. We discussed dentistry, he helped me apply to dental school, and just gave a lot of good life advice. I really appreciated that; he was a fellow alumni and a great mentor. What are you most proud of when you look back at your time at Dickinson State? I am always so proud to say how well prepared I felt for dental school after graduating from DSU. I was able to not only keep up in dental school, but excel. I also speak a lot about how many other dentists I know that have graduated from DSU and work in the area, such as: Dr. Shannon Galster, Dr. Maria “Duffy” Meyer, Dr. Samuel Sticka, Dr. April Robinson, Dr. Riley Parker, Dr. Kristin Schoch, Dr. Kamila Dornfeld, and myself, just to name a few. DSU has a strong heritage of some great dentists practicing in this area and it makes me very proud! What would you tell someone who is considering attending Dickinson State? I would encourage them to give it a chance, visit the campus, talk to students, and see if it’s a good fit. Sometimes, people write if off because it may be too close to home or too small for them. But the small class sizes, more one-on-one time with professors, and the chance to get some really close relationships with fellow classmates were all huge positives for me.
Further your education with an affordable and flexible Master’s degree at Dickinson State!
How did those relationships affect you while you were at DSU? Do you still keep in touch with any fellow Blue Hawks? I’ll be honest, having close relationships with people was huge for group studying. We really spent a lot of time together studying late into the night, and just making it through undergrad, but a lot of us have made our own way and most are out of state now. We try to stay in touch through social media, mostly. How did DSU help shape your decisions for your path after you graduated? I think it helped me stay grounded. I was honestly terrified going off to dental school in Portland. I was a small town kid, the son of a farmer, and here I was in the middle of a large city, learning beside people who had degrees from big name universities across the country, and that can make you feel very inadequate. Little did I know that the work ethic I learned growing up and the outstanding education I received at DSU, would actually help me excel. We’re so glad to hear that! What are you doing now? I am now in Williston, North Dakota. My wife and I moved here in the summer of 2012, and I worked as an associate dentist for Dr. Ron Seeley for 18 months. We were fortunate that Dr. Seeley and his wife were also great mentors for us and really helped us become integrated into Williston. I then purchased the practice from Dr. Seeley in 2014, and it’s now Messer Dental.
MASTER OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP Gain the skills and knowledge you need to start your own business.
dickinsonstate.edu/ME MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING
Obtain the skills and knowledge you need to teach in your content area.
dickinsonstate.edu/MAT
Do you have any plans for the future you would like to share? Our practice has been growing pretty quickly since 2014, so last year we decided to build a new facility to help us have a little more elbow room for growth. We will be moving sometime in June of this year and are so looking forward to the future. We absolutely love our community and are so excited for our patients and staff. That’s big news! Congratulations, and thanks for sharing!
ADAPTING TO REMOTE LEARNING: YOU’VE GOT THIS, BLUE HAWKS!
BIG BOOTS TO FILL: FRESHMAN STUDENT AT DSU WINS MISS RODEO NORTH DAKOTA WINTER SHOW By: DSU student Amanda D’Aniello
Transitioning into the world of remote learning can be frightening, but don’t stress out! You’re not alone! Here are some tips you should know and advice on how to succeed in remote learning! Communicate with your instructor. Transitioning into remote learning platforms can be overwhelming and can be a drastic change from the face-to-face learning that you’re used to. However, connecting with your instructor early and often about topics such as course expectations, assignments and the materials you’ll need, can help ease this transition. Stay connected and know that faculty are there to help you. Don’t hesitate to each out to them with any questions – they want you to succeed! Stay organized and manage your time. It may seem all fun and games when you’re taking your first online exam in your pajamas after binge watching ‘The Walking Dead’ the night before, but having a remote course load requires time management. Get organized and make yourself a daily routine. Try not to let yourself ‘off-the-hook’ when it comes to studying and staying on top of your assignments. Make the commitment to be successful! You’ve got this! Find your space. Find a dedicated space where you can focus and get your assignments completed. Determine what kind of environment leads you to greater productivity and remember to make sure you have access to everything you need in one place, snacks included! If the weather is nice, consider doing your reading outside for a change of scenery! Fresh air is good for the soul!
Lindsey Miller loves rodeo. No one can deny that. She’s been riding horses since she could walk and participating in the sport since age four. She started youth rodeo at age 11 and gave it her all. Her efforts have paid off in the numerous buckles she’s won at various rodeos and barrel races. After years of practice and growth, she won the title “Miss Rodeo North Dakota Winter Show” this year and the Dickinson State University community couldn’t be more proud of this Blue Hawk. A lifelong North Dakotan, and lover of rodeo, Lindsey is a wonderful role model for women and girls across the state, a fantastic representative of our school, the sport of rodeo, and agriculturalists all over. She’s currently a freshman majoring in agricultural education, with a minor in agricultural business. All that studying came in handy as the self-described “major planner” prepared herself for the Miss Rodeo North Dakota Winter Show. In preparation for the competition, Lindsey rehearsed her speech tirelessly. She says, “I wrote my speech months in advance and said it to whoever would listen. Ask my roommate and students in the ag department – they heard it numerous times!” Then, she quizzed herself on hundreds of agriculture and equine facts to be sure she had the breadth of knowledge required for this competition. She also practiced riding unfamiliar horses in anticipation of the horsemanship competition. Linsey explains, “Rodeo queens do more than just look pretty. We are cowgirls first and that is why horsemanship is one of the biggest categories we are judged on!” In addition to the horsemanship competition, participants also competed in appearance and personality categories of the pageant. These categories were judged based on her speech, an interview and two outfits which she modeled for judges. Lindsey’s knowledge of all things agriculture came in handy, along with her warm, bubbly personality and natural beauty. In the end, her hard work paid off, and she was selected as the best representative of the cowgirls of the State of North Dakota. Upon winning, Lindsey felt excited, proud and just a bit nervous. In her own words, she said, “Being Miss Rodeo North Dakota Winter Show is a big deal and I knew I had big boots to fill.” For her hard work, the winner receives a load of goodies. These goodies include chaps, a buckle, a sash, a headstall, a wild rag and a crown. She also received a scholarship to aid her in funding her higher education and the opportunity to help the organization by traveling and promoting the Miss Rodeo North Dakota Winter Show. To help her do that, she was also gifted a horse trailer to use for the duration of her travels and for the year during which she holds this title.
Participate… participate… participate! Get actively involved in your online classes! Whether that’s discussion posts, emails or having video chats to ask a million questions, stay connected! Engage with your classmates and instructors. They miss you, too! Take advantage of DSU’s resources. In addition to the many free resources you can find online, Dickinson State University also has a wide variety of resources to help you achieve success during your educational journey. Check out the Technology Resource and Education Center’s webpage for more information at dickinsonstate.edu/trec! Can’t find what you’re looking for? Use our handy contact form and we’ll get back to you right away! Contact form can be found here: bit.ly/TRECHelp.
dsuupdates.com/student-faq/
Lindsey advises future participants to just start somewhere. She says, “To be good at anything you need to just dive head in and work your way up. Nothing comes from being complacent! Just start and give it all you got!” She’s gracious enough to share her secrets to any cowgirl interested in reaching out to her personally. Afterall, her favorite part of these competitions has been the people she meets along the way, about her fellow competitors she says, “Nothing brings me more joy than spending time with my sash sisters while we represent the greatest sport on dirt – rodeo!” Now that she’s won the winter show, Lindsey will be competing in the Miss Rodeo North Dakota main show. Miss Rodeo North Dakota is open to women ages 18-26 in the state of North Dakota. This competition started in 1955 to promote “communities, the western lifestyle & economies, and participating supporters.” The winner must demonstrate “abilities to communicate and relate to the public, their familiarity with current events and agriculture, and the drive to make a difference among her peers.” The whole DSU community will be rooting for her as she continues to make us proud!
DICKINSON STATE UNIVERSITY EVENTS CANCELED:
PENDING FURTHER UPDATES:
Apr. 1
DSU at BSC Day
Apr. 3
Lenten Fish “Fry”
Apr. 3
Faculty Recital - Dr. Jeremy Wohletz & Dr. Tsai-Ying Li
Apr. 4
WorkKeys Testing
Apr. 7
Percussion Studio Recital
Apr. 8
Global Table
Apr. 9
Comedian Hypnotist Eric Mina
Apr. 15
Film Premiere, “The Man on the Island: Finding Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial”
Apr. 16
Talk and Book Signing, “Theodore Roosevelt, Naturalist in the Arena”
Apr. 16
Open House for Non-Traditional Prospective Students
Apr. 16
Talk and Book Signing, “Theodore Roosevelt, Naturalist in the Arena”
Apr. 17
Talk and Book Signing, “Theodore Roosevelt, Naturalist in the Arena”
Apr. 17
DSU Track- Blue Hawk Games
Apr. 17
Talk and Book Signing, “Theodore Roosevelt, Naturalist in the Arena”
Apr. 17
Militiawomen: The Women Who Fought the Spanish Civil War (Milicianas)
Apr. 18
ALBA Institute Professional Development Day: Why the Spanish Civil War Still Matters
Apr. 21
One Red Paperclip Auction
Apr. 25
Teamster Clinic
Apr. 26
Teamster Clinic
Apr. 27
Ball in the House
Apr. 30
Spring Band Concert
Apr. 21
Multi-Industry Job Fair
Apr. 22
Coffee & Conversation with members of the President’s Cabinet
virtual DISCOVER DSU DAY Monday, April 6, 2020 9 a.m. - Noon (MST) AT EACH DISCOVER DSU DAY, THERE WILL BE A DRAWING FOR A
$500 SCHOLARSHIP! You must be online to win.
dickinsonstate.edu/dsudays
DSU Events - www.dickinsonstate.edu/events
Athletic Events - www.dsubluehawks.com
FOLLOW US DSU NEWS
dickinsonstate.edu/news
www.facebook.com/dickinsonstate
www.twitter.com/dickinsonstate
www.instagram.com/dickinsonstate
The Blue Hawk Bulletin is a publication created by the Office of University Relations at Dickinson State University. dsu.communications@dickinsonstate.edu 701.483.2787 DSU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs, activities, or employment. Contact the Affirmative Action Officer/Title IX Coordinator for questions (May Hall, Room 309-A; 701-483-2370; dsu.titleix@dickinsonstate.edu)