M State 20th Anniversary Magazine

COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION

CARRIE BRIMHALL

President

MARK BANNATYNE

Dean for the School of Applied Technology

CRAIG BEYTIEN

Vice President – Strategic Engagement

MATTHEW BORCHERDING

Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs

ALICIA CARLEY

Dean for the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences

SCOTT EBSEN

Interim Dean of Students

STEVEN ERICKSON

Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness and Technology

DACIA JOHNSON

Vice President of Human Resources

KEN KOMPELIEN

Dean for the School of Health Sciences, Human Services and Nursing

PATRICK NORDICK

Vice President of Finance and Facilities

KAREN REILLY

Dean of Integrated Communication

JOCELYN SANTANA

Dean of Equity and Inclusion

ELISE STURDIVANT

Vice President of Student Affairs

MARSHA WEBER

Dean for the School of Business and Information Technology and Extended Learning

MAGAZINE CONTENT AND DESIGN

Karen Reilly, Dean of Integrated Communications

Alyssa Campion, 20th Anniversary Chair

Marie Johnson, Senior Communications Specialist

Tina Bartels, Layout and Design

This 20th Anniversary publication is the property of Minnesota State Community and Technical College. It is published by the college’s Communications and Marketing Department. Articles may be reproduced without permission if credit is given to the institution.

M State is an equal opportunity educator and employer and a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities.

©2023

FERGUS FALLS CAMPUS

Providing high-quality academic programs in the liberal arts and health services for more than half a century.

M State gave me the tools, skills and knowledge to achieve a great career.

-Janine Corbin, M State retiree and two-time graduate

MISSION

Minnesota State Community and Technical College specializes in affordable and exceptional education, service, and workforce training. We welcome all students and engage them in shaping their futures and their communities.

VISION

A success story for every student.

VALUES INTEGRITY

As dedicated professionals, we act with purpose in everything we do. We are sincere and honest in our relationships and communications, and hold ourselves accountable to doing the right thing even when no one is watching.

INCLUSION

We welcome, respect and accept people for who they are and celebrate the power of our collective differences in creating and shaping more robust, energized communities.

INNOVATION

Through the power of our four campuses, strategic partnerships and creative problem-solving, we enhance communities. We incorporate technology to improve the student experience, and we see continuous improvement as a constant.

Message

The campuses that make up Minnesota State Community and Technical College have been serving students and communities for decades. This year, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of M State, which was founded when the Fergus Falls Community College and Northwest Technical College campuses in Detroit Lakes, Moorhead and Wadena joined in 2003.

Over the past 20 years, we have grown to serving more than 14,000 students and learners annually in credit-based programming through on-campus, online, telepresence, blended courses and concurrent courses for high school students and in non-credit courses and trainings. We have served 157,101 students, including many who came to us for workforce development training or to enroll in a few courses. Others enrolled with the intent to graduate, seeking a diploma or twoyear degree before embarking on their careers or transferring to a four-year university. We’re honored to have celebrated the accomplishments of 21,532 M State graduates.

As I reflect on the history of our college, I am proud of the foundation created by those who led, taught and served before us, and I am proud of the tremendous amount

M STATE PRESIDENTS THROUGH THE YEARS

I am proud of the and innovation

from the President

of transformation and innovation we have experienced since 2003. Our mission continues to focus on teaching and serving our students and communities. The vision of M State is to be, “A success story for every student.” We achieve this through our mission: “to specialize in affordable and exceptional education, service, and workforce training. We welcome all students and engage them in shaping their futures and their communities.”

The transformation we’ve experienced over the last 20 years has positioned the college well for this uncertain time in higher education. Although we cannot predict the ways in which we will continue to transform, I continue to be excited about our future because I am certain we will continue to hire the best people to do the rewarding work of educating and serving students. Our staff and faculty choose to be in education because they believe in our mission. Throughout times of uncertainty, they find creative ways to remove barriers for students and innovate to serve the needs of our communities.

We continue to focus on affordable and quality academics and training. With over 70 career and liberal arts programs at our four campuses, online, and at two training sites, M State adjusts offerings to meet regional workforce needs. We also serve

500 companies with over 100,000 hours of job-specific training every year, throughout the nation and region.

Finally, and most importantly, we believe the students we teach and serve are truly inspiring and incredible; they are increasingly diverse in all aspects of their lives and identities. We meet them where they are and offer support and services to ensure they can succeed. We know our students’ needs extend beyond the classroom, and each year we learn more about what we can do to help them be successful.

We understand our future will involve more adaptation, and we are strong and well-positioned to innovate while holding on to the things that make M State special.

We are grateful for the leaders who had the vision of what we could be, together. We are honored to continue to teach and serve students in our region and we are fortunate to have thousands of business and community partners and alumni who have supported us every step of the way.

Dr. Carrie Brimhall, M State President

the tremendous amount of transformation innovation we have experienced since 2003.

Celebrating a

20 years of affordable, exceptional education and workforce

training

Twenty years ago, four community and technical college campuses joined forces to become a single pillar of postsecondary education in west central Minnesota – a stronger, comprehensive multicampus institution with the means to serve the region’s academic and workforce needs for many years to come: Minnesota State Community and Technical College.

Known best today as M State, the new college brought together the longstanding community college in Fergus Falls with the Detroit Lakes, Moorhead and Wadena campuses of the former Northwest Regional Technical College. It was publicized as a ‘best of both worlds’ marriage of vocational, technical and occupational programming with a liberal arts and transfer curriculum.

The union of the four campuses gave M State a distinct identity and advantage in the region as well as a healthy, sustainable outlook for the future. It also gave the college an uncommonly large geographic footprint and student population: After the merger, M State became the largest twoyear college in Greater Minnesota.

‘BUILDING ON HISTORIC PARTNERSHIPS’

In celebration of the new consortium, each of M State’s campuses held public

“Meet Your New College” events, where a new logo was unveiled and community members had the opportunity to meet and visit with their new campus provosts.

Steve Guttormson, then-director of public relations at the Fergus Falls campus, told local news media, “It’s an exciting time… We’re looking forward to a bright future.”

The merger came after months of discussion and planning by the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. The Board voted in approval of the plan on January 23, 2003, and M State officially came into being on July 1 of that year.

The college’s name was chosen after extensive input and research by a team of graduate students from North Dakota State University.

Ken Peeders, the first president of M State, wrote a newspaper editorial at the time of the merger to share the college’s vision for “building on the historic partnerships” that had already existed between the four M State campuses and other Minnesota State system colleges and universities, and

of “committing to a regional approach to curriculum development, to shared services, to distance education, to nursing, and to customized training.”

He wrote that, “This merger provides the campuses with the opportunity to craft a sound future, both for this community and for our region.”

SEPTEMBER 1960

Classes begin at Fergus Falls Junior College (M State Fergus Falls)

ilestone

‘THE PROGRESS IS AMAZING’

In spring 2004, nine months into the formation of M State, Peeders provided an update on how the transition was going, writing in the college’s quarterly newsletter that, “The progress is amazing… Programs are being aligned. Campus policies, procedures and processes are being merged.”

NOVEMBER 1961

Classes begin at Wadena Area Technical Institute (M State Wadena); new school facility completed the following year

“An immediate goal,” he added, “is the development of college mission and vision statements that will accurately reflect and include all four campuses. Institutional assessment and assessment of student learning are other major emphases.”

The process of merging four unique campuses was challenging, but there was optimism in the campus communities about the new learning and career opportunities the merger could lead to.

JANUARY 1965

Moorhead Area Vocational Technical Institute (M State Moorhead) founded; classes begin the following year

SEPTEMBER 1966

Classes begin at Detroit Lakes Area Vocational Technical Institute (M State Detroit Lakes)

It is a great opportunity to get your career started, and financially, M State makes a lot of sense.

-Alicia (Vareberg) Muer, 2006 graduate

In May 2004, more than 1,200 students became the first graduates to earn M State degrees, certificates and diplomas.

A little over a year later, the college’s new president, Ann Valentine, continued her predecessor’s focus on unifying the four campuses. In the summer 2005 edition of the college newsletter, she wrote about M State being a “large and complex organization” with many ideas, voices, forces and people.

1967

New Moorhead Area Vocational Technical Institute facility opens on 42-acre campus; facility is expanded multiple times before becoming part of M State, including projects in 1972, ‘75, ‘77, ‘83, ‘84, ‘89 and ‘90

“We want to join with each other and our communities in one response as we serve our communities together,” Valentine stated. “Our campuses are each complex and unique, but each has the common goal of service and responsiveness… As we face the future, we look ahead with energy, enthusiasm and well-founded confidence.”

That confident, enthusiastic energy has continued to reverberate down the halls of M State over the past 20 years. M State has consistently grown and progressed

in pursuit of the best possible alignment between the college’s offerings and evolving student and community needs. Today, M State offers over 70 career and liberal arts programs that cover a wide range of career interests, with courses offered on campus, online, and in mixed formats.

LEADERSHIP AND OPERATIONS

M State is a member of the Minnesota State system, which encompasses 26 colleges and seven universities throughout the state. As such, M State is guided by the policies and procedures of the Minnesota State Board of Trustees, a 15-member volunteer governing body, along with local policies and procedures developed by M State leadership.

M State is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and must meet the commission’s high standards for academic rigor, faculty qualifications, student learning outcomes and other quality measurements. The accreditation process happens every 10 years; M State was most recently reaccredited in summer 2023.

1980s

1968

New Fergus Falls Junior College facility opens on 142-acre campus

On-campus student apartments built in Fergus Falls; campus also opens Waage Fine Arts Center

At M State, you are going to get the best education, the best step up, the best training for trades-based programs. You also get support from hundreds of amazing people and students who just want to see you succeed.

-Josh Hansen, 2019 graduate

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

ALICIA CARLEY Dean for the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences

With all the options available in higher education, it can be an intimidating and overwhelming process for students to find their path. At M State, there’s no need to have all the answers on day one; students can take coursework in the liberal arts and humanities to develop intellectually and gain general knowledge and skills as they determine exactly the right path for them.

Students planning to complete a fouryear degree after attending M State have several transfer pathway options that offer seamless transfer to any Minnesota State system university, as well as select options with Arizona State University and Concordia College. One of M State’s popular transfer options is the Psychology Transfer Pathway. Students in this program can participate in career events and clubs with other area psychology students through a partnership with Concordia.

For students concerned about the cost of textbooks, M State’s AA Liberal Arts degree offers Zero Textbook Cost Courses, otherwise known as Z-Degree courses, which can be completed without any textbook costs. Since fall of 2022, M State has offered over 70 unique Z-Degree courses. It is estimated that students in a Z-Degree program can save almost $2,000 per year – $4,000 for a twoyear degree. Thanks to a recent grant award, M State will be expanding that list to over 100 courses by 2025.

Performance opportunities continue to be offered in our Fine Arts department. New this fall is a Hip Hop class, in which students will learn the nuances of making beats and arranging tracks. All students are welcome to participate in theatre performances and music activities, whether they’re pursuing a Fine Arts degree or enjoy the arts as a creative outlet.

Meeting our ission

Our mission states: “Minnesota State Community and Technical College specializes in affordable and exceptional education, service, and workforce training. We welcome all students and engage them in shaping their futures and their communities.”

WELCOMING AND ENGAGING ALL STUDENTS

M State’s student body has grown increasingly diverse over the past 20 years, and the college – particularly the Office of Equity and Inclusion – seeks out initiatives, events, partnerships and other opportunities to reach out and engage current and prospective students in inclusive ways.

M State takes part in collaborative efforts like the state system’s Equity by Design

initiative, and in innovative partnerships aimed at inclusivity. In 2022, for example, the college partnered with Xcel Energy and the Minnesota State Energy Center of Excellence to launch a new, inclusive training program in electrical linework – a Twin Cities-based program designed to engage more students with diverse backgrounds in the field.

Today, there are more students of color enrolled at M State than ever before. In 2023, 28% of M State students identified as Black, Hispanic, Asian, American Indian or other non-white racial identity – a higher percentage than within the general populations of any of M State’s four campus communities.

Since 2003, the majority of M State students – 60% – have identified as female, 20% have been among the first generation in their family to go to college, and 34% have been eligible for federal Pell grants, meaning they displayed an exceptional financial need. Those percentages have all been on the rise in recent years, especially the number of students who are Pelleligible, which is now at 50%.

When student and community needs change, M State responds by adapting its programs or services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when more students were facing financial hardship and struggling to meet their nutritional needs, M State introduced

1995

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system comes into being

JANUARY 23, 2003

Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system votes to create a single new regional community and technical college in west central Minnesota

J ULY 1, 2003

Minnesota State Community and Technical College comes into being; Ken Peeders appointed first president of M State

new or expanded food pantries at all four campuses. The college also emphasized its free counseling services and spread the word about other mental health resources available to students.

AFFORDABILITY

M State has one of the lowest college tuition rates in the state, at $180.80 per credit for Minnesota residents. What’s more, thanks to innovative programs and partnerships, more than half of all degree-seeking students at M State attend completely tuition-free – 52% in 2022.

M State is also fortunate to have two foundations that advocate and fundraise for the college and its students: M State Foundation and Alumni, and Fergus Area College Foundation. Donations raised go toward student scholarships and classroom resources. In fiscal year 2022, the foundations awarded 221 student scholarships totaling more than $350,000.

TOP MAJORS

Over the past 20 years

“The students we serve have more needs and the communities we serve have different needs than they did just a few years ago,” says President Brimhall. “M State is strong and well-positioned to respond in meaningful ways, and we are always open to honing and enhancing our services for the good of our students and communities.”

2004

M State receives accreditation by Higher Learning Commission; also, first Empty Bowls fundraiser held on Fergus Falls campus

In addition, the college continues to implement new Z-Degree (Zero Textbook Cost) programs and courses, which can save students hundreds and even thousands of dollars over the course of a two-year program. M State announced this past year that it would soon be offering two new 60-credit Z-Degree programs –two of the first Z-Degree options in the state to go beyond a basic Associate of Arts degree.

SUMMER 2005

2007

President Peeders retires; Ann Valentine appointed new president

Legacy Hall and Charles Beck Gallery open at Fergus Falls campus (Charles Beck pictured)

The instructors at M State really care about their students. You aren’t just a number.

-James Stenger, 2009 graduate

OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT

REGIONAL ECONOMIC IMPACT: THEN AND NOW

2003

$70 million total economic impact

1,045 jobs supported

2022

$230 million total economic impact

OVER 1,700 jobs supported

M State is also part of Tri-College University, a consortium of five higher education institutions in the region that work cooperatively to give students more course and program options. Through the course exchange program, students enrolled at M State can take two courses per semester at other Tri-College institutions, at the M State tuition rate and without going through separate admissions procedures.

In addition, M State works with over 35 school districts in west central rural Minnesota to offer college-level courses to high school students. M State’s concurrent enrollment program, or CEP, was one

damage to Wadena campus

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

DR. MARK W. MCK. BANNATYNE Dean for the School of Applied Technology

Not since the end of World War II have companies sought to hire so many trained technicians. Due to an increase in early retirements because of the COVID-19 pandemic, industry and private service businesses are at a loss to fill positions as quickly as needed. Companies across the nation are encouraging people of all ages to enter the skilled trades by offering signing bonuses, tuition reimbursement, and apprenticeships and internships. The result of the shortage of qualified workers is being witnessed in many of the programs offered by M State’s School of Applied Technology.

For example, in 2022, M State embarked on a shared training opportunity with Xcel

Energy, establishing a new Minneapolisbased Electrical Line Worker Technology (ELWT) program. At the same time, the existing Wadena-based ELWT program saw rising enrollment, as did the Diesel and Electrical Technology programs. This caused additional sections of the first-year programs to be created.

Also, the Automotive Service Technology program created a second advisory board in 2022 to promote the training of electric vehicle (EV) technicians. The number of EVs in the U.S. is growing fast, and the future will need more technicians trained to repair and maintain EVs. M State has positioned itself to be on the forward edge of this need.

With the future needs of our state and nation always on our minds, programs in HVAC and refrigeration, plumbing, architectural CADD, construction management and more are being looked at for expansion. And our PowerSports Technology program, after 55 years in Detroit Lakes, will be fully moved over to the transportation wing of our Moorhead campus by fall 2024, opening up instructional space for the creation of a new manufacturing and technical training center at the Detroit Lakes campus.

$430K wind turbines constructed on Fergus Falls and Wadena campuses to reduce energy costs

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

DR. MARSHA WEBER Dean for the School of Business and Information Technology and Extended Learning

Students in the School of Business and Information Technology choose from programs in high demand areas such as Digital Marketing, Business, Management and Marketing, Accounting, Administrative Support, Human Resources, Cybersecurity, Computer Programming, Information Technology, Database Management and Graphic Design. The school offers inperson and online programs to provide students with options that fit their lives.

All students in our business programs enroll in a common core that allows them to take up to two semesters to decide on their area of study. Our excellent faculty members provide students with hands-on learning experiences and many opportunities to connect with local and regional businesses.

Our IT students learn cutting-edge skills in programming, database management, IT support and cybersecurity. Students participate in a cybersecurity competition each year, where they work as a team to solve a realistic cybersecurity problem. Students in Graphic Design use their creative and technical skills to prepare for exciting careers in design.

In fall semester 2024, we will be adding an associate degree in Agribusiness and a certificate in Entrepreneurship. We are very excited about these new programs that will better serve our communities and our students.

M State became the host for the West Central Minnesota Small Business

Development Center (SBDC) in January 2023. The SBDC helps businesses start, grow and succeed by providing no-cost consulting services and connections to financing sources and other expertise. Our students can gain business experience by working with staff, business consultants and clients.

M State offers students many highdemand programs taught by excellent faculty. Students gain real business and IT experience by interacting with professionals in their area of study and through experiential learning projects and activities.

M State’s vision, “A success story for every student,” truly comes to life when students enroll in our programs.

employees receive the skills-based training they need to be successful.”

As a recent example of the kind of innovative services WDS can provide and the unique partnerships it seeks out, this

AUGUST 2016

$6.5M Transportation Center opens, Moorhead campus

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

DR. KEN KOMPELIEN Dean for the School of Health Sciences, Human Services and Nursing

Health sciences and human services careers are in high demand, and labor market trends support the importance of pursuing careers in these fields. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that healthcare and human service occupations will grow 15% between 2019 and 2029, adding about 2.4 million new jobs. The aging baby boomer generation, along with increased life expectancy, will continue the increased demand for healthcare and human services. As a result, healthcare and human service occupations are expected to be some of the fastest-growing and most in-demand in the coming years. M State’s School of Health Sciences, Human Services and Nursing is well-positioned to prepare students for these careers.

The school offers students a wide range of programs, including Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, Health Information Technology, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Laboratory Technology, Phlebotomy, Practical Nursing, Registered

Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Surgical Technology, Cosmetology, Nail and Eyelash Technician, Esthetician, Massage Therapy, Early Childhood Education, and a new program in SonographyEchocardiography Technology.

Faculty members in the School of Health Sciences, Human Services and Nursing are experienced professionals in their respective fields. They are committed to providing students with an education that is current, relevant and applicable to healthcare and human services industries. The school services students on all four M State campuses, providing state-of-the-art facilities and equipment and emphasizing hands-on learning and real-world experience.

M State School of Health Sciences, Human Services and Nursing graduates are well-prepared to meet the needs of the growing healthcare industry.

MESSAGE FROM THE PROVOST

DR. MATTHEW J. BORCHERDING Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs

It is an exciting time to be studying science, mathematics or engineering at M State.

This year, we launched our new Bioscience one-year certificate, which provides students with sufficient laboratory skills for entry-level positions at cutting-edge biomanufacturing companies such as Aldevron, in Fargo. Students who want to learn more after completing the certificate can enroll in our two-year Biology Transfer Pathway as a sophomore to round out their skills in preparation for transferring to a baccalaureate program at any of our partner universities. Students interested in pursuing advanced degrees in medicine, dentistry or pharmacy can enroll in our Pre-Professional Health transfer program. Using state-of-the-art equipment, such as virtual dissection tables, students have opportunities to explore the depths of the human body in unprecedented ways.

For students who prefer building things over biology, or who like to figure out how things work, or who are good at math, we’re here to help them get where they want to go. They might consider our Engineering transfer program as a way to prepare for an exciting career in one of many fields of engineering. Our two-year program transfers seamlessly to North Dakota State University’s renowned Engineering program.

No matter what career path a student wants to explore, the faculty members within the School of Science and Mathematics are here to help and guide every student along the way. Our instructors care about the success of every student as an individual, and are at every student’s side for every step of the way along their own unique educational journeys.

ENROLLMENT BY CAMPUS

Over the past 20 years, where have M State students primarily attended class? 7% DETROIT LAKES 11% FERGUS FALLS 31% MOORHEAD 8% WADENA 27% ONLINE 17% CONCURRENT $1M+ GRANTS AND INITIATIVES

$4.2 MILLION

Grant in 2023 from the U.S. Department of Labor to expand equitable access to training for good-paying jobs in key regional industries, particularly healthcare. Funds will be used to modernize and upgrade healthcare simulation equipment, close equity gaps in healthcare programs, and implement student success and professional development programs to increase completion in healthcare programs, especially for historically underrepresented student populations.

$2 MILLION

Title III grant in 2022 from the U.S. Department of Education. Dispersed over a five-year period, the grant provides services, programs and faculty training opportunities designed to enhance student support and facilitate greater student success rates, especially among BIPOC and part-time students.

LOOKING AHEAD

M State recently announced a bold and broad academic plan for the future that calls for new or reimagined programming as well as targeted investments in the most in-demand programs and initiatives. The plan is expected to be rolled out over the next three years and entails facility upgrades and academic program adjustments across all four campuses.

“We wanted to determine a specific educational ‘niche’ for each of our campuses,” explains President Brimhall. “We are excited to be re-imagining our presence in our campus communities. We see this as an opportunity to adapt and better support our

$2.5 MILLION

Federal Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant in 2014, to train 450 regional residents for careers in the construction and utilities industries. M State was also a partner in a related $15 million grant awarded to the Minnesota Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, a consortium of 13 Minnesota State system campuses.

$2.25 MILLION

Federal Title III grant in 2013, the largest grant in the college’s history at the time, to better serve low-income students through improved academic quality, institutional management and fiscal stability.

regional economy, which we believe will propel us into an even stronger future.”

M State’s plans for collegewide growth and investment include increased connections with area high schools, additional workforce training opportunities, and re-honed and expanded healthcare programming at all four campuses.

“For the past 20 years, students have been our number one focus at M State,” says Brimhall. “That priority will never change. ‘A success story for every student’ is our vision, and we will keep working to realize that vision – for the next 20 years and beyond.”

Memorable oments Campus happenings

that made headlines

IRAQ WAR EFFORTS

Using special desert camouflage colors, students from M State’s sign department fashioned 16 special commemorative license plates for military use in Iraq in the winter of 2005. The plates were made for Humvees used by the National Guard 1st Battalion, 194th Armored Division, which included companies from the region. The sign department made the plates using a special foil lettering process and non-reflective coating to assure no undue attention was drawn to the Humvees. The Detroit Lakesbased class also made two large commemorative plates.

LEGACY HALL OPENS

In late January 2007, the Fergus Falls Daily Journal ran a photo of visitors touring Legacy Hall at the M State Fergus Falls campus during an open house event that featured live music and drew a crowd of 450 people to the new facility. The campus expansion project included new classrooms, art studios and indoor connections to all buildings. The newspaper’s editor lauded the expansion as “clearly good for the local area” as well as “students throughout the state” by attracting new students and invigorating the local economy.

MOORHEAD FLOODING

Record-setting floods raged in the Fargo-Moorhead area in April 2009. M State temporarily canceled classes at the Moorhead campus, and the campus became known as “mini sandbag central,” according to media. As many as 400 volunteers, most of them M State students, filled the Moorhead campus parking lot every day during the peak of the crisis, filling and loading sandbags for transport by skid steers provided by the college’s diesel technology program. Culinary Arts students made 7,000 meals a day for distribution to volunteers across the area. In all, some 2,000 M State students pitched in to help with the relief efforts. It wasn’t the first time M State assisted with such efforts – students and staff have helped fight floods in the Moorhead area since at least 1997.

HISTORIC TORNADO

A historic EF-4 tornado raked through Wadena on June 17, 2010, injuring 34 people and destroying many homes, businesses and buildings, including the local high school. M State’s Wadena campus suffered about $5 million in damage. Still, it wasn’t enough to keep the college closed, and M State came to the community’s aid by sharing its facilities with the high school from fall 2010 to spring 2011. The college reconfigured rooms and consolidated programs to make it work, giving high school students a place to learn while their school was being rebuilt. Students from M State also helped with cleanup and rebuilding efforts; Carpentry Science students built a new 3,200-square-foot, twostory home and garage to replace a home demolished by the cyclone (pictured).

KEBEH ‘GRACE’ KUTUACQUOI

Moved to action by the death of her beloved brother, this M State nursing student is getting a modern hospital built in her West African homeland

On what began as an ordinary day in late 2020, Ma Krubo Wolobah was driven to a large grassy lot on the outskirts of Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, her West African homeland. Told only that it was “a surprise,” she had no idea why she was brought there.

She scanned the landscape, taking note of the expansive open field before her and its border of thick green brush and palm trees. Unlike the densely populated capital city that bustled nearby, with its back-to-back buildings and chaotic crowd scenes, this place was wide open and quiet. It was peaceful.

She took in the view, and drew a deep breath. Peaceful moments like this were to be savored.

For most of Ma Krubo’s life in Liberia, peace was overshadowed by crime, disease, poverty, political unrest and war, including

two civil wars. A loving mother of four grown children, she lost her oldest son, Theory, in 2018, a death that could have been prevented if only there had been access to adequate medical care. A few years before then, she lost seven family members in the historic Ebola outbreak that killed over 4,800 Liberians.

Now, she and her friends and family were under threat again, this time from the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Yet somehow, there at the grassy lot that day, Ma Krubo sensed something good

was about to happen. Something big. Something within her just knew: This was a special place.

Lilac Homes Assisted Living in Moorhead, where she worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant Supervisor before enrolling in school full-time about a year ago.

Kebeh “Grace” Kutuacquoi, the thirdborn of Ma Krubo’s four children, became a mother herself at the age of 15, giving birth to her son, Theory, in 2009. Her trusted father, a doctor, delivered the baby.

Grace named Theory after her beloved big brother, whom she looked up to. When he died at the age of 36, nine years after the birth of his namesake nephew, Grace was grief-stricken – and dismayed at the state of healthcare in her home country.

When the new hospital is complete, it will offer the kind of modernized healthcare that currently does not exist in Liberia. The kind of care that could have saved her big brother. She’s building it in honor of him.

Grace’s hope is to open the hospital within the next two years, after she finishes college. She plans to move back to Liberia for a couple years after that to help get the hospital up and running. She already has a physician in place to work there, a medical school graduate who’s a friend of her father’s.

Her trusted older sister, Yarmah, a nurse, will manage the hospital long-term, overseeing at least 30 other employees. The facility will offer a full range of medical services, including surgeries. Patient rooms will hold one to four beds each, depending on the size and privacy level of the room, and will have a small refrigerator, table, closet and more.

The site near Monrovia where an empty field once sat is now a bustling hub of activity, with a large horseshoe-shaped cement brick building standing at its center. For the past year-and-a-half, construction crews have been hard at work there, mixing cement and laying bricks to erect the building.

The workers have done much of the labor by hand, often with no shoes on their feet. They mix the cement, form the cement bricks, and lay the dried bricks, all by hand. As of this past spring, they’d made and laid 4,600 bricks for the project, using 250 bags of cement.

“This is a dream,” Grace says. “I’m putting my all into this, to be able to help people.”

She’s already given the hospital a name: Ma Krubo Medical Clinic.

“The healthcare situation back home in Liberia, it’s crazy; it’s really bad,” Grace says. “My brother was diagnosed with liver problems in 2015, and that’s like a life sentence there… We took him to a lot of hospitals and were told there was nothing we could do.”

“If he had been here in the U.S., he would still be here with us,” she adds. “When he passed, I realized exactly what I wanted to do: I wanted to take care of my people.”

Now living in the Fargo-Moorhead area, Grace has remained remarkably true to that goal, continuing to take care of her people. From her new home 5,000 miles away, the 30-year-old single mother and M State nursing student is spearheading, funding, and overseeing the construction of a new hospital in her old homeland.

She designed the 17-room, 28-bed facility herself, inspired by the look and layout of

For their efforts, they’re each paid $7 a day – twice the usual day’s wage in Liberia. Grace also ensures they’re well-fed and have a place to sleep at night. She says none of that would actually be necessary, though, as the workers told her they’d come even without pay, because they believe so strongly in what she’s doing.

“They are so grateful for it,” she says of the local response to the project. “There’s nothing like this hospital for hundreds of miles around there. The place is really nice, and it’s in a really nice, quiet area.”

Grace was in Liberia from December 2021 to February 2022 to be on-site for the start of construction. Since returning to Minnesota, she’s been on the phone every day with her father and brother, who are her eyes and ears on the ground, to ensure things are continuing to progress. She’s also frequently talking to Monrovia area community members, who are eager to have the facility up and running and like to check in on how construction is going.

Ma Krubo worries about her family. Her husband is ailing but spends his healing energy on others before himself. Two of her three surviving children are facing the all-too-familiar hardships of life in Liberia. And the third, a daughter, has been far out of her reach for years, living overseas in another land.

I wanted to take care of my people.”

LEARN MORE

For more information about Ma Krubo Medical Clinic, and/or to make a donation to the clinic, contact Grace at kamaratheory@gmail.com.

and – since 2019, when Theory moved over to be with her – her son, as well. She’s also regularly sent money back home to her parents and siblings in Liberia.

On top of that, she’s saved enough money to pay for Ma Krubo Medical Clinic.

“Five dollars here is worth $1,500 back home,” she explains. “The land I bought was $4,500 U.S. dollars. I own the whole block. The whole project so far (as of spring 2023) is $27,000. The only thing left to do is put on a roof and doors and

With the land and building paid for, Grace is now looking at acquiring furnishings, equipment and supplies. She’s committed to getting the hospital opened and operating successfully, and to keeping it

Her goal is for Ma Krubo Medical Clinic to be exactly what its motto proclaims it to be: “Hope for the new generation.”

Success Stories

#MSTATEPROUD

My fiancée is an M State alum,

and was when I made my decision to enroll. I went from a lost man to determined due to the passing of my older brother; I wanted to be better for his memory, for the love of my life, and for myself. I enjoyed the culture and clubs at M State, serving as Student Government Association President for two years at the Moorhead campus and, through the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, being recognized as a member of the Minnesota All-State Academic Team. M State shaped my passion for higher education and let me know I can and will achieve my dreams. I have learned that dedication and hard work pay dividends: In July 2022, I almost died from liver failure and was unable to use my hands or legs for a while. I fought to get well again and today, I am healthy, determined, and ready to earn my master’s degree in astrophysics from the University of North Dakota, followed by a Ph.D. in Space Studies. My goal is to one day be a project director at SpaceX.

at every stage of your life and career, and M State makes it easy to do. In 2004, I took Accounting I from Marcia Williams at M State in Fergus Falls. Marcia made the accounting class engaging and fun. Yes, accounting = fun! Little did I know that the understanding of accounting would one day help me immensely in my current role as President of the Fergus Falls Chamber. Taking the class gave me the knowledge to interpret the Chamber’s financial statements, improve my organization’s budget and be able to confidentially share financials. Since that time, I’ve taken several leadership classes at M State. Tuition is so affordable, and the quality of the instructors and curriculum is top notch. It’s also very easy to fit classes into a professional schedule.

I’m a thirdgeneration graduate of M State.

I liked that I could stay close to home (Vergas) and still pursue a degree in the arts. I was very involved in theatre and music. I was fortunate to attend while Legacy Hall was being built, and the choir actually sang in the Hall while the floor was still dirt; it sounded as amazing in there then as it continues to sound today. I also spent a lot of time on the Waage Stage; I have never felt more powerful or supported as an artist than I did on that stage. M State gave me a safe place to explore all genres of the arts, and I graduated knowing I had the skills to pursue the arts as a career. I graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2013 with a degree in Theatre Arts and now work as a freelance theatrical designer. I have designed over 60 productions and also continue to push myself as a musician. After spending 13 years in FargoMoorhead, I recently moved back to Vergas to be closer to friends and family.

LISA WORKMAN ACCOUNTING AND LEADERSHIP 2004

It’s important to keep learning new things,

The Early Childhood program really fit for me

so I could be close to my hometown of Perham, continue to work, and further my education. I enjoyed how hands-on the program was. We were in clinicals right away. I was able to get a job working with Mahube Head Start in Detroit Lakes the September after I graduated, putting my education to work. In 2015, as my oldest son turned one, I went to Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall to get my bachelor’s degree. They accepted all the credits I earned at M State, and the process was easy. In 2019 and two more kids later, I graduated with a bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. In 2022, I had the opportunity to get a job as a preschool teacher at Kids Adventure in Perham. Now, I get to work in the school district I graduated from, and where my kids currently attend school.

for the White Earth Reservation for 19 years

and one of the things I learned is that it’s not about the time it takes you to get somewhere, it’s about the journey. Each person has their own path, and you have to give it time and find the right people to help you throughout the process. I’m very grateful to everybody at M State and how they helped me find my path; there are amazing faculty who are always there to support and build relationships with you. At a big school, it’s harder to build one-on-one connections with your instructors, and to get as inspired as easily. After I finished the Engineering program at M State, I went on to North Dakota State University to finish my bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, and in May I obtained a master’s degree in GeoSystems from the University of California, Berkeley. I’m a long way from home now, and I’m not sure yet what’s next for me. I hope to continue learning – and I’m trying to enjoy the process.

and am currently the Quality Assurance Business Manager at White Earth Natural Resources. I’m enrolled in the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and have resided on the reservation my entire life. Currently, I’m serving on the boards for the White Earth Investment Initiative, White Earth Outdoor Unity Team, White Earth Enterprises and Waabigwan Mashikiki. It is important to me that I work toward the betterment of my community. My accounting degree from M State helped me excel in the profession I held while I was in school, allowing me to apply the knowledge to my career as I was learning it. I was a nontraditional student in that I didn’t start until my midtwenties and did the online program. I worked full-time while I did the program, and I needed the flexibility to be able to do both. I was close enough to the school to have my tests proctored, and I attended a few courses in the evenings. Nonetheless, I still felt like a part of the M State community.

Soon after my time at M State,

I was managing multi-milliondollar projects, and by the age of 30 was an executive at a construction company. M State provided me with the basics to get started in my career, without imposing curriculum that had little relevance to the major, and I greatly appreciated the open and honest conversations that my instructors were willing to have on any given day. I would advocate for enrolling in M State for the benefit of learning the basics quickly and concisely so you can get your foot in your career door sooner rather than later. Education by the page is an important step in any path, but the real learning begins when you couple the page with the workforce. Today, I am Vice President of Construction at Grafstrom Construction in West Fargo, N.D. My wife Dannielle and I have been married for 12 years and have five incredible children.

I spent four years at M State,

I have worked

I taught biology at M State’s Wadena campus

part-time for a few years before taking on the role fulltime in 2004. Several years later, in 2011, I enrolled in the college’s Licensed Practical Nurse program and then, in 2014, graduated from the college’s ADRN program, all the while continuing to teach biology full-time. I had been looking for a full-time teaching job since leaving the Army in 1998, and taught in quite a few different college settings as an adjunct instructor before joining M State full-time. When the position at M State opened, I knew that was where I wanted to be – both because of the connectedness of the people I had worked with as a part-time employee as well as the quality of students we enrolled. I felt blessed to be offered the job and have enjoyed it ever since. I considered changing professions after my nursing training, but really love helping others reach their goals. I stayed in teaching and have used my nursing background mostly as a volunteer for community wellness activities.

in the early 2000s, M State was local for me, which was important because I was a single mother. I am originally from Pine Point, grew up in North Minneapolis, and have been calling Detroit Lakes home for the last 26 years. I’m a three-time graduate from M State: I got my Associate of Applied Science in May 2004, my Associate Degree in Nursing in 2012, and my associate’s degree in liberal arts in 2013. I met so many great people and made good friends while at M State. The caramel rolls in the lunchroom were pretty amazing, too! The smaller class sizes helped me focus on schoolwork and learn the ropes of college life. Two years after graduating from M State (for the third and last time), I decided to take the leap and attend Minnesota State University Moorhead to pursue my bachelor of science degree in nursing. I am currently the Nursing Services Director for the Behavioral Health Division of White Earth Nation. I am also enrolled at the University of North Dakota to get my master’s degree, as I’m aspiring to be a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

My time at M State helped me develop the skills and confidence to speak up for myself and others. I enjoyed vibrant classroom interactions; one particular class that comes to mind is Ethics. Hardly a day went by that we didn’t engage in lively discussions that challenged our ethical perspectives. This class opened my eyes to the world around me and has greatly influenced me in my professional and personal life. I have two degrees from M State: A 2015 Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts and Science, and a 2016 Associate of Science in Engineering. M State’s smaller class sizes fostered a sense of belonging, and my instructors were always willing and able to answer questions and provide guidance to get me to where I am today. I currently reside in my hometown of Pelican Rapids with my wife and two daughters and am a Civil/ Structural Engineer for Black & Veatch, supporting a vast array of renewable grid integration projects nationwide.

One of the things I enjoyed most

during my time at M State was being a part of the M State volleyball team. I had a lot of fun practicing with my teammates, and my coaches challenged me to learn a new position on the court, as well as new techniques. Being at M State, I was able to make close connections with instructors and classmates due to the small class sizes. My chemistry instructor, Ms. Heitmann, instilled confidence in me, which ultimately led me to become a veterinarian. After M State, I attended North Dakota State University to finish my biology degree and then applied to veterinary school. I am currently attending Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and am in my final year in the program. My focus is mixed animal medicine – it’s hard for me to favor just one species! My husband and I would like to eventually move back to the Fergus Falls area to be closer to friends and family.

DAVID BARRAGAN ENGINEERING 2016

When I started my educational journey

Going into college, I was somewhat of a quiet person.

I chose M State

for the same reason many others choose M State: low student-to-teacher ratios. I wanted individualized learning and to be on a first namebasis with my instructors. And my instructors were, handsdown, the most enjoyable thing about M State. I had many great teachers with an obvious passion for seeing students succeed and helping students to succeed. I also enjoyed being a board member on the Marketing and Sales Advisory Committee. It was amazing to be able to take part and help make decisions that would directly impact the business program moving forward. M State helped me prepare for a career in the business world. I started working with Corporate Technologies in Fargo two weeks after graduation, and I’ve been there since. I’ve made their Presidents Club (of top performers nationwide) three times. I also own a successful wedding DJ/Photobooth business.

BRONSON WINKLER

of M State. I got my Accounting Diploma in 1980 and then, in 2007, graduated with my Accounting AAS degree. In 2008, I was hired to work in the business department at M State’s Wadena campus, and that’s where I stayed until retiring in March 2023. My roles evolved from Purchasing Account Clerk to Account Clerk Senior to Accounting Technician/ Accounts Payable Coordinator. I enjoyed the diversity of M State in that it is one college but offers four different campuses and climates. I was fortunate to form great working relationships with my colleagues on each campus, and many became great friends. As a student, I enjoyed M State’s small class sizes and small community campus feel. I was nervous about having classmates half my age when I returned to the college as an empty nester in 2005, but quickly learned age wasn’t an issue: We were all there for the same reason, and soon developed a camaraderie. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at M State.

who sometimes had to choose between buying textbooks or paying my bills. I wanted to make sure other students didn’t have to face that same struggle or worse, so I got active with the M State Student Government Association in Fergus Falls, and then with LeadMN, a statewide political advocacy organization that represents two-year college students. As President of LeadMN this past school year, I sought to uplift student voices. It was my job to find the right voices, the right stories, to share, and then make sure those voices were heard at the legislative level. Every student should have the ability to go to college, so I worked to make sure college is affordable and equitable for everyone. My term as President ended in July, and I graduated from M State in May. My plan is to transfer to a Minnesota State four-year university to get a bachelor’s degree in teaching so I can become a high school social studies teacher – or maybe even an instructor at M State.

I am a two-time graduate and former employee

I was a first-generation college student

MIKE GEDDE

Meet ‘Mr. M State,’ the retired accountant who found a second calling in M State’s Massage Therapy program; now, he’s one of the college’s biggest supporters

Mike Gedde walked into M State in Wadena one day in 2017, mostly on a whim, to ask about taking a massage therapy class. He was 65 years old.

Having never visited M State before, he couldn’t have imagined that, within just a few years, he’d be so deeply connected and involved with the school that he’d earn the nickname, “Mr. M State.”

Recently retired from a 40-year career as an accountant, Mike thought a massage class would be a way to occupy some of his newfound spare time and to – as he recalls now with some amusement – “learn how to give my wife a better back rub.”

Fast-forward a few years and Mike isn’t just treating his wife to better back rubs, he’s enjoying a second calling as a certified

massage therapist, having graduated with honors from M State’s 31-credit Massage Therapy diploma program.

He’s running a private part-time practice out of his home in Staples and working as an adjunct instructor for the M State Massage Therapy program.

Mike and his wife, Beth, have become reliable M State donors, regularly giving money for student scholarships. In addition, he’s the Chairperson of the Massage Therapy Advisory Board, Vice-President of the M State Foundation and Alumni Board of Directors, and Chairperson of the foundation’s Stewardship Committee.

Since graduating from M State in May 2018, he’s gone “all in” on raising funds and awareness for the students and causes of M State and the M State Foundation and Alumni.

He’s not called “Mr. M State” for nothing.

‘I REALLY ENJOY THEM MYSELF’

Mike has always loved a good massage.

“I really, really enjoy them myself,” he says. “If I ever won the lottery, I’d get my own personal massage therapist and get a massage every week – or every day!”

That may be why, when he was living in northeast Minneapolis in the mid-1980s, he got the urge to sign up for a massage class that was being offered in his neighborhood. At the time, his firstborn daughter was just four years old, and she’d sometimes tag along with Dad, getting to be his little “practice person” at massage class.

Mike enjoyed the class, but never intended to make a career out of massage therapy. He was still in the very early stages of the very different career he went to college for, accounting.

A 1970 graduate of the high school in Wadena, Mike earned a degree in accounting from Minnesota State University Moorhead. After living in the Fargo-Moorhead area for several years, he and his first wife relocated to the Twin Cities to build their careers.

A few years later, just after the birth of their second daughter, they moved back to Mike’s old stomping grounds. His parents had told them about an open position in the business office at the Staples hospital. Mike applied and got the job.

He ended up staying with the hospital until his retirement 27 years later.

About a decade into his career at the hospital, and with his first marriage long behind him, Mike took the leap into love again, marrying Beth, the woman who would become his longtime partner, greatest supporter, and frequent “crash test dummy,” as he puts it, when he needs someone to test out his latest massage techniques.

The couple celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary last summer.

‘A CALLING I DIDN’T KNOW I HAD’

Mike learned something valuable during that first visit to M State, something that made him want to do more than take just one massage class: He learned about the tuition discount for senior citizens. The discount is steep for residents of Minnesota, with seniors paying just enough to cover the college’s costs.

It was an offer Mike decided he couldn’t refuse. He figured he would be able to give Beth a downright dreamy massage by the end of a yearlong program, and it would also keep him busy.

Though he enjoys golf, pickleball, ice fishing, boating, reading and other hobbies, he told himself when he retired that, “ ‘I don’t ever want to become a couch potato.’ I wanted to find something to do.”

He found that “something” in massage.

Right from the start, Mike stood out among his classmates in the Massage Therapy program – in some ways quite literally. He

laughs now as he recalls sticking out like a sore thumb, the only man in the program that year, and the only retiree. His classmates were all women in their late teens or twenties. They were standing on the cusp of their careers. They couldn’t have been more different from Mike, a man 50 years older whose career was already behind him.

Any initial awkwardness, however, disappeared fast. Mike’s friendly, fun-loving nature soon won over his classmates, and before long he was joining them on their weekly pizza outings after evening classes. He shared stories, told jokes, and even picked up the group’s pizza tab a time or two. They started affectionately calling him, “Grandpa.”

Once I got into it, I had a good time,” he says of his massage coursework. “It was fascinating learning about the human body. It’s a perfect machine; it’s quite amazing.”

He was a star student, and at the end of the program he realized he hadn’t just honed a hobby, he’d developed a passion.

“It’s a calling I guess I didn’t know I had,” he says. “I mean, you work with numbers all the time and all of a sudden you’re doing something totally different.”

‘TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL’

Eager to share his new skills with others, Mike created a massage therapy room in the basement of his and Beth’s home. Furnished with a massage table and hot tub, it’s complete with essential oils, relaxing music, humorous signs and wall decorations, and certificates and memorabilia from Mike’s time at M State.

It’s not a business that’s open to the public, but Mike welcomes in many family members, friends, and “friends of friends” who get referred to him. It’s become a part-time gig; one he dearly loves.

“I don’t do it for money, I do it because I crazy enjoy it,” he says. “I get as much pleasure out of giving a massage as I do getting one. I love the relaxation people get. The highest compliment I ever got was when someone said she felt like she’d been ‘touched by an angel.’”

Mike estimates he’s given over 750 massages in the five years since his graduation. The pandemic didn’t stop him, and neither did health issues, including a quadruple bypass surgery on his heart in 2020.

Giving massages brings him so much gratification that he says he’ll keep it up until, “I physically can’t do it anymore – and I have no idea when that’s going to be!”

That same enthusiastic energy is behind Mike’s volunteer efforts at M State.

When an opportunity arose a few years ago to join the Massage Therapy Advisory Board, he raised his hand. He’s been sharing valuable input and suggestions for the program ever since.

He raised his hand again when he learned the program needed an occasional fill-in instructor, and then again two years ago when it was suggested he get involved with the M State Foundation and Alumni. He’s since taken on two leadership roles with the foundation’s board.

Again and again, Mike has stepped up to the M State plate to get things done and make things happen for the benefit of students and the college. He says it’s his way of paying it forward.

“If we hadn’t had the massage program right here at M State in Wadena,” he reflects, “I probably wouldn’t have done it. And I’m so glad I did.”

I don’t do it for money, I do it because I crazy enjoy it.

SUPPORT.

ENGAGE.PARTNER.

GETTING INVOLVED WITH M STATE

SUPPORT OUR FOUNDATIONS

Change the lives of students and their families by making college more affordable: Donate to one or both of M State’s two foundations, Fergus Area College Foundation and M State Foundation and Alumni. M State awards nearly $300,000 in scholarships every year thanks to donor support to our foundations, and in-kind donations provide innovative and state-of-the-art classroom resources valued at $275,000-$300,000. Gifts to the foundations may qualify as tax-deductible.

minnesota.edu/foundations

SERVE ON A PRESIDENT’S ADVISORY COUNCIL

Each of M State’s four campuses has a President’s Advisory Council, made up of alumni and industry leaders. Working as partners with M State, council members help facilitate strong win-win relationships between the college and the communities it serves, linking M State to regional needs and providing direct and meaningful input on strategies and opportunities.

CONTACT:

FERGUS AREA COLLEGE FOUNDATION FERGUS FALLS CAMPUS facf@minnesota.edu

218.736.1514

M STATE FOUNDATION AND ALUMNI DETROIT LAKES, MOORHEAD AND WADENA CAMPUSES mstatefoundation@minnesota.edu 218.299.6565

CONTACT:

PRESIDENT’S OFFICE 218.736.1503

ENGAGE WITH THE FUTURE WORKFORCE

Build relationships to fill your workforce needs by partnering with our Career Services division. Attend an industry-specific networking event, volunteer to review resumes, speak in a classroom, host tours of your business, become a mentor or offer an internship or job shadowing opportunity, or tell students about open positions at your company. Career Services is focused on providing students with access and opportunities to connect with regional industries and employers.

JOIN A PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Program advisory committee members are experienced professionals in the community who serve as advocates for M State and provide expert guidance to ensure M State students are learning the skills they’ll need in the workforce. There are more than 50 program advisory committees at M State; they meet twice a year and members may be asked for feedback at other times during the academic year.

PARTNER ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

M State’s Workforce Development Solutions (WDS) division works with regional businesses and industries to develop custom skills and technology training that advances the careers of workers, improves employee retention and helps businesses grow. More than 500 companies have partnered with WDS over the past 30 years, and each year, WDS delivers more than 100,000 hours of training on-site, online or at any one of M State’s four campuses.

RENT OUR SPACES

M State may have the perfect space for your next event. Our campuses have hosted conferences, receptions, meetings, trainings and even weddings. Our high-tech, low-cost, accessible and attractive spaces can accommodate small and large groups and are available year-round.

CONTACT: CAREER SERVICES

minnesota.edu/career 218.299.6515

CONTACT: ACADEMIC AFFAIRS OFFICE 218.299.6503

CONTACT: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS

minnesota.edu/wds | 218.846.3763 | 800.492.4836

CONTACT: RESERVATION SPECIALIST 218.299.6545

MISSION

Through the support of donors, Fergus Area College Foundation provides resources to enrich learning, living, working and serving.

VISION

We build futures and community at M State Fergus Falls, one relationship at a time.

KEEPING ALUMNI CONNECTED

FACF provides a way to stay connected through the Spartan Alumni Connection (spartanalumni.facfmstate.org), a dedicated social media platform for Spartan students, alumni, employees and retirees. One of the most exciting benefits of that platform is its support of the Spartan Mentorship Program, which connects alumni and community members to current students to help students learn about possible career pathways, gain leadership skills and identify goals – and how to achieve them. It has been a great success. Spartan family members are encouraged to join the Spartan Alumni Connection to stay up to date on campus happenings and connect with fellow alums and current and past employees.

CONTACT US OR DONATE

Fergus Area College Foundation

1414 College Way

Fergus Falls, MN 56537 218.736.1514

FACF@minnesota.edu

Visit FACF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

AND STUDENT

Our Foundations SCHOOL SUPPORT

M State is fortunate to have the support

FERGUS AREA COLLEGE FOUNDATION

Supporting the Fergus Falls Campus

Since its creation in 1963, Fergus Area College Foundation has encouraged the development of, and improvements to, M State’s Fergus Falls campus.

Over the past 20 years, since the merger of Fergus Falls Community College with three sister institutions resulted in the creation of M State, FACF has provided over $4.9 million in scholarships and program support to the Fergus Falls campus.

For the upcoming 2023-24 academic year, the foundation has budgeted an additional $330,000 for scholarships – the highest annual amount in FACF’s history.

“Our scholarships have a huge impact on our students by making their college experience accessible and affordable. Along with our mentorship program, scholarships also connect students with alumni and businesses in our own community and beyond,” says MacKenzie Barry, president of the FACF board of directors. “In addition, FACF helps fund projects to retain and recruit students.”

One such project is the planned renovation of the M State softball and football fields. Nearly 30% of students on the Fergus Falls campus participate in Spartan athletics, and, along with coaching and academic support, first-rate facilities are a draw for athletes. Community college athletic programs play

a vital role in developing young student athletes and strengthening the ties between a college and its community.

Through the support of donors, FACF provides resources to enrich learning, living, working and serving. This mission is top of mind each day as the foundation builds futures and community at M State’s Fergus Falls campus, one relationship at a time.

Whether you are a Spartan alum, former employee or community member, you are invited to join FACF in the pursuit of its mission and vision. It is relationships with donors, alumni and students that make FACF’s work possible.

“We are always delighted to work with prospective donors to help them decide what they can do to help students realize their dreams,” Barry says.

An investment in M State foundations is an investment in M State students, their families, and the communities they call home.

Our scholarships have a huge impact on our students.

-MacKenzie Barry, FACF board president

FERGUS AREA COLLEGE FOUNDATION

Foundations

STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS, TIMES TWO support and advocacy of two foundations

M STATE FOUNDATION AND ALUMNI

Supporting the Detroit Lakes, Moorhead and Wadena Campuses

MState Foundation and Alumni is a unification of three former foundations that once operated separately on behalf of the college’s Detroit Lakes, Moorhead and Wadena campuses. To better serve the college, align missions, implement best practices and enhance alumni engagement, the three foundations merged into one in July 2017.

Foundation staff work alongside a community-led board of directors to advocate for M State, generate support for students, and connect and engage alumni. Currently, the foundation is spearheading a capital campaign for a remodeling project at the college’s Moorhead campus, for a modernized Center for Business Excellence. The new space will replicate the kind of real-world business environment that graduates of M State’s business programs can expect to encounter upon entering the workforce. The proposed design incorporates the latest business technologies, in-house training opportunities for business and industry partners of M State, and construction of flexible classrooms for project- and teambased instruction.

MISSION

The M State Foundation exists to support the mission of M State by providing financial support to help create a success story for every M State student.

VISION

Creating a culture that supports student learning by investing in the key priorities that present the greatest impact and growth of opportunities for the students we serve.

KEEPING ALUMNI CONNECTED

M State is celebrating 20 years, but alumni from the Detroit Lakes, Moorhead and Wadena campuses go back over 60 years! If you attended, graduated or worked at any of those three campuses – no matter how long ago – we’d love to hear from you. Fill out our short online alumni form, at minnesota.edu/alumni, to stay in touch with M State Foundation and Alumni happenings, fill us in on your successes, and get involved with alumni events and committees.

Donations made to M State Foundation and Alumni, a 501c3 nonprofit, benefit projects like the Center for Business Excellence and have a direct impact on the quality and accessibility of education at M State. Donated funds and in-kind donations make it possible for the foundation to fulfill the greatest needs of the college’s Detroit Lakes, Moorhead and Wadena campuses, providing student scholarships, emergency grants and innovative classroom resources.

Every donation made is a commitment to education, community progress and regional workforce needs, and is an opportunity to leave a legacy. Giving options include cash donations, volunteering, endowments, in-kind equipment, employer matching gifts, stocks and bonds, real estate, retirement assets and more. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

minnesota.edu/foundations

DONATIONS are now being accepted for a new M State Alumni Association Scholarship. This unrestricted fund was created by the alumni association for registered students at the Detroit Lakes, Moorhead and Wadena campuses. A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded for the fall 2023 semester on behalf of our generous alumni. Visit our website for information on donating to this fund.

CONTACT US OR DONATE

M State Foundation and Alumni 1900 28th Avenue South Moorhead, MN 56560

218.299.6565

Visit M State Foundation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

Thank you to all who have volunteered their time, equipment and dollars.

-Shannon Britten, M State Foundation and Alumni

DETROIT LAKES | FERGUS FALLS | MOORHEAD | WADENA | ONLINE 1414 College Way, Fergus Falls, MN 56537

157,101 STUDENTS SERVED over the past 20 years

26,143 DEGREES EARNED

1,100 GRADUATES ANNUALLY

$180.80 COST PER CREDIT one of the lowest tuition rates in the state

13 BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY SPONSOR PARTNERS offering sponsored degrees and other student incentives

100,000+ HOURS OF TRAINING provided by our Workforce Development division annually

21,532 GRADUATES

750 PROGRAM ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

70 DEGREE, DIPLOMA AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS and transfer pathways

12+ STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES and basic needs resources, including food pantries, counseling and career placement services, veterans services, accessibility resources and more.

10,000+ STUDENTS SERVED ANNUALLY in credit and non-credit courses since 2009

500 BUSINESS PARTNERS of our Workforce Development division

70 UNIQUE Z-DEGREE COURSES

10 INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC TEAMS men’s: football, baseball; men’s and women’s: basketball, golf, clay targets; women’s: softball, volleyball

400 EMPLOYEES

35+ HIGH SCHOOL PARTNERS in our nationally accredited Concurrent Enrollment Program

4 CAMPUSES Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Moorhead and Wadena, plus online

30+ STUDENT CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

2 STUDENT HOUSING COMPLEXES plus contracted residence hall options at a nearby campus for M State Moorhead students

2 FOUNDATIONS M State Foundation and Alumni, Fergus Area College Foundation

M STATE BY THE NUMBERS: 20 years. 20 numbers.

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There’s more online! A digital version of this publication is available on our special 20th Anniversary webpage. The webpage also features onlineonly content, such as stories and photos about the early histories of our four campuses, information on M State’s current and former presidents, and details of our 20th anniversary celebrations. M State is hosting public events at each of its four campuses, and students and staff have committed to performing 20 volunteer efforts – “20 Acts of Kindness” – around Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Moorhead and Wadena to show appreciation for 20 years of community support. Scan the QR Code or visit minnesota.edu/20. Minnesota State Community and Technical College a member of Minnesota State, is an affirmative action, equal opportunity educator and employer. minnesota.edu