DSU NURSING STUDENTS CHOSEN TO COMPETE AT STATE CONVENTION IN JANUARY
HEATHER BIRD
GRUHLKE NAMED TO PRAIRIE BUSINESS MAGAZINE’S 40 UNDER 40 LIST
KARI MOCH
The Dickinson State University’s (DSU) Nursing Student Association (NSA) had two big events in the month of November, the Student Nurse of the Year competition and State Leadership selection. The annual Student Nurse of the Year competition included three junior nursing candidates from the baccalaureate nursing program: Kari Moch (Edgely), Angie Decker (Belfield), and Jodi Artz (Aberdeen, South Dakota). The students were chosen by the NSA student body for their leadership, community service and passion for serving others. Patricia Billings, RN education assistant (CHI St. Alexius, Dickinson), Amy Kreidt, chief executive officer (St. Luke’s Home), and Father Shannon Lucht (Queen of Peace Catholic Church) served as judges for this prestigious honor. Acoustic guitar performer and local artist Kayla Munn, provided festive music entertaining guests and families during the event. Munn has been working as a certified nurse assistant (CNA) for Dakota Travel Nurse and added, “This was an honor to be a part of something so amazing recognizing student nurses who give back every day.” At the conclusion of the evening’s competition, Kari Moch was named Dickinson State University’s 2017-2018 Student Nurse of the Year (SNOY). “I chose nursing because I wanted a career that is challenging and makes a difference in people’s lives,” said Moch. “SNOY allows me to help lead our future nurses here at DSU.” Moch was also recently selected for a summer nurse externship in Bismarck with Sanford Health working in the Intensive Care Unit. After she graduates next year she plans to continue working in critical care gaining experience so that she can become involved in medical missions. Moch will represent Dickinson State at the Nursing Students’ Association of North Dakota (NSAND) convention held in Dickinson in January, where she will compete for the state Student Nurse of the Year title. Senior student Heather Bird, a Reeder native, will also be competing at the NSAND convention in January, only for a different award. Bird was selected by DSU’s NSA student body to compete for the State Leadership Award. Bird has participated in various leadership positions within NSA, as well as worked on many community outreach events such as the Blood Drive, St. Patrick’s Soup Kitchen, and various health fairs within the Dickinson community.
Dr. Holly Gruhlke, assistant professor of business and chair of the School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Dickinson State University, has been named to Prairie Business magazine’s 2017 40 under 40 list. The list features 40 of the top business professionals under the age of 40 in the northern Plains. “The 40 Under 40 list showcases some of the exceptional talent that we have in our region,” said Tom Dennis, editor of Prairie Business. “These high achievers bring dynamism to our communities, and their creativity helps our region prosper and grow. They have our respect and congratulations, as well as our best wishes for continued success.” These inspiring and dedicated individuals have made significant impacts in their chosen professions, industries and communities. They show exceptional devotion to their communities and to volunteer service. Gruhlke graduated from Dickinson State in the fall of 2008 and began working for the university right away. Since then she has been hard at work, completing her MBA and successfully defending her dissertation, earning a doctorate in business administration. Gruhlke was recognized as the 201617 Distinguished Educator of the Year “Holly gives generously of her time, talent and energy to advocate for students and mentor them toward success. She has worked collaboratively with others on campus to enhance student advising, evaluate retention plans and encourage adoption of new technology. Holly also works alongside students outside of the classroom and can be found volunteering her time as an investment in the community,” said Dr. Carmen Wilson, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We congratulate her on this prestigious recognition.” “I am honored and humbled to receive this prestigious recognition from Prairie Business magazine,” said Gruhlke. “I am so fortunate to be able to work as a business educator at Dickinson State University, living my dream. Without a doubt, my colleagues and students at DSU have helped me achieve my goals, and for that, I am grateful.”
She currently works at SW Healthcare Services Long Term Care (Bowman) as a Direct Support professional caring for individuals with developmental disabilities. Bird commented on her nomination by saying “nursing has made such an impact in my own personal life as a liver transplant recipient. I am thankful for the DSU nursing faculty who have provided me with education and experiences that will help me bring healing to those going through the same situation. I lived it and I can help them throughout their journey to recovery.” Upon graduation, she hopes to work at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, on the transplant services floor.
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Dickinson State University and the Department of Nursing wish both candidates the best of luck at state.
APPLICATION PRIORITY DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 1, 2018
ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT GENERAL www.dsuheritagefoundation.org/scholarships
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT DICKINSON STATE HELPS WILZ FIND HIS WAY
By: Salena Loveland
One student has made good use of the invaluable information the SBDC offers. Meet Brady Wilz: full-time student, football player, Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program scholar and entrepreneur. He is not the only student at DSU to work while completing his degree, but he is one of the few to start his own business while in school. Currently a junior pursuing a degree in business education with a minor in leadership, Wilz is the proud owner of Exterior Experts, a business that specializes in exterior and interior window cleaning, gutter cleaning, and pressure washing. Over spring break earlier this year, Wilz came across the idea for his business while researching inexpensive businesses to start while in college. Having low startup costs and only one competitor in town made this business the most appealing. At the time, Wilz was taking two of Neubert’s classes and knew that he worked with the SBDC, so Wilz made good use of this connection. “I just started asking him questions one day,” he shared, “and he said that he and the SBDC could help me out.” Have you ever thought about being your own boss only to find the idea of starting your own business too intimidating? Or maybe you have an idea for a business, but you’re not sure how to begin. The Small Business Development Center (SBDC), part of Dickinson State University’s (DSU) new School of Business and Entrepreneurship (SoBE) can help! Darrell Neubert, SBDC advisor and business professor, explains how the Center provides support for entrepreneurs. “We can assist a client with a multitude of things: marketing advice, expansion support, networking support, financials, contracting, grants. Often times, people just want to talk things out and we are here for that also.” He added, “We are here primarily to assist new businesses with writing their own business plan and using our powerful software to help them create financials that are ready to bring to a loan officer if need be.” The SBDC is a free service available to the entire community. It also offers DSU business majors an additional benefit. According to Dr. Holly Gruhlke, chair of the SoBE, students can “intern with the SBDC and work with entrepreneurs, witnessing the process firsthand.” But students don’t have to be business majors to take advantage of this great resource. Anyone in the community can benefit from the services the SBDC provides, so even after they graduate, students can continue to look to the SBDC for help and guidance.
Working with Neubert and the SBDC has been a positive experience for Wilz. “Darrell was a big help for me in determining what I needed in order to get started. He gave me numerous websites and resources to look at in order to register my name, get insurance and budget my business,” Wilz said. This experience taught him things about starting a business that potential entrepreneurs will find helpful. “Starting a business is time consuming and takes dedication. Things won’t always fall right into place, so utilizing resources like the SBDC will help relieve some of the headaches and get you on your way to marketing and business success.” Wilz has experienced firsthand the support and encouragement from the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, and specifically, the SBDC at Dickinson State as they actively help current and future business owners in their entrepreneurial efforts. “Darrell continues to reach out on behalf of the SBDC, making sure I have everything I need,” added Wilz. “The SBDC provides opportunities for me to get out and network that I otherwise would have not known about.” The SoBE’s mission is to educate and prepare skilled, principled, and entrepreneurial graduates who will have a positive impact in their professions, their companies and their communities. With the help of the SBDC, Dickinson State and the School of Business Entrepreneurship are able to meet their goal of working closely with the community in building economic growth and development.