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Welcome week events at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton will kick off on Saturday, August 24 when residence halls open for student move-in at 10 a.m. NDSCS has some exciting updates and events to share with students and the community: 

Welcome Week, an annual series of events designed to help students connect to the College community and establish positive and healthy habits, will take place from August 24th–30th and will include outdoor activities for new and returning students. 

Some of these events will include:

Saturday, August 24

• 12 – 8 p.m. Move-in Music on the Oval 
• 9 - 11 p.m. Outdoor Movie on the Oval 

Sunday, August 25 

• 1 p.m. Wildcats Football game vs Jamestown JV (home opener) at Frank Vertin Field
  • Please join us to welcome these student athletes and kick off the 2024 football season.
• 4:30 – 7 p.m. Community Block Party
  • The Wahpeton-Breckenridge and surrounding community is invited! Register your business/organization to be involved and learn more at NDSCS.edu/Block-Party. 
  • Guests will be able to find parking for the Block Party in Lot 2, North of the Old Main building. All parking for the event will be free. 
• 9 p.m. – 12 a.m. Street Dance with a live band in Lot 2 north of Old Main

Monday, August 26 

• 7:30 - 10 p.m. Party on the Oval with music provided by a D.J.

Wednesday, August 28 

• 7 p.m. Wildcats Volleyball game vs Mayville State at the Blikre Activities Center 
  • Please join us to welcome these student athletes and cheer them on! 
• 8 – 10 p.m. Yoga Night on the Oval 

Thursday, August 29 

• 9 p.m. – 12 a.m. Street Dance in Lot 2 north of Old Main with music provided by a D.J. 

Friday, August 30 

• 7 – 9 p.m. Tie Dye event on the Oval 

Please forgive any loud noises that come from the NDSCS Wahpeton campus that week — we are welcoming students and helping them make memories! 

North Dakota State College of Science fall semester classes will begin Monday, August 26th at 4 p.m. for all students in Wahpeton, Fargo and Online. Students who are not yet enrolled for fall semester can still do so by contacting the Office of Admission at 701-671-2521 or online at NDSCS.edu/Apply.

North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) students recently earned top awards at the National SkillsUSA Championships held during the National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) in Atlanta, Georgia. Three NDSCS students earned the national spotlight for their achievements. 

Jacob Bredeson of Oakes, N.D. earned a gold medal in the CNC 2-Axis Turning category. Bredeson’s skills were evaluated on his ability to plan and program jobs for CNC turning centers and provide instructions for operators to execute. He had to program and generate code, troubleshoot errors, interpret prints, measure parts, and more. 

Jacob Roberts of Jamestown, N.D. earned a silver medal in the CNC Programmer category. Roberts was evaluated on his skills in planning and programming jobs for 2-Axis CNC and 3-Axis CNC machines, including programming and generating code, troubleshooting programming errors, interpret prints, measure parts, and demonstrate his knowledge of CNC machine configuration, setup, and operation. 

Gavin Stanislaw of Bayport, Minn. earned a silver medal in the Motorcycle Service Tech category. During his competition, Stanislaw performed tasks similar to those encountered in a dealership’s service department, including scheduled maintenance tasks, electrical diagnostics, precision measurement, powertrain systems, and more. 

Additional NDSCS students earned placement within the top 10 in the nation, including:

• Emily Schmidt of Gladstone, N.D. earned 5th place in Architectural Drafting.
• Dylan Hanstad of Fergus Falls, Minn. earned 6th place in the Automotive Services Tech category.
• Tori Hanson of Underwood, Minn. earned 7th place in Welding Sculpture.
• Dylan Johnson of Sibley, N.D. earned 10th place in Carpentry.
• Benjamin Klemen of Argusville, N.D. earned 10th place in Welding. 

The SkillsUSA Championship is one of the largest hands-on workforce events in the world and is known for competitions showcasing the best career and technical education students in the nation. More than 6,000 state champions compete in over 100 skilled and leadership events during the SkillsUSA Championships.

See ND state SkillsUSA winners at NDSCS.edu/SkillsUSA

After over a decade of exemplary leadership and dedication, Stu Engen, the Head Men’s Basketball Coach and Athletic Director at North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS), is set to embark on a new journey. Engen will be joining Idaho State University as an Assistant Coach, where he will work under Head Coach Ryan Looney in the NCAA Division I Big Sky Conference. Looney and Engen share a rich history, with Looney having previously served as Engen’s assistant at both the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Minnesota State University Moorhead. 

Engen was named the Head Men’s Basketball Coach and the Director of Athletics at North Dakota State College of Science on May 30, 2012. The Wildcats have won at least 25 games in all of Engen's seasons, including a school-record 31 wins in 2016-17 & 2023-2024. 

During his tenure at NDSCS, Engen transformed the Wildcats into a basketball powerhouse, amassing a remarkable record of 323-60. Under his leadership, the Wildcats clinched seven Region XIII titles and seven Mon-Dak Conference championships. In 2016, the team made a memorable run to the NJCAA National Tournament. His achievements have earned him numerous accolades, including multiple Coach of the Year honors across various conferences and regions. 

NDSCS Career Highlights:

• 2024 Mon-Dak Conference Coach of the Year
• 2024 Region XIII Coach of the Year
• 2023 Mon-Dak Conference Coach of the Year
• 2023 Region XIII Coach of the Year
• 2022 Mon-Dak Conference Coach of the Year
• 2018 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee, Upper Iowa University
• 2018 Mon-Dak Conference Coach of the Year
• 2018 Region XIII Coach of the Year
• 2017 Mon-Dak Conference Coach of the Year
• 2017 Region XIII Coach of the Year
• 2016 District 11 Coach of the Year
• 2016 Mon-Dak Conference Coach of the Year
• 2016 Region XIII Coach of the Year
• 2015 Region XIII Coach of the Year
• 2014 Region XIII Coach of the Year
• 2013 Mon-Dak Conference Coach of the Year 

NDSCS President Rod Flanigan is appreciative of the impact Engen made on the entire NDSCS Athletics program, “Stu Engen's departure marks the end of a significant era for NDSCS athletics. His contributions have left an indelible mark on the college, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of Wildcats. We wish Stu and his family all the best.” 

Throughout his career, Engen has not only focused on team success but also on the development of individual players. Under his mentorship, eight players earned Region XIII Player of the Year honors, 10 became NJCAA All-Americans, and 10 signed with NCAA Division I programs. Engen's influence extends beyond NDSCS, with former assistants now leading collegiate programs and former players pursuing professional careers. 

The search to replace Engen’s dual roles will begin immediately. We will release more information about the search details when they become available.