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The North Dakota State College of Science Athletics Department has hired Chris Kappes as head baseball coach. The Wildcat baseball team will play its inaugural season in the Mon-Dak Conference beginning in fall 2020 at John Randall Field. Kappes will begin his role at NDSCS immediately, with the recruitment of student-athletes to fill out the roster.

“Baseball has a strong footprint in the Wahpeton-Breckenridge community, and this entire region,” said NDSCS Athletic Director Stu Engen. “The success Coach Kappes has had is well documented, and he laid out a plan that matched up with what the committee was looking for in a candidate. We are excited that he accepted the position and look forward to getting Wildcat baseball started.”

Kappes comes to NDSCS after a successful coaching career at various levels, spanning nearly three decades. Most recently, Kappes guided the Wahpeton Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth programs, leading the organization to a North Dakota State Championship in 2019, a runner-up finish in 2018 and three third-place finishes from 2015-17. The program won the 14U Babe Ruth Midwest Plains Regional Tournament in 2019, qualifying for the Babe Ruth World Series.

Previously, Kappes managed the Wahpeton American Legion Post 20 club from 2009-14, following his 2001-2004 stint with the Breckenridge (Minn.) American Legion Post 53 team. Kappes has sent 18 former Legion players to collegiate programs.

A familiar face in the Wahpeton-Breckenridge community, Kappes has spent time as a mentor at Circle of Nations and as the President of the Wahpeton Baseball Association. He currently serves on the Wahpeton-Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

“I would like to thank Mr. Engen and the athletic department for placing their trust and confidence in my abilities to assume the head coaching position for Wildcat Baseball,” said Kappes. “I am eager to build this program from the ground up and ready to go find those student-athletes that want to receive a great college education and play the great game of baseball at the collegiate level.”

The NDSCS Performing Arts Department will present its first concert of the season on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. in the Bremer Bank Theatre in the Harry Stern and Ella Stern Cultural Center on the NDSCS campus in Wahpeton.

The concert will include performances by the NDSCS Jazz Band under the direction of Dr. Adam Hollingsworth, and the NDSCS Wildcat Singers under the direction of Bryan Poyzer. The groups are kicking off their touring season.

The concert is free and open to the public.

By North Dakota Career and Technical Education

The Special Populations program at North Dakota State College of Science was presented the Director’s Award of Excellence during the opening session at the 49th Annual Department of Career and Technical Education Professional Development Conference held at the Bismarck Event Center in Bismarck. The award is an acknowledgement of superior career and technical education programs in North Dakota. Accepting the award was John Richman, President, Harvey Link, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Ken Kompelien, Dean of Arts, Science and Business Division and Maria Kaduc, Department Chair of Academic Services Center and Kara Gruenberg, Suzanne Hagelstrom, Traci Eklund, Larissa Gilbertson, Cindy Lee Deuser program instructors.

The program was recognized for:

• Enhancing student achievement and increasing student retention by providing a wide range of college readiness courses, activities, and services at the Academic Services Center (ASC).

• Acknowledging the ASC as the only NADE accredited development program in the region and all faculty in the department as members of the NDACTSNE, with three serving on the Executive Board.

North Dakota State College of Science crowned the 2019 Homecoming King and Queen on Wednesday, October 9. Queen Morgan Menge is from Bismarck, N.D. and is pursuing a Dental Hygiene degree. She was sponsored by the Campus Activities Board and NDSCS Ambassadors. King Joe Khalifa is from Westhope, N.D. and is pursuing an Automotive Technology degree. He was sponsored by the Automotive Technology and Powersports Technology Clubs. Menge and Khalifa will preside over NDSCS Homecoming activities for the duration of the week.

The 2019 Homecoming Court also included:

• Chantel Ganser of Fargo, N.D.; Practical Nursing; sponsored by Residential Life and the Wildcat Welcome Team
• Jessica Johnson of Barnesville, Minn.; Dental Hygiene, sponsored by the Dental Club and the Diesel Club
• RJ Hutcherson of Walcott, N.D.; Liberal Arts; sponsored by Residential Life and Phi Theta Kappa
• Chris Kowalski of East Grand Forks, Minn.; Plumbing; sponsored by the Campus Activities Board and the Wildcat Welcome Team

Fall enrollment numbers are now official at the North Dakota State College of Science. The data reflects that enrollment at the College continues to be steady. Total student enrollment is 2,977, which includes Wahpeton, Fargo, Online and Early Entry students. This number is an increase of 20 students over fall 2018 enrollment. There are 869 students who are new to NDSCS, including first-year and transfer students, which is an increase of 8.4% over 2018.

The enrollment data shows 919 high school students taking Early Entry courses, a 10% increase over 2018. Early Entry classes allow high school students to earn college credit while still fulfilling their high school requirements. There are 470 students taking classes at multiple NDSCS locations, or through a combination of in-person and online instruction. This is an increase of 9.3% over 2018.

“The trends continue to show that college students want flexibility with how and when they receive their education,” said NDSCS President John Richman. “An increasing number of students are earning college credit while still in high school, and are looking for flexible options to take classes through a combination of online and in-person delivery.”

The number of NDSCS students from North Dakota has increased to 2,151, with 47 of the state’s 53 counties represented. The student body is comprised of 1,522 full time students, and 1,455 students who are enrolled part time. There are 860 students living on the NDSCS Wahpeton campus in residence halls or apartments.