The North Dakota State College of Science Division for Workforce Affairs announced today the addition of a four-week Commercial Drivers License (CDL) / Truck Driving training class at its NDSCS-Fargo location at 1305 19^th Avenue North.

The CDL training class is designed to give individuals a good understanding of the trucking industry and prepare them to obtain their Class A CDL through classroom and behind-the-wheel training. Beginning in January 2020, the training will be available as a four-week class. Previously, the training was only available in a six-week format.

“We are excited to add this CDL training option so we can better serve the training needs for the truck driving industry,” said NDSCS Vice President for Workforce Affairs Tony Grindberg. “This new training class will offer the ability for our customers to complete their training more quickly as they prepare to take their CDL road test.”

Additional information about CDL training classes at NDSCS, including training cost, start dates and class registration information, can be found online at ndscs.edu/CDLtraining.

The NDSCS Division for Workforce Affairs also announced today the addition of Class A CDL testing at its NDSCS-Fargo location. Individuals interested in taking their road test to obtain their Class A CDL can now schedule a time to do so with a licensed third-party tester at NDSCS-Fargo.

“We recognize that there is a great demand for Class A CDL road tests,” said Grindberg. “By offering an additional testing option, we are helping to reduce the wait time for drivers to obtain their license so they can begin their truck driving career and support industry needs.”

Appointments for the road tests are required, and can be scheduled by calling 701-231-6922. CDL road tests are not available as part of the CDL training offered at NDSCS.

The NDSCS Performing Arts Department will present its Holiday Concert on Tuesday, December 10, 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 feature performances by the NDSCS Concert Band under the direction of Adam Hollingsworth and the NDSCS Concert Choir under the direction of Bryan Poyzer.

The concert will include a guest performance by The Acapella Express under the direction of Megan Argall. The Acapella Express has been an active women’s choral group in the Fargo-Moorhead area for more than 60 years.

The concert is free and open to the public. A reception following the concert will be held in the lobby of the Harry Stern and Ella Stern Cultural Center.

The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program today named North Dakota State College of Science as one of 150 community colleges eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America's community colleges. Based on strong and improving student outcomes — including in learning, completion rates, employment rates and earnings, and equity — 15 percent of community colleges nationwide have been invited to apply for the Aspen Prize.

“We are truly honored and humbled to be recognized as an Aspen Prize Top 150 U.S. Community College,” said NDSCS President John Richman. “This is exciting recognition of the strategic decisions we have made — and the outstanding work our employees do every day — to continually improve the services and support we provide to our students.”

The 150 community colleges named today as eligible to compete for the 2021 Aspen Prize were selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 public two-year colleges nationwide using publicly available data on student outcomes. Located in 39 states in urban, rural, and suburban areas, serving as few as 500 students and as many as 75,000 students, these colleges represent the diversity and depth of the community college sector.

Data show that over the last two years, student retention, graduation rates, and degree completion have improved at the top tier of 150 Aspen Prize-eligible colleges.

“Community colleges play a vital role in developing talent and enabling social mobility across the country, and it’s critical for them to get better at what they do,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “We’re pleased to see evidence that these institutions are improving, that more are delivering on their promise. We’re also pleased to play a role in honoring outstanding community colleges and sharing what works to ensure great outcomes for students — through graduation and beyond.”

The top ten finalists for the 2021 Aspen Prize will be named in May 2020. The Aspen Institute will then conduct site visits to each of the finalists and collect additional quantitative data, including employment and earnings data. A distinguished jury will make award decisions in spring 2021.

For a full list of the top 150 eligible institutions and to read more on the selection process, visit www.highered.aspeninstitute.org/aspen-prize.

NDSCS Social and Behavioral Sciences Associate Professor Jeff Hart has been selected as the third place winner of the Economist Educators Best in Class Teaching Award, sponsored by the National Economics Teaching Association (NETA) and Cengage. He presented his winning entry at the Economics Teaching Conference in Kansas City, Mo.

Economist Educators Best in Class Teaching Award Contest entrants submit a description of a lesson they created for an Economics course, along with a video describing the technique. Entries are judged based on originality and creativity, ease of implementation of teaching techniques, and value of successful student outcomes.

Hart’s award-winning lesson uses agriculture news reports and market headlines to teach students about supply and demand, and the corresponding impact on price and quantity in the market. Students also create scenarios that illustrate changes in supply and demand. The lesson is interesting and applicable to Hart’s students, many of whom have farm experience.

The North Dakota State College of Science has surpassed one million consecutive hours without any employee work time lost due to a work-related injury or illness. More than 500 days have passed since the College last had employee hours lost to work-related illness or injury, a streak that began in February 2018.

This significant safety milestone reflects the efforts in place at NDSCS to foster a safe working environment for all of its 700 employees. The College has established safety guidelines and provides annual department-specific training for its employees.

“NDSCS is committed to the safety of our employees,” said NDSCS President John Richman. “This milestone was made possible through not only the guidelines put in place as a College, but also by the work of all of our employees to maintain a safe working environment every day.”

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.”