Eight North Dakota State College of Science faculty and staff members have been chosen and named recipients of the College’s Excellence in Teaching Award and Excellence in Service Award for the 2016-2017 academic year.

The Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes instructors who, among other outstanding characteristics, demonstrate competence and sincere interest in their subjects, present material in a suitable, well-integrated fashion and encourage participation from students. Selection criteria include student evaluations, feedback and deliberations by a selection committee comprised of faculty members and students. This year’s recipients were chosen from a group of more than 50 nominees. The honorees are:
• Danielle Erickson: Instructor, Allied Dental Education
• Larry Merbach: Professor, Mathematics and Science
• Bryan Poyzer: Instructor and Program Coordinator, English, Communication and Performing Arts
• Brian Rempfer: Associate Professor, Automotive Technology

The Excellence in Service Award recognizes employees who consistently go above and beyond every day and exemplify the College’s values of learning, integrity, flexibility and excellence. Nominations are open to those serving in the professional, office support, technical, paraprofessional, trades and service positions that are not on probationary status with recipients chosen by the President and Vice Presidents. The honorees are:
• Jill Anderson: Project Manager, Facilities Management
• Tana Erbes: Program Outreach Specialist, Academic Affairs
• Mindy Manock Tayer: Academic Counselor, Student Success Center
• Leslie Shirek: Program Outreach Specialist, Academic Affairs

The AED Foundation presented Certificates of Accreditation for the Diesel Technology-Komatsu A.A.S. Degree Program and Re-Accreditation of the Diesel Technology-General and Caterpillar Dealer Service Technician A.A.S. Degree Programs at North Dakota State College of Science. “We are pleased that you have chosen to demonstrate your commitment to academic excellence and continuous improvement through the accreditation process,” stated AED Foundation President Robert Henderson.

Accreditation by The AED Foundation signifies to equipment industry stakeholders that NDSCS’ programs have met rigorous industry-specific national construction equipment technical standards. It further signifies to current and prospective students that NDSCS programs provide the best in diesel-equipment technical education as defined by the industry they serve.

The term of accreditation is five years starting from the date shown on the Certificates of Accreditation. The AED Foundation relies on the awardee to maintain the standards upon which these accreditations were granted, and continue serving students with excellence. The AED Foundation currently lists 42 diesel technician programs at 32 Accredited Colleges throughout the United States and Canada. The AED Foundation recently recognized their first High School Program in Anne Arundel County, Maryland earlier this month.

“The AED Foundation is dedicated to developing and improving construction equipment industry partnerships that meet the mutual needs of local dealers, manufacturers and technical colleges,” stated AED Foundation Chairman Denny Vander Molen. “We are proud to be affiliated with North Dakota State College of Science through these accreditations, and wish ongoing success for your fine programs.”

North Dakota State College of Science John Deere Tech students recently placed in the Agricultural Machinery Service Technician Contest at the National Postsecondary Agricultural Student (PAS) Conference, which was located in St. Louis, Mo.

Three NDSCS teams comprised of two students each participated, winning third, ninth, and twelfth places at the national contest.
• 3rd Place: Ben Lindroos and Dominic Ourada. Lindroos is from Sebeka, Minn., and is sponsored by Midwest Machinery of Wadena, Minn. Ourada is from Wabasso, Minn., and is sponsored by Kibble Equipment Inc. of Wabasso, Minn.
• 9th Place: Justin Bauer and Nathan Maus. Bauer is from Bismarck, N.D., and is sponsored by RDO Equipment of Bismarck, N.D. Maus is from Freeport, Minn., and is sponsored by Larsons Inc. of Wheaton, Minn.
• 12th Place: Chris Kucera and Jake Refshaw. Kucera is from Thief River Falls, Minn., and is sponsored by RDO Equipment of Breckenridge, Minn. Refshaw is from Mahnomen, Minn., and is sponsored by Evergreen Implement of Mahnomen, Minn.

Twenty three teams from five states competed in the contest, including colleges from Iowa, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota and Wisconsin. The Agricultural Machinery Technician competition is part of the Career Program Areas with the purpose to allow students to test their knowledge and problem-solving skills in a competitive environment to meet industry needs utilizing a variety of assessment techniques.

The Agricultural Machinery Service Technician Career Program Area is designed to:
• encourage the development of Agricultural Service Technicians’ opportunities;
• recognize individual accomplishments and educational curriculum in Agricultural Service Technician programs;
• encourage cooperation between education and industry; and
• strengthen the PAS organization by encouraging active participation.

The National PAS Student Organization is an organization associated with agriculture/agribusiness and natural resources offerings in approved postsecondary institutions offering baccalaureate degrees, associate degrees, diplomas and/or certificates. PAS is one of 11 career and technical student organizations approved by the U.S. Department of Education as an integral part of career and technical education.

To learn more about the John Deere Tech program at NDSCS, go to www.ndscs.edu/johndeere.

The North Dakota State College of Science Jazz Band and Wildcat Singers will conclude their concert series with a performance on Monday, April 24, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. The concert will be held at the Bremer Bank Theatre in the Harry Stern and Ella Stern Cultural Center on the NDSCS campus in Wahpeton.

The concert, which is free and open to the public, will feature a variety of genres including rock, pop, country and jazz.

The North Dakota State College of Science recently awarded academic scholarships to 64 incoming first-year students. The scholarships recognize and reward students for academic achievement, test scores and participation in extracurricular and other volunteer activities. The scholarships are applicable during the 2017-2018 academic year. The honorees include:

JOHN & ALYCE TRAVERS SCHOLARSHIP
Williston, N.D.: Brett Doeden, $1000

NDSCS FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP

ALASKA
Palmer: Kamari Klawitter, $500

MINNESOTA
Akeley: Milena Cain, $1000
Baker: Ann Halverson, $1000
Breckenridge: Bradley Banken, $1000; Neriah Weinkauf, $1000
East Grand Forks: Christopher Kowalski, $500
Grand Marais: Emily-Kate Jacobsen, $500
Inver Grove Heights: Erich Gosswiller, $500
Moorhead: McKenna Michels, $1000
Morris: Piper Gibson, $1000; Kendra Jergenson, $1000
Park Rapids: Brooke Jerger, $500; Jack Walsh, $500
Perham: Jadyn Benedict, $1000; Olivia Strand, $500
Twin Valley: Janessa Bement, $1000

MONTANA
Glasgow: Trent Herbert, $1000

NORTH DAKOTA
Barney: M'Kenna Krchnavy, $500
Bismarck: Breanna Gartner, $1000
Bottineau: Bailey Schmidt, $1000
Carrington: Justine Finch, $500
Dickinson: Kylie Lantz, $1000
Dwight: Janessa Pote, $500
Fargo: Derek Thompson, $500; Colin Vieweg, $500
Gackle: John Gutschmidt, $1000
Gardner: Nathan Bell, $500
Garrison: Evan Klein, $500
Grand Forks: Andrew Arnold, $1000; Heather Onstad, $1000; Bryce Reller, $500; Mychael Reller, $500; Kaitlin Schrader, $1000
Grandin: Mikayla Branden, $1000
Hankinson: Kaitlyn Hubrig, $500; Ashlynn Stirling, $500
Harwood: Brady Preston, $1000
Horace: Lane Jacobson, $1000
Jamestown: Donovan Ask, $500; Mackenzie Clark, $1000; Ian Johnson, $500
Makoti: Remington Bigelow, $1000
Medina: Dalton Dockter, $1000
Minot: Henry Lemar, $1000; Ariana Steller, $1000
New Rockford: Hannah Heinz, $1000
New Salem: Thad Norton, $500
Thompson: Caleb Horn, $1000
Wahpeton: Alison Greteman, $1000; Carter Kipp, $500; Isaac Samuels, $1000; Mason Vogeler, $500; Dylan Wolfgram, $500; Sylver Zimmerman, $500
Walhalla: Mandi Stark, $1000
Westhope: Emily Lesmann, $1000
Wyndmere: Aaron Bell, $500; Megan Strege, $1000

NEBRASKA
Lincoln: Morgan Larson, $1000

SOUTH DAKOTA
Milbank: Mikaela Hoeke, $1000
Peever: Karlie Karst, $500
Tyndall: Clay Wittmeier, $500
Webster: Ariana Storley, $500