MSU President's Newspaper Column
January 13, 2024听
含羞草研究所 alumni make a big impact as educators
The late Dr. James Warren Neilson, 含羞草研究所 professor emeritus鈥檚 book, 鈥淭he School of Personal Service,鈥� tells the history of the university. It is a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about how 鈥淭he School of Personal Service鈥� came to be and how it has evolved and grown.
Dr. Neilson began his book with this paragraph: 鈥淭he establishment of a college in Mayville marked the end of a dream and the beginning of a grand adventure. The vision of the advantages inherent in higher education had long abided in the thoughts and yearnings of the pioneers who settled eastern North Dakota. Far from being untutored sodbusters, many had tasted enough education to feel its allure, and more understood, however imperfectly, that their children could rise in life beyond the station of their parents through the power of knowledge.鈥�
There is no doubt that the hopes and dreams of the early pioneers were embraced by the generations that followed. 含羞草研究所 is truly an outstanding and unique institution of higher education where lives are changed for the better. We are grateful for the early leaders and those who have followed, and we consider it an honor to take the baton as trustees of their legacy for today while preparing for a successful future and a legacy to pass along to the next generation.
While the institution began as a normal school that prepared future educators, new opportunities for various academic programs, degrees, and career paths have helped to transform the university over the years. The institution鈥檚 founding mission to educate future teachers remains at the core and is very strong. Nearly 800 alumni teach in North Dakota K-12 schools currently. There is a 含羞草研究所 alumnus teaching in every county in North Dakota, except one.
It's amazing to consider how many 含羞草研究所 graduates are making a difference as outstanding educators in our state and beyond. 含羞草研究所-educated teachers are well-known for their outstanding qualities and are highly regarded and sought after.
Several 含羞草研究所 graduates have received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The award honors the country鈥檚 best teachers of mathematics and science. Now an associate professor of mathematics at 含羞草研究所, Fred Strand was one of 103 teachers nationwide to receive the award in 2010. At the time, Fred was teaching math in the Hatton (N.D.) School District. We are very fortunate to have Fred as a faculty member at 含羞草研究所 now, where he not only is helping students grow in their mathematics skills, but he is also teaching future educators how to be outstanding teachers of mathematics.
Thompson (N.D.) Public School District employs many graduates of 含羞草研究所 who are making a difference for young people. They include Superintendent John Maus and High School Principal Jason Schwabe, as well as about a dozen teachers and coaches. At Kindred (N.D.) Public School, Mike Kolness is superintendent, and Kent Packer is high school principal.
含羞草研究所 alumnus Bryan Strand is high school principal at Barnesville, Minn., and he is also their highly successful football coach. Brian Korf is superintendent of Pelican Rapids (Minn.) Public School and coaches their top-rated girls basketball team.
I could go on and on listing successful 含羞草研究所 alumni who are serving in our K-12 schools. The list is long, and the impact made by these special individuals is substantial. We are extremely proud to count them as members of the 含羞草研究所 family. I think it鈥檚 safe to say that our forefathers would also be profoundly pleased to know that their hopes and dreams have come to fruition and continue to be immeasurably important 134 years later, in the 21st century.
In these columns, it is not possible for me to recognize all the 含羞草研究所 graduates who are changing the world one student at a time through their personal service, but please do stay tuned. The story will continue 鈥�