MSU President's Newspaper Column
February 22, 2022
Mayville State students are outstanding!
We are blessed to be surrounded by students who are of high character and who have goals to make a positive difference in our world. Whether they excel in the classroom, as leaders of their student organizations, or on the athletic fields and courts, they are the heart and soul of our outstanding university. These shining stars are not limited to those studying on campus. Many of our students study online and balance work and school while making a difference in their communities and in their jobs as educators, nurses, and more.
The Mayville State family is made up of so many special people. A majority of the students we serve come from North Dakota and nearby Minnesota. It is wonderful that we can all have a rallying point in Mayville State University, where everyone has the opportunity to learn and grow together, including the important population of students who hail from places all over the country and beyond. It’s a win-win for the local students and those who come from places far away, as they have much to share with and learn from one another. To sweeten the pot, a very large number of all students choose to stay in North Dakota to establish their careers and their lives when they graduate.
I recently learned that nine Mayville State student leaders have been selected to receive North Dakota Space Grant NASA Scholarships. The funding is provided by the North Dakota Space Grant Consortium for the 2021-22 academic year. It is intended for students who are pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees.
Our students are receiving life-changing experiences through their opportunities to work together with our talented and highly educated faculty in the science department doing real world research. It is rare that an undergraduate student would have a chance to work in a lab, let alone work so closely with researchers who are doing very important work in the field of science. In addition, some of these students are given the opportunity to present their findings at regional and national conferences and participate in meaningful internships. This truly is an exceptional and valuable opportunity that is available to students right here at Mayville State University.
Mayville State’s Collegiate DECA group has just returned from the state conference. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.
The Mayville State chapter members did extremely well in their state competitions. The pandemic situation has limited opportunities for students to gain experiences such as state and international competitions, but that did not hinder their performance at state. The group made up of a number of freshmen and sophomores excelled. Several of the Collegiate DECA members have now qualified to compete at the International Career Development Conference in Baltimore, Md. in April.
Two members of the Mayville State Collegiate DECA chapter, Jamison Zaun and McKinley Kartes, received the North Dakota Collegiate DECA Outstanding Service Award. The leadership award is designed to recognize Collegiate DECA student members for their leadership in their community, on their campus, and with their chapter.
Mayville State University will be represented very well at the state level during the 2022-2023 school year. Two leadership positions will be held by Mayville State students. Julia Kohls of Mayville has been elected state president for North Dakota Collegiate DECA, and Jamison Zaun, Wahpeton, N.D., has been elected to the position of state vice president. I am so very happy for Julia and Jamison, and all of the members of the Mayville State University Collegiate DECA chapter.
Local Collegiate DECA chapter officers are Jamison Zaun, president; Taylor Stegman, vice president; Julia Kohls, vice president of public relations; Lauryn Wolfgram, vice president of accounting/finance; and McKinley Kartes, vice president of member relations. The chapter advisors are Professor of Business Dustin Olson and Professor of Business Rob Johnston.
These are just a few examples of how, day-in and day-out, our Mayville State University students make us proud. It’s always a great day to be a Comet!