NDSU News

Faculty from the animal sciences department and Extension Service have teamed up to offer three BBQ Boot Camps throughout the state.

The dates and locations are:

• June 26 at Bonanzaville in West Fargo, N.D., from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• July 2 at the city park in Fullerton, N.D., from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Aug. 15 at the Harold Schafer Heritage Center in Medora, N.D., from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

BBQ Boot Camp instructors introduce participants to grilling methods, including smoking and cooking with gas and charcoal. Instructors will describe the merits of various meat cuts and explain how cooking temperatures, humidity and the composition of the meat from different animal species can affect the barbecuing process. Participants also will learn about nutrition, food safety and techniques such as using rubs, marinades and seasonings.

Faculty will share information on current topics in the pork, beef and lamb industries and report on related research, teaching and Extension activities at NDSU.

“The program highlights many different aspects of agriculture from meat cookery to the importance that producers place on meeting high product quality standards,” says David Newman, NDSU Extension swine specialist and one of the BBQ Boot Camp organizers.

The camps wrap up with a full meal, including traditional barbecue side dishes. Participants will be able to fill their plates with a large variety of barbecued meat.

“You definitely won’t leave hungry,” says Eric Berg, a professor in the Animal sciences department and a BBQ Boot Camp instructor.

Animal sciences department and Extension faculty, staff, and graduate and undergraduate students are the instructors for the camps.

The cost is $40 per person. For more information about the BBQ Boot Camp or to register for the July 2 and Aug. 15 camps, go to www.ndsu.edu/bbqbootcamp. To register for the June 26 camp, go to http://tinyurl.com/BBQBootCamp.

This is the fifth year BBQ Boot Camps have been held across the state.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation’s top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.

Koppy

Kessler

Millar

NDSU students Alex Koppy, Stephen Kessler and Brandon Millar have been named 2013 Yell Leaders. They will work with the NDSU Cheer Team and Gold Star Marching Band to engage fans and create a festive atmosphere at home football games.

Yell Leaders are selected by Bison Ambassadors, NDSU Athletics and the NDSU Alumni Association through an interview process. They are judged on enthusiasm, Bison Pride and voice.

“A Yell Leader is someone who embodies the Bison spirit and is an outstanding member of the NDSU community,” said Stephanie Maier, director of programs and student engagement for the NDSU Alumni Association.

They receive a scholarship from the NDSU Alumni Association for their service. In 2011, the inaugural year for the Yell Leader program, Student Government also contributed to the Yell Leader scholarships. For more information on the program, visit www.ndsuyellleaders.com.

Stephen Kessler
Major: Agricultural education
Year in school: Sophomore
Hometown: Glen Ullin, N.D.
Activities: Bison Ambassadors, Herd Club, Collegiate FFA/PAS, College Democrats, and intramural flag football and basketball.

Why did you want to be a Yell Leader?
I wanted to become a Yell Leader because of my extreme Bison Pride. I love going to every football game and attending volleyball, basketball and baseball games and other Bison athletic events.

What will make you a good Yell Leader?
My dedication. My goal is to get students and adults on the same page so that the entire crowd at football games and other sporting events will be yelling the same chant together.

What does Bison Pride mean to you?
Bison Pride to me means that a person has great support for NDSU in its athletics, organizations and academics. I personally wear NDSU attire as well as organization clothes to help promote them around NDSU and elsewhere. Bison Pride goes beyond athletics because without hard work in the classroom, organizations or athletics would not thrive.

How do you feel about wearing a yellow suit to games?
I am excited. I am used to dressing full out for Bison games and I feel that wearing a suit will not be any different for me.

Favorite tailgating food:
Coming from a ranch background, my favorite tailgating food is brats and hamburgers.

Favorite Bison tradition:
Camping out the night before football games. It’s a great way to bond with fellow Bison.

Why did you choose to attend NDSU?
I chose to attend NDSU because many employers and others recognize it as a great university. Also I stayed at NDSU each summer for a week because of the state FFA convention and NDSU team football camp. I was familiar with the university and it is not too far or too close to home.

Alex Koppy
Majors: Mathematics and mathematics education
Year in school: Sophomore
Hometown: Mandan, N.D.
Activities: Track and field and Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Why did you want to be a Yell Leader?
I wanted to be a Yell Leader not only to raise the decibel level at the Fargodome, but also to share my Bison pride with the rest of the NDSU community and get everyone excited about the Herd.

What will make you a good Yell Leader?
Well, of course the yell, but also the fact that I bleed green and gold.

What does Bison Pride mean to you?
Bison Pride, to me, is all about the feeling I get knowing I am part of something so exciting and big.

How do you feel about wearing a yellow suit to games?
I can’t wait!

Favorite tailgating food:
Chocolate-covered potato chips

Favorite Bison tradition:
Beating South Dakota State University in football.

Why did you choose to attend NDSU?
I felt it was the perfect size and I always wanted to run track for the Bison.

Brandon Millar
Major: Theatre arts
Year in school: Senior
Hometown: West Fargo, N.D.
Activities: BisonArts, the NDSU Concert Choir, as well as many musical productions with Theatre NDSU

Why did you want to be a Yell Leader?
I wanted to be a yell leader because I love NDSU, especially the athletics, and I wanted to do more than just stand on the sidelines and watch. I wanted to share that passion and pride for my school with everyone else, and make sure our “12th Man” does everything we can to help the Bison to more victories and championships.

What will make you a good Yell Leader?
I’ve got a ton of Bison Pride, and always have since I grew up in West Fargo. It definitely helps that I’m the loudest person I know and am not a shy person in the least. I’m passionate, outgoing and again, loud.

What does Bison Pride mean to you?
Bison Pride, to me, is all about tradition. It has run through my family for years and has been passed onto me. It’s about the pride in being a part of a university that is the lifeblood of the FM area where I was raised. To me, it’s all about the green and gold, and how proud I am to be a part of this university.

How do you feel about wearing a yellow suit to games?
I personally can’t wait to get that suit. Those things are stylin’.

Favorite tailgating food:
There’s nothing better than a good chili cheddar cheese brat.

Favorite Bison tradition:
I would have to say that my favorite tradition is and has always been Bison game day. From tailgating to the opening kickoff, there is nothing like game day.

Why did you choose to attend NDSU?
I chose to go to NDSU because I grew up in West Fargo and have always been a big Bison sports fan. From attending football games when I was little, to going to Bison Buddies basketball camps, it has always been in my blood. The choice for me was simple.

NDSU is recognized as one of the top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.

Brueggeman

Haring

Two major national awards received by NDSU professors will bring a combined $1.6 million to biochemistry and to plant pathology research programs at NDSU and provide additional research opportunities for students.

Stuart Haring, Ph.D., assistant professor in biochemistry, and Robert Brueggeman, Ph.D., assistant professor in plant pathology, will each receive five-year Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) awards from the National Science Foundation.

Living cells are the focus of Haring’s research, for which he is receiving a five-year award of $992,429 from NSF. It is the largest single CAREER award received at NDSU since 1996. Haring’s research examines how cells recognize and repair damaged DNA, before the DNA is permanently mutated. The research, titled “Replication Protein A Modification – Dependent Function in Mitosis and Meiosis,” also will provide opportunities to NDSU students in molecular and cellular biology. Much of the current research into cellular dysfunction centers on how to fix cells after they have been broken, due to genetic mutation. Haring’s research involves understanding molecular mechanisms of DNA metabolism, which are important in preventing mutations from occurring. This is analogous to performing preventive maintenance, instead of fixing things after they are broken.

“This award will allow us to probe into how Replication Protein A (RPA) modifications affect its cellular function, especially in response to DNA damage,” Haring said. “The research also will provide insight into the molecular mechanisms by which modification of RPA directs its many functions, which is currently undetermined. Ultimately, a better understanding of these basic DNA maintenance mechanisms will potentially allow for the development of methods to prevent cellular defects by preventing mutation.”

In plant sciences research, Brueggeman is being awarded $623,363 as a five-year CAREER award for research that examines mechanisms of disease resistance in cereal crops. Titled “Rapid stem rust resistance responses in barley; non host resistance,” Brueggeman’s research will fill gaps in knowledge of the interactions that occur between important pathogens and the cereal hosts that they attack. This includes how the plants mount defensive mechanisms to arrest the pathogen and how environmental factors, including high temperatures, can subvert plant defense against pathogens.

“This research is significant because the understanding of how disease resistance operates against important cereal crop pathogens will allow the maintenance of food security and keep the production of diverse crops an economically viable option for producers,” Brueggeman said. “We also need to understand why some important resistance mechanisms don’t work in different environmental conditions, including temperature fluctuation.”

Brueggeman’s research targets fundamental questions about the function of plant immunity and how to breed or engineer resistance mechanisms that are more resilient to changing biotic and environmental stimuli. “This information will allow breeders an understanding of the different mechanisms of disease resistance in barley and other cereal crops, including wheat, which will allow for a more informed deployment of different defense mechanisms to achieve durable genetic resistance,” he said.

Efforts also will focus on recruiting underrepresented groups to participate in Brueggeman’s research. Students participating in the Nurturing American Tribal Undergraduate Research and Education (NATURE) program have opportunities through a summer research session and a science academy to engage in plant pathology research in Brueggeman’s lab. As a member of the Kutenai tribe, Brueggeman notes that similar science opportunities through tribal agencies were instrumental in creating his own interest in plant sciences and genetics. NATURE is an educational outreach program sponsored by the North Dakota Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.

Brueggeman earned his doctorate in crop sciences from Washington State University, Pullman. Haring earned his doctorate in biological sciences from the University of Iowa, Iowa City.

Since 1996, eighteen faculty members at NDSU have received prestigiousNational Science Foundation CAREER awards.  “NDSU researchers continue a standard of excellence that reflect the institution’s ability to attract the best and the brightest among new faculty researchers,” said Philip Boudjouk, vice president for research, creative activities and technology transfer.

Overall, National Science Foundation CAREER awardees at NDSU have been awarded more than $8.7 million in grants to conduct research in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, civil and electrical engineering, computer science, pharmaceutical sciences, plant sciences, and coatings and polymeric materials. NSF career awardees currently at NDSU include faculty members Gregory Cook, Stuart Haring, Seth Rasmussen, Wenfang Sun, Sivaguru Jayaraman and Uwe Burghaus in chemistry and biochemistry, Sanku Mallik in pharmaceutical sciences, Magdy Abdelrahman, Xuefeng Chu, Kalpana Katti and Eakalak Khan in civil engineering, Kendra Greenlee in biological sciences, Hyunsook Do in computer science and Robert Brueggeman in plant sciences.

The National Science Foundation CAREER program recognizes and supports the early career-development activities of scholars who are likely to become the academic leaders of the 21st century. Recipients are chosen on the basis of creative career development plans that integrate research and education within the context of their university’s mission.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation’s top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.

Jason Dvorak and Rachel Fitcha, members of NDSU’s top co-ed team, low crawling under a wire obstacle.

Students in North Dakota State University’s Army ROTC program won the title of Best Battalion in the 2013 Ranger Buddy Competition in Lawrence, Kan., on April 20, 2013.

Thirty-nine universities from 14 states brought 183 teams to the annual competition that challenges participants mentally and physically.

The competition is divided into three categories: men, women and co-ed. The scores of each university’s top teams in each category are added up to determine the overall winner.

NDSU’s top women’s team, which included Johannah Wiege, an NDSU junior majoring in architectural engineering, and Abigail Peno, a Concordia sophomore majoring in nursing, placed second out of 22 teams.

NDSU’s top men’s team, which included Caleb Hamilton, an NDSU junior majoring in criminal justice, and Todd Lowell, an NDSU junior majoring in civil engineering, placed 11^th out of 136 teams.

NDSU’s top co-ed team, which included Jason Dvorak, an NDSU sophomore majoring in criminal justice, and Rachel Fitcha, a Concordia sophomore majoring in exercise science, placed 5^th out of 32 teams.

“This was a major victory for the Bison Battalion,” said Lt. Col. Santiago G. Bueno III, professor of military science in NDSU’s Army ROTC program. “With 70 enrolled cadets, we are one of the smallest programs, so being able to take first place really shows the quality of our cadets.”

The competition started at 5 a.m. with a 15K foot march wearing a rucksack that weighed 35 pounds or more. Then teams completed six different lanes as fast as they could. The lanes were based on Rogers’ Orders, rules developed by Maj. Robert Rogers, a military leader during the 1700s. One lane, for example, was based on Rogers’ Order No. 16, “Don’t cross a river by a regular ford.” Teams received a scenario related to the order and a series of tasks to complete, such as treating and calling in an injury and then retrieving a medical kit that had landed in water.

To prepare for the mentally and physically demanding competition, NDSU’s ROTC students worked out for an hour-and-a-half six days a week.

NDSU’s other two other teams also did well. Christopher Gerving, an NDSU sophomore majoring in finance, and April Kuck, a Concordia junior majoring in graphic arts, placed 7^th out of 32 co-ed teams. Brady Holte and Cody Holte, both NDSU sophomores majoring in criminal justice, placed 63^rd out of 136 men’s teams.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation’s top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.

This summer NDSU will offer third through eighth grade students the chance to learn about topics in science, technology, engineering and math, commonly known as STEM. Registration is open for a series of four Summer Kids Camp sessions scheduled to begin June 10.

The following camps are offered through the 2013 Summer STEM Kids Camps. Many of the camps are offered on several dates throughout the summer.

Construction Materials
After an overview of the construction process and materials used in the industry, students design a house plan, select materials they would use to build their house, build models of their houses, and spend a day in the lab mixing concrete and running material tests.

Computing and Games
Attendees learn to create interactive stories, a Web page, games, music and art using Scratch, RPG maker and other software.

Prehistoric Creatures, Glowing Minerals, and Rocks that Tell Stories
Get a sneak peek into the NDSU Geology Laboratory and investigate a variety of Earth materials. Learn to identify minerals and rocks using common tools. Look for fossils with microscopes, go on a dig for “fossils,” and make a fossil to take home.

Robot Rumble
Using the Lego Mindstorms platform, the attendee will learn the basic engineering concepts of design and programming while working in teams to build a robot. Students will engineer a robot to perform tasks, overcome challenges and maneuver through obstacles culminating in an exciting competition.

The Great Health Care Adventure
Students will learn about science in health careers through fun, hands-on activities with real health care providers.

Gear Heads
Students will build and explore engineering through basic machines and mechanisms. Using Lego Education kits, students will learn about gears, pulleys, levers, linkages and pneumatics. Students work in teams to build simple and motorized mechanisms to demonstrate concepts.

Engineering Adventures
Students in this camp will learn how to apply math and science principles to solve real-world problems, engaging in a variety of hands-on activities to illustrate engineering concepts.

STEM Explorers
Students will participate in a project-based environment where they will use a problem solving strategy to investigate STEM-related topics. They will use a 21st century approach.

Crime Scene Science
A week full of activities spans the different scientific fields including experiments in fingerprint and bite mark identification, studying splatter patterns, powder analysis, chromatography and even DNA extraction.

The 2013 Summer STEM Kids Camps are open to all area students entering grades three through eight this fall. Each camp is $89 but discounts are offered for students taking more than one camp or if more than one child from a family attends a camp.

Scholarships also are offered through FM Metro Youth Partnership. To apply for a scholarship, visit http://ndsu.me/mypscholarship2013.

To view more information or to register for the 2013 Summer STEM Kids Camps, go to http://ndsu.me/dcem1304.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation’s top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.

An extravaganza of photography and music is scheduled for Friday, May 10, at the old Moorhead city power plant. “Power of History: Remixed” is set for 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the plant, located at the corner of Sixth Avenue South and Elm Street in Moorhead. The one-night only event is free and the public is invited.

A total of 24 photography students from NDSU have taken a series of photographs of the historic building, which is slated for demolition later this year. During the evening exhibition, the students’ images will be projected on the exterior of the plant, reaching a size of 25 feet by 40 feet. The images will be accompanied with music supplied by deejays of the local “Scratch Dungeon” troupe.

The students are in an advanced photography class taught by Su Legatt, lecturer of photography, who said a similar project was held in November 2011. “This is a really unique event,” Legatt said. “We have three organizations (Moorhead Public Service, NDSU and Scratch Dungeon) are coming together to celebrate this historic building that we will soon be losing.”

Legatt said the project has been a great educational experience for the students. “It has helped them build a professional network and exposed them to the real world issues that artists face,” she said. “I am very pleased with their work.”

Students, like senior Gretchen Barker from Gardner, N.D., are excited to display their talents in the visual arts. “I’m really glad to be a part of this project,” Barker said. “I think it is wonderful that instead of just being torn down without any commemoration, this piece of Moorhead’s history has a chance to become a key piece in many works of art and bring together both artists and the community around it.”

According to Moorhead Public Service, the old municipal plant first generated energy on Nov. 1, 1895. Contemporary newspaper accounts noted there was dancing in the streets and fireworks boomed overhead. At 8 p.m. that evening, the fire alarm sounded, and a team of horses pulled the town’s fire wagon down Front Street, urged on by cheering throngs. At precisely 8:30 p.m. that night, the mayor threw a switch to illuminate a total of 500 incandescent and 25 arc lights.

In August 2011, the 10-megawatt fuel oil turbine generator was retired and the power plant was decommissioned. Today, MPS purchases the power used by the residents in Moorhead from outside resources.

Food and beverages will be served at no cost.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation’s top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.

NDSU’s Bateman Team includes seniors Lauren Sobolik, Danielle Anderson, Nate Macy and McKenzy Olson.

Bison Inc., a team of four NDSU seniors, is a finalist in a national student public relations competition.

Danielle Anderson of Cannon Falls, Minn., Nathanael Macy of Fertile, Minn., McKenzy Olson of Mohall, N.D., and Lauren Sobolik of Mayville, N.D., will compete against teams from Loyola University and Kent State University for first place in the Bateman Case Study Competition sponsored by the Public Relations Student Society of America. The team will pitch its “I Stand” anti-bullying awareness campaign via Skype on May 10.

Anderson received the call notifying the team that it was in the top three on April 14. Anderson’s first reaction was shock. Then she jumped up and down with excitement. When she regained her composure, she called her teammates to give them the good news. “The highest NDSU had ever placed before was 16th, and we were proud of that achievement,” Anderson said. “I remember thinking for the rest of the day, ‘Maybe I heard wrong. Maybe we really didn’t get in the top three.’ ”

Anderson, Macy, Olson and Sobolik teamed up in fall 2012 to apply their classroom education to create a public relations campaign. They researched the literature on bullying, interviewed local school administrators, held focus groups and surveyed middle school students before developing their campaign strategy and communication plan.

During February, they implemented “I Stand” at Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Middle School. The campaign focused on bystanders, encouraging students to stand up for people who are being bullied and to stand beside them as friends while showing bullies their behavior is unacceptable. The team used personal interactions, hands-on activities, video and social media to engage students with their message.

During the campaign, the team visited the school weekly at lunchtime for events they called Cafeteria Crashers. For one Cafeteria Crashers activity, students signed a pledge to stand up for other people and received an “I Stand” button as a reminder of their pledge. Another activity involved writing messages about standing up for people on balloons and releasing them. At the end of the month, the class that had demonstrated the most behavior related to the message received a pizza party. The team ultimately exceeded all goals for participation, change in behavior, social media engagement and continuation of the message.

Prairie Public Broadcasting plans to share the team’s videos for a new project titled Stand Up: How to Stop Bullying. “I am very impressed with the quality of the NDSU Bateman team’s effort,” said Meg Luther Lindholm, producer of Prairie Public’s statewide “Stand Up” project. “They put a lot of good thought and energy into how to reach middle school students.” The videos will be posted to the Stand Up Facebook page and @standupnd.

The team is thrilled their message will carry on. “We never looked at it as winning a competition,” Olson said. “We looked at it as making a difference.”

The team said creating the campaign and working through challenges without the structure of a class was good preparation for their careers. “Basically, it was us,” Olson said. “If we didn’t do it, it wasn’t getting done.”

Some days that meant asking for donations or going to UPS to track down a delivery they needed immediately.

“This community is awesome,” Sobolik said. “I really don’t think our campaign would have caught on as well and received such positive support anywhere else. “DGF, NDSU and Fargo in general have all been great to us. We all agree this has been the best way to end our college careers.”

Anderson is a public relations major. Macy is double majoring in management communication and political science. Olson and Sobolik are public relations and advertising majors.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation’s top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.

NDSU senior Brandon Johnson has been selected to receive the prestigious Astronaut Scholarship. Johnson, who is majoring in physics, mathematics and music, is one of a select group of students from across the country to receive the $10,000 scholarship for the 2013-14 academic year.

Established in 1986 by the Mercury 7 astronauts, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation was created to ensure the United States would maintain its leadership in science and technology by supporting some of the very best science and engineering college students. Nominees must be studying engineering, natural or applied science or mathematics and have intentions to pursue research or advance their field upon completion of their final degrees.

Johnson, a native of Hazen, N.D., said he aspires to be a research leader in astronomy and cosmology. He also wants to be an excellent teacher, noting he was a learning assistant for the past academic year in the calculus-based University Physics I and II courses.

“I am so excited to be honored with this scholarship,” Johnson said. “To be recognized for my hard work as an undergrad student means the world to me. I look forward to continuing my education toward my long-term goal of becoming a research professor.”

Alan Denton, associate professor of physics, nominated Johnson for the scholarship. “Compared with numerous students with whom I have interacted during the past 30 years at several universities, Brandon Johnson stands out among the top 5 percent who exceed the criteria of critical reasoning and problem-solving ability, communication skills and personal qualities to do big things,” Denton wrote.

Thomas Ihle, associate professor of physics, wrote a letter of recommendation for Johnson. Ihle wrote that he excelled in his Modern Physics class, which is a challenging introduction to quantum mechanics and Einstein’s Theory of Special and General Relativity. In addition, in Ihle’s Heat and Thermodynamics course, Johnson received the only “A” of the eight undergraduate and four graduate students taking the class.

“Brandon is a top student,” Ihle wrote. “He is in the same league as the best four physics students I have taught at NDSU since 2004 and who are now pursuing graduate studies at top tier universities like Cornell and Carnegie-Mellon. I think Brandon is a perfect candidate for the Astronaut Scholarship.”

NDSU is one of 27 cooperating educational institutions in the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation program.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation’s top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.

Artz

As a campus tour guide, North Dakota State University senior Kylie Artz is well prepared to answer the questions posed by most visitors. Why did you choose NDSU? Why do you love it here? What makes it a great place?

So she had to think for a moment when at the end of a tour, a small hand shot up. “How many rocks are there on campus?” the inquiring fourth-grader wanted to know.

Artz, a Bottineau, N.D., native, was stumped. Even as she approaches graduation, learning opportunities continue to come from unexpected places.

It’s a situation she ultimately embraces. Artz realized early on that academics, combined with campus involvement and volunteer activities, created the total college experience. She believes taking advantage of those opportunities helps students set themselves apart and prepare for life after graduation.

Artz will share what she’s learned at NDSU as the speaker representing her class during spring commencement. More than 2,200 students are scheduled to receive degrees on Saturday, May 11.

She still doesn’t know how many rocks are on campus, but Artz continues to apply the lessons she’s learned. “Stay flexible, keep calm and use your past experiences to help determine your next step,” she said. “Along with your character, I believe that two of the most important factors that will determine your success in life are your ability to work with people and your attitude.” 

Becoming a leader
Artz began making an impact upon arrival at NDSU. Her passion and enthusiasm became contagious to her audience during campus tours, according to Jobey Lichtblau, director of admission. As a tour guide, challenging questions demanded thoughtful replies. Evolving construction zones required on-the-fly changes of direction. And more than once winter weather provided a formidable hurdle to showcasing the best NDSU has to offer. 

However, Artz said sharing her experiences and engaging visitors helped create a positive first impression that deepened while showing off campus. She reveled in providing visitors an hour-long student perspective of NDSU – all of which while walking backward, conversing with prospective students and their parents. “There isn’t a training course,” Artz quipped about her job-acquired skill.

She became the “go-to” tour guide by her sophomore year, giving as many as four campus tours per week and becoming the first one tabbed to lead special tour requests. “She is an outstanding ambassador for NDSU,” Lichtblau said. 

Campus involvement fuels passion
Artz took advantage of leadership and volunteer activities on campus. She served as president of Blue Key Honor Society and as an NDSU Ag Ambassador representing the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources. Through her work with the national service organization Students Today Leaders Forever, Artz volunteered in 10 states on two pay-it-forward tours.

She also has an impressive list of volunteer activities: Dorothy Day House Food Pantry, the Salvation Army, the NDSU Library, Girl Scouts of the USA, the Red River Children’s Advocacy Center, Nokomis Childcare, the NDSU Career Center, the Sophomore Mentorship Program at NDSU, Fill the Dome, the Great Plains Food Bank and Hoops for Hannah. She also was involved with the North Dakota Leadership Seminar, a program that encourages high school sophomores to gain leadership skills through service opportunities.

“Take those things you’ve learned in college outside of the classroom and learn how to apply those lessons to everyday life,” she said. “You’re graduating with tens of thousands of people with your degree and a good GPA. What will you bring to the table to set yourself apart?”

Academically, Artz is a Presidential Scholar and regularly appears on the dean’s list. “Kylie is an exceptional young person who has successfully demonstrated what it is to be a well-rounded student who can balance the rigors of class with campus activities and community involvement,” said Patti Sebesta, Ag Ambassador adviser and director of college advancement for the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources.

After graduation, Artz will continue her education at NDSU in the Master of Public Health program. The management of infectious diseases specialization will allow her to combine her bachelor’s degree in microbiology with her ability to work with people. She said she hopes to become an epidemiologist, studying diseases and tracing the course of outbreaks.

Artz admits she doesn’t know all the answers, but her response to the inquisitive fourth-grader sums up her approach to making the most of the college experience. “It all depends on how deep you want to dig.”

NDSU commencement ceremonies are scheduled for Saturday, May 11. 

LeGrand

North Dakota State University will recognize Frank “Ed” LeGrand, the only living graduate from its first class of doctoral students, at spring commencement on Saturday, May 11, at 10 a.m., at the Fargodome.

LeGrand, who studied agronomy, was one of five students to earn the first doctoral degrees from NDSU 50 years ago. The other four doctoral graduates in the class of 1963 were:

• Taki John Anagnostou, Chemistry
•  Lola V. Hopkins, Pharmacy
• Jerome A. Onsager, Entomology
• Sol Shulman, Paint Chemistry

After completing his doctorate, LeGrand worked as a

LeGrand with his adviser Glenn Smith

Named professor and director of Oklahoma Pedigreed Seed Services in 1979, LeGrand also provided leadership and direction to Oklahoma Foundation Seed Stocks Inc. and the Oklahoma Crop Improvement Association. He held that position until his retirement in 1994.

LeGrand lives in Stillwater, Okla., where he farms and ranches 1,000 acres. He has received the Governor’s Conservation Award twice for his conservation practices.

In 1963, when LeGrand graduated, NDSU offered five doctoral degree programs. Today, NDSU offers 50 doctoral degree programs, 86 master’s degree programs and 12 certificate programs. Graduate education underlies the emergence of NDSU as a national research institution as recognized by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.

The graduating class of 2013 includes 123 professional doctoral and research degree recipients and 175 master’s degree recipients.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation’s top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.