Spring 2017 Community College Foundation
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For friends and alumni of Lake Region State College LRSC Branches Lake Region State College Volume 27, Issue 1, Spring 2017 Community College Foundation Community College Foundation 2017 Board of Directors Legislative Kim Belzer Kathy Miller Soaring to new heights Sarah Burdick Doug Mohr Patty Bye Dan Ness New technologies are created daily on the prairie horizon update olling into this year’s Lexie Dion Chad Peterson oday’s new tech- on their first attempt. Agriculture, Wind Energy, Allison Dybing Driessen Tony Prozinski Rlegislative session, nologies are spurring “The Wind Energy cur- and other programs con- LRSC was apprehensive. Bethany Dumont Brian Quam a curriculum trans- riculum focuses on drone use as tinue to grow. Precision Ag Beth Leevers Dunn Fred Rance Earlier allotments had formation in higher a tool,” Johnson said. students, for instance, have caused a cut to the bud- Jill Hanson Christy Remmick Teducation. High-tech pro- Part 107 certification is at least four internship of- get, and the campus had Janelle Kurtz Jeremy Safranski gramming in wind energy, becoming standard in the fers per student. to present a 90-percent Andy Lankowicz Brenda Swenseth precision agriculture, simu- college’s Precision Ag pro- Dr. Doug Darling, budget for 2017-2019. Frank Mack Lucas Wakefield lator technology, and even gram, too, enhancing stu- LRSC president, is pleased Always cautious with Roger Mertens Ron Walford business is adapting to meet dent experiences and mak- to see an increase in intern- budgets, and foreseeing Angela Mikkelson Janet Westlind the needs and challenges of ing them more ship opportuni- additional budget reduc- Mike Yoder employers regionally and marketable. ties in a variety tion, LRSC administra- worldwide. “We offer nnovation is of LRSC tion began addressing 2017 Executive Committee One of the newest training on in- program areas. the big budget picture Chad Peterson ........................President pieces is drone technol- the-soil, hands- hatching “There is a early. All areas were ogy, or unmanned aerial on applications I resurgence of in- scrutinized to reduce Jeff Wahl.......Immediate Past President Janelle Kurtz ..................Vice President systems. Companies like as well as in ternship options cost without impacting EdgeData are bringing new technologies new industries for students. We service to students or Jill Hanson .............................Secretary BladeEdge software and Doug Mohr .............................Treasurer students may be match students academic quality. Most services to the LRSC Wind working with,” and with corporate positions opened by Ex-Officio Energy Technician program said Preston partners and personnel departure were to train the next generation Sundeen, direc- revolutionizing build win-win left unfilled. Instead job Doug Darling Scott Privratsky of wind turbine technicians tor of the Da- situations for duties were absorbed Lee Ann Johnston Tom Stoe in UAS and turbine blade kota Precision business. both!” he said. across departments. Danny Mertens Paula Vistad inspections. Agriculture “Those intern- As the session con- Cheri Weisz This spring, students in Center. ship opportuni- tinued, additional cuts the Wind Energy program LRSC also is promoting ties will continue to grow as appeared imminent as Staff started training for certifi- an older learning tool—in- more industries watch what the economy remained Carla Freschette ............... Web Design/ cation to conduct UAS in- ternship opportunities. our students are doing in the stagnant, especially spections of turbine blades. Internships help boost Public Affairs classroom to prepare for the in the oil and agricul- “Students have been learn- a student’s marketability. workforce.” ture sectors. When Katie Fitch ..............Events Coordinator Electronics technicians in In the world of simula- Laurel Goulding ........ Executive Director ing in a hands-on environ- ment, gaining real-world high-tech industries are tion, the demand for techni- On a brighter note, Dianne Gunderson .......... Publications/ maintenance and repair experi- reaching retirment age, cians continues to increase. Accounts Management ence on actual wind turbines,” creating demand for new Last year, 25 students were the Legislature reinstated Jessica Hjelden .........Records/Support said Jay Johnson, instruc- technicians with a skillset enrolled in the Sim Tech the North Dakota Corry Kenner ........ Assistant Treasurer tor and coordinator for the similar to what LRSC stu- program. While many land Higher Education Bobbi Lunday ........ Assistant Secretary program. dents learn. Opportunities industry jobs in faroff loca- Elonda Nord ........Grants Management/ Students took the for students in our Informa- tions, others are employed Challenge Match. Donor Relations FAA Part 107 certification tion Technology, Simula- in related fields right here See “Here we go Erin Wood......... Public Affairs Director course, and many passed tion Technology, Precision in the Lake Region. again!”on page 4. “There are a lot of opportunities here for our the session wrapped Otter Tail Power supports Wind Energy program graduates,” said instructor up in April, colleges Will McConnell, himself a recent gift of $25,000 and universities in the graduate of the Sim Tech North Dakota Univer- A from Otter Tail Power program. “The skills they Company will provide new sity System—including gain here are transferable to LRSC—had a 20-percent instructional technologies other fields. They leave with reduction in budget. for the LRSC Wind Energy electrical and mechanical skills “Every area incurred Technician program and sup- to fix things, and there are lots reductions in positions, port other technical needs for of industry jobs out there.” spending, travel, and programs based in the new Instructor Richard other costs,” said LRSC Bergstrom Technical Cen- Drury first became inter- President Doug Darling. ter. Otter Tail also provides ested in simulators while “Staff and faculty are important support for scholar- in the Air Force. He then giving a bit more to cover ships for students enrolled in gained experience by work- duties left when positions the Wind Energy program. ing for Delta and fulfilling where vacated.” Otter Tail Power Com- military contracts to service As the session ended, pany’s gifts were matched by weapons, Humvee, and Presenting a check (from left)—Mark Helland, Otter Tail VP for Cus- the North Dakota Higher Ed tomer Service; Damien Rieter, Otter Tail Acting Manager; LRSC Challenge fund, which en- (Taking Flight, continued on (Legislative Update, con- President Doug Darling; and CCF Executive Director Laurel Goulding larged them by 50 percent. page 3) tinued on page 3) Page 2 Branches, Vol. 27, Issue 1, Spring 2017 See what we have to offer! is committed to being a progressive and LRSC diverse institution as it prepares students for success in a rapidly changing local, national, and world community. We offer unique and varied programs which will provide students with exciting job opportunities and advanced positions of responsibility. Enroll in one of these exciting programs of study: Associate in Arts/Associ- skills needed for entry-level ate in Science—Universities positions in a wide array of throughout the country are business settings. From the desk of transfer-friendly. It’s not uncommon for AA and AS Law Enforcement—A degrees to be accepted as a common requirement for block of study in place of advancement in law en- Doug Darling specific first- and second- forcement careers. President year course requirements Marketing—Prepare for American Sign Language exciting jobs in sales, digital Lake Region State College and Interpreting Studies— marketing, and marketing Interpreters are needed in management. a wide variety of settings Dear Friends of LRSC, including education, medi- Nursing—Begin a chal- lenging carreer in nursing cal, human service, legal, What would you do with an extra $20 thousand? That’s the question staff at Lake and performance arts. and learn to care for pa- tients in a variety of health Region State College pose to future students who are doing their college search. Automotive Technology— care settings such as hos- Finding the right fit for a student heading to college isn’t always easy. What we Work in a variety of fields pitals and long-term care tout about Lake Region State College is that it is the perfect size so students aren’t in the industry including facilities. intimidated by a 300-person lecture class; it has many career path options to get dealerships, independent you into the workforce making a great wage in two years or less; and that it is the shops, and service centers. Peace Officer Training— place to go if you are seeking a major without the price tag attached to larger public A rigorous one-semester universities and private institutes. Business Administra- program to prepare for em- tion—Prepare to transfer ployment as a peace officer A student who attends LRSC and then transfers to a four-year university to for a baccalaureate degree in North Dakota. after completing this AA complete studies saves almost $20 thousand compared to a student who goes right program which provides Precision Agriculture— to a four-year university. The savings is even higher compared to a student who a broad understanding The demand on farmers to goes right to a private university. LRSC has written articulation agreements for of finance, management, continuously produce more most majors at North Dakota University System