Karl Anderson, unlimited biology faculty who teaches 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ’s Microbiology and Anatomy & Physiology courses, was part of a 19-member task force that recently helped the American Society for Microbiology craft a series of guidelines to help faculty teaching undergraduate microbiology courses to develop measurable, student-centric learning outcomes for their courses. They are available worldwide as a resource for microbiology educators at (PDF download).

To be eligible for the Dean’s List, 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ students must enroll in at least 12 credits and earn a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher for the semester.

In total, more than 30 students were recognized in categories including awards for perseverance, community engagement and student leadership, an Extraordinary Kindness Award, Outstanding Online Learner and Student Worker of the Year. Students in each of the college’s 13 areas of study were also recognized with program-specific awards for outstanding student and the “GRIT Award” for students who have overcome adversity or challenges to succeed in their academic pursuits.

91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ President John L. Hoffman made certain to point out the impact that a student’s family has on their academic success by providing support and encouragement. He also gave special thanks to the college’s faculty for their role in student success.

“This institution is set apart because of the investment of our faculty, the way that they commit to you and your success,” he said to students in attendance. “Behind these awards are the investments by the faculty who saw talent in you that maybe you didn’t see yourself. They are committed to helping you become the best version of yourself.”

Dr. Ketmani Kouanchao, 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ’s executive vice president and senior academic officer, said the day was her favorite of the academic year.

“This is my favorite morning of the year because we get to stop and recognize students,” she said. “For our students: what you have accomplished matters. Today is a testament to your commitment and perseverance. We’re immensely proud of you.”

Recipients of the curricular awards are nominated by faculty in each academic program. Other award recipients could be nominated by any employee or fellow student at the college.

Curricular Awards

ACCOUNTING: Ronnie Bowstring, Outstanding Student Award; 2nd year, Grand Rapids, Minn.

AUTOMOTIVE: Michael Donahue (pictured), GRIT Award; 2nd year, Bemidji, Minn.

BUSINESS: Mara Larson, Outstanding Student Award; 2nd year, Fosston, Minn. … Jessica Smith, GRIT Award; 1st year, Grand Rapids, Minn.

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER: Samuel Agbolabori, Outstanding Student Award; Minneapolis, Minn. … Crystal May-Prentice, GRIT Award; 2nd year, Red Lake, Minn.

CONSTRUCTION ELECTRICAL: Samuel Hudson (pictured, 1st), Outstanding Student Award; 2nd year, Bemidji, Minn. … Robert Eckwright (pictured, 2nd), GRIT Award; 2nd year, Bemidji, Minn.

COSMETOLOGY: Bekah Helweg (pictured, 1st), Outstanding Student Award; 2nd year, Solway, Minn. … Ileisha Guinn (pictured, 2nd), GRIT Award; 2nd year, Bemidji, Minn.

DENTAL ASSISTING: Tyrell Jackson (pictured, 1st), Outstanding Student Award; 2nd year, Cass Lake, Minn. … Marquita Jones (pictured, 2nd), GRIT Award, Bemidji, Minn.

HEATING, AIR AND REFRIGERATION TECH: Hayden Mack (pictured, 1st), Outstanding Student Award; 2nd year, Bemidji, Minn. … Jaden Raynbird (pictured, 2nd), GRIT Award; 2nd year, Bemidji, Minn.

MEDICAL CODING: Elissa Wilkowski (pictured), Outstanding Student Award; Bemidji, Minn. … Logan Dahl, GRIT Award; 2nd year, Bagley, Minn.

PLUMBING: Jude Frenzel (pictured, 1st), Outstanding Student Award; Blackduck, Minn. … Aaron Berg (pictured, 2nd), GRIT Award; 2nd year, Bemidji, Minn.

NURSING—PRACTICAL: Josie Sutherland (pictured, 1st), Outstanding Student Award; 2nd year, Bemidji, Minn. … Mateja Dreyer (pictured, 2nd), GRIT Award; 2nd year, Bemidji, Minn.

NURSING—STEP-IN: Danisha Stenson (pictured, 1st), Outstanding Student Award; 2nd year, Bemidji, Minn. … Ludney Flurinor (pictured, 2nd), GRIT Award; 2nd year, Miami, Fla.

NURSING—TRADITIONAL: Riley Donaghue (pictured), Outstanding Student Award; 2nd year, Bemidji, Minn. … Ashley Gibson, GRIT Award; 2nd year, Bemidji, Minn.

Student Life Awards

Community Engagement: Alexander Monson; Community Health Worker, 1st year; Bemidji, Minn.

Dedicated and Devoted: David Tonce; Heating, Air & Refrigeration Technology and Plumbing; Shevlin, Minn.

Demonstrated Diversity: Henry Holmes; Electrical Construction & Maintenance, 1st year; Spring Hill, Fla.

Extraordinary Kindness: Donovan Medina; Automotive Service, 2nd year; Bemidji, Minn.

Non-Traditional Student: Jeff Tabaka; Electrical Construction & Maintenance, 2nd year; Grand Rapids, Minn.

91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ Spirit: Dina Mickle; Community Health Worker, 2nd year; Bemidji, Minn.

Outstanding Online Learner: Jessica Delaney; Accounting, 2nd year; LaPorte, Minn.

Perseverance: Kelsey Hauck; Nursing—LPN Step-In, 2nd year; Bigfork, Minn.

Student Leadership: Aiden Jasin; Electrical Construction & Maintenance, 1st year; Red Wing, Minn.

Student Worker of the Year: Dane Danielson; Electrical Construction & Maintenance, 2nd year; Hill City, Minn.

As part of the celebration marking 60 years of technical education at 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ, the Speaker Series brings professionals from business and the trades to campus to share their career paths, lessons learned and advice for today’s students. Sessions are held on the third Tuesday of January and March from 12-1 p.m. in the 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ Commons and are open to all students, faculty and staff.

The series continues on March 24 with Dr. Kari Josefson, who will share her experience in health care leadership. Josefson has provided care to American Indian women at the Red Lake Indian Health Service Clinic since 2014 and has worked closely with tribal, government and private partners to improve prenatal care coordination, group prenatal classes and telehealth services. She currently serves as acting deputy clinical director for Red Lake IHS.

In January, the series featured Christie Turn and Howard Howie Zetah.

Turn, a 1994 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ graduate, serves as chief operating officer at Paul Bunyan Communications. She began her career in customer service and has spent more than 30 years serving cooperative members, most recently stepping into her executive role following leadership transitions.

Zetah, owner and president of Zetah Construction Inc., attended 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ from 1978 to 1980 in the carpentry program. He has led his family-owned business for more than three decades and is a founding member and former chair of the 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ Foundation.

The Speaker Series invites attendees to listen, ask questions and connect with speakers while celebrating six decades of workforce impact at 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ.

To be eligible for the Dean’s List, 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ students must enroll in at least 12 credits and earn a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher for the semester.

Midgarden has always been curious about how things work. He grew up asking questions, taking things apart and trying to improve them. When it came time to choose a college, he kept hearing from people he trusted about the strength of 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ’s electrical program.

“91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ’s program had a strong reputation for quality training and great instructors,” he said. “My friends and instructors in high school spoke very highly about it, and even peers who had been out in the world longer than me said they would choose 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ if they had the chance again. That really stuck with me.”

Choosing the skilled trades matched the way he sees the world. Midgarden said he likes work he can see and touch, and takes pride in doing it well.

“It feels good when I can drive by something I was working on and say to myself, family or friends, ‘I helped build that,'” he said. “To me, that is always a rewarding feeling.”

His work ethic comes from home. He credits his mother, father and grandfather for showing him what it means to stay dependable and push through challenges.

“Their examples taught me the value of showing up, putting in the effort and taking pride in what I do,” he said. “They’re why I hold myself to such a high standard.”

Midgarden learned he earned both scholarships while at work. He skimmed each email quickly and got back to work. The impact didn’t set in until later.

“When I got home, I was like ‘holy crap I’m a recipient,'” he said.

Receiving the Work Ethic Scholarship felt especially meaningful because of the rigorous process. Applicants must be enrolled in an approved program, answer numerous questions, create a video and secure two references from a teacher or supervisor to be considered. Fewer than 600 skilled-trade students nationwide earned the scholarship in 2025.

“I felt like I was one of the few chosen kids in the whole nation,” he said. “It was a feeling I hadn’t gotten with other achievements I have made.”

He was proud to receive the MBEX Scholarship, too, especially because a high school instructor encouraged him to apply.

“I almost didn’t apply for it,” he said. “So I felt proud of myself, but also lucky.”

Midgarden said the awards give him space to focus fully on his program.

“This support allows me to focus on my education without the stress of financial barriers,” he said. “It reinforces that I’m on the right path and motivates me to keep pushing myself.”

He believes scholarship committees recognized his reliability and consistency.

“I have always taken pride in doing things right,” he said. “Show up, put in the effort and follow directions with care. My family taught me that if you say you’re going to do something for someone, you do it.”

The program challenges him too, especially the level of detail and how quickly skills build on each other. He said he works through it by asking questions, practicing in the lab and reviewing notes. Flashcards help him memorize. He is proud of the accuracy he has gained in wiring and measurements and said his problem-solving skills and confidence with tools have grown.

Hands-on learning is his favorite part of the program.

“Working with tools, wiring circuits and troubleshooting problems helps everything fall in place in a way that textbooks can’t,” he said. “I like seeing how things function in the real world.”

After graduation, he hopes to join the local electrical union’s apprentice program or work with a local employer so he can stay in the community he grew up in. He is exploring his options but is drawn to commercial and industrial work.

“There are many areas I haven’t had a chance to try yet,” he said. “That’s what I like about this trade. There’s always something new to learn.”

Midgarden said 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ faculty have supported him throughout the program, from helping him understand transfer credits to guiding him through challenging lab work. He said instructors like Gwen Oster give direction without doing the work for him, which helps him develop independence.

“Markus stands out as a student,” Oster said. “He’s dependable, skilled and keeps the lab running smoothly. His initiative and quiet leadership make a big impact.”

For students considering the electrical program, he said the key is consistency.

“Everything that is taught is compounded on,” he said. “Show up every day and put in as much effort as you can. You only get out of it what you put into it.”

To Midgarden, work ethic is the foundation for lasting success.

“It has a direct correlation with the work you produce and the legacy you build over time,” he said. “Being responsible and open to improvement every day is how you build a career you can be proud of.”

Now in her third decade at 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ, Gwen Oster has taught (almost) every class there is in the college’s electrical construction program.

During her career, she has helped scores of 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ students find their futures in construction electrical, industrial manufacturing, business ownership or public service.

“Students think they want to go into commercial or residential construction,” Oster said, “But when they go through our classes, they see the opportunities in other areas. Some of our students go through the program and never work in the electrical field — and they’re happy with that.”

She points to the college’s lab-first environment as a critical part of this growth experience for her students. Oster says that, through the labs, students develop skills that can support them in the future — no matter their goals.

“That hands-on portion is key,” she said. “Students get the opportunity to learn how to properly install cable, make connections, bend conduit and understand the different tools. Some of our students have never touched a tool before they come here, and we give them the opportunity to try everything.”

She says the program’s Sandbox — an indoor built environment where students can practice digging trenches and running underground conduit to above-ground connection points — is one example of the innovative hands-on opportunities students get at 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ.

Through its annual Day of Giving, the 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ Foundation helped raise the funds for the Sandbox and local partners contributed materials to make it a reality.

“The Foundation and their partners were helpful in getting the funding to support that,” she said.

According to Oster, the program’s hands-on focus — and its ongoing need for single-use materials — makes support from the 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ Foundation and other partners more important.

“The biggest expenses in our program are consumables,” she said. “We have a lot of one-and-dones — we can bend conduit once, then it’s gone. The cost of wire and conduit has gone up; two years ago, THHN (wire) was $66, and now it’s over $100.”

She said students would also benefit from refreshed power tools, upgrading to battery-operated versions more common on modern worksites.

“We get by with what we have, but there are better tools out there that are easier to use,” she said.

Improving equipment aligns with 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ’s emphasis on a student-first learning environment, including the use of free Open Educational Resources instead of traditional textbooks.

“Students don’t buy a lab manual,” Oster said. “They print off what they need, and it goes right with the trainers we have built ourselves. It’s just made everything smoother.”

She also pointed to student-centric changes in 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ’s electrical theory course. That class emphasizes hands-on experience, which, according to Oster, sets it apart from lecture-heavy theory courses offered in other programs.

“We tell you, ‘This is Ohm’s Law,’ and then we show you how it works,” she said. “We’re going to show you the calculation, and then you’ll measure it with your meter and prove that it’s true. It’s physically in front of you.”

Oster and the 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ Foundation have also partnered on a new scholarship supporting women in trades, which requires applicants to be active in the college’s new Women in Trades Club.

She said that between her students and those from 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ’s automotive, plumbing and HVAC programs, the club will begin with about 10 members.

“We are going to help provide some things for mentoring this year, and to support the club,” she said. “Our goal is to have two big recruitment events — one in the spring and one in the summer — where we bring in females who are interested in the trades, provide a hands-on workshop and give them the opportunity to receive some college credit.”

She says the ultimate goal, for both the scholarship and the club, is to empower women, further demonstrating 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ’s commitment to student success.

“We want them to feel that they already know some of this when they start the program,” she said. “They’ve already used these tools, and that will give them more confidence when they go into the lab.”

Five years after graduating from high school and working in a variety of jobs in her hometown of Bemidji, Mya Goodfellow had a revelation — she wanted to change her life.

“I wanted something that gave me more purpose than serving food and drinks to people,” she said. “I saw 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ’s Dental Assisting program and thought, ‘that could be really interesting and fun.’ So that led me here.”

Goodfellow said the program combines her loves of interacting with and helping people, and in the early months of her experience she has found it to be a perfect fit.

“I have loved it so far. The teachers and faculty have been amazing,” she said.

Goodfellow says a big part of 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ’s appeal is its small size and accessible staff.

“There aren’t a thousand kids here every single day, so it’s super nice being so intimate and not being able to get lost,” she said.

Being away from school for a few years created some challenges, but she credited 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ’s front-office staff for their support — from helping her navigate initial complexities of applying and enrolling for classes to working through financial aid processes. She also celebrated Nicole Naasz, coordinator of 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ’s American Indian Resource Center, for providing much-needed support.

“This brain was slow rolling after five years of no school,” Goodfellow said. “She’s been helping me with learning tools, study habits, practicing for tests and just anything else.”

Goodfellow says one key to her success at 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ has been the Delta Dental Equity and Education Scholarship, which covers her full cost of tuition and fees and provides a housing stipend.

“It’s been immaculate,” Goodfellow said. “The scholarship has helped me not work and actually be able to go home after school and study for a couple of hours, then get to bed at a reasonable time.”

That study time has proven to be crucial in a challenging program that includes courses on radiology, clinical assisting, emergency management, and working with a variety of patients. She points to a biomaterials course as being particularly challenging.

“Biomaterials has been tough for me,” she admitted. “You’re learning how to make implants and dentures and retainers with stone and plaster and chemicals, and that is frustrating for me.”

But, thanks to the time she has for studying, she’s succeeding — “one chapter at a time,” she said.

She also has received excellent support from 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ’s Dental Assisting faculty, Terri Bannor and Siau Yean Montgomery.

“They’re very mom-like,” Goodfellow said. “They’re on you, but they understand stuff happens — and if you ask them for help, they’ll help you. They want what’s best for us and want to help. They’ve been awesome.”

She thanked the Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation for supporting students like her through the scholarship program and said the true value of their support may not be immediately obvious.

“They won’t fully understand the capacity that this scholarship has for students,” she said. “It’s more helpful than they realize. My amount of stress about college goes from 100 down to 20, which is amazing.”

Though she’s only two months into her college journey, Goodfellow would have no hesitation about recommending 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ to anyone who would ask.

“I would definitely tell them that 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ would be the place to go,” she said. “They have everything and beyond here.”

To be eligible for the Dean’s List, 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ students must enroll in at least 12 credits and earn a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher for the semester. A total of 137 students earned Spring 2025 Dean’s List honors from 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ.