DCB Leaderjacks Start New Year with Backpack Project

Front Left to right: Kiara Hamel, Karrien Marteniuk, Sarah Marshall
Back Left to right: Cassandra Nagy, Masaya Archbald, Alexis Gullett, Taryn Roberts

Dakota College at Bottineau offers a leadership course to students promoting leadership through community service. The group “Leaderjacks” meets once a month to discuss and learn about giving back to their community.

Stephanie Ahmed was elected as the President of Leaderjacks. Stephanie is a sophomore from Henderson, Nevada. She is in in the Liberal Arts program with a subplan in Psychology and plays softball for the Ladyjacks. Masaya Archbald a freshman at DCB in pre-nursing, graduated from Ramstein High School, Germany has been elected Vice President. She is active on the Ladyjack volleyball team. Lorissa Avila, who is also a Ladyjack softball player was elected Secretary. Lorissa’s hometown is Fontana California. She is in the pre-nursing program. The goal of the course is to develop occupational knowledge and skills through activities that may include seminars, field trips, public service and/or work experience. Monthly individual and group meetings are held to monitor each student's assigned activities. Students are introduced to methods of improving social, political, community and family life through this student organization. The purpose of the service-learning experience is to give students the opportunity to apply course concepts in a real world setting and provide needed services while collaborating with community partners. The overriding goal of the group is to serve the Bottineau community and work with various community partners.

The LeaderJacks first project is to fill 30 backpacks for kids that don’t have school supplies. They are working with faculty, staff and community to help fill the backpacks with notebooks, rulers, pencils, sharpeners, erasers, pens and crayons. Lexi Gullett. originally from Bottineau is the Team Leader for this project. Lexi is in the Liberal Arts program and plays volleyball for the Ladyjacks. Other projects they are working on include the Bottineau Food Pantry, Retail Alliance Christmas Festival, Family Crisis Rummage Sale and a bake sale. Angie Bartholomay, LeaderJack advisor stated “The ability to connect our students with our community is important for growth. Our students live in our community for two years and this program provides opportunities for our students to get to know our local community leaders and serve the community that supports our college.” The leadership course is being co-taught by Ashley Pedie.

The group is looking for more opportunities to serve the local community. If your group is in need of volunteers, please contact Angie Bartholomay at 701-228-5471.