The Dakota Nursing program at Dakota College at Bottineau pinned 36 Associate in Applied Science Nurse graduates last week from their programs located on the Minot, Valley City, and Bottineau campuses.

Kyra Schwartz, a senior at Des Lacs-Burlington High School, will graduate with an Associate Degree through Dakota College at Bottineau this Friday. The LEAP (Leading to Education and Advanced Preparation) Beyond program, allows high school students to earn an Associate Degree alongside their high school diploma. The college also offers the LEAP degree, which allows high school students to earn a Certificate in College Studies (24 credits).

Not many individuals would think that the Horticulture Department at Dakota College at Bottineau would host a fish fry every semester. On May 3, 2022, the horticulture practicum students were busy harvesting tilapia. The tilapia came from the aquaponics greenhouse that is located on campus. Keith Knudson, Department Chair, and Instructor for the Horticulture Department stated that “Tilapia are preferred for aquaponics systems because they are very tolerant to water quality and water temperature, which is ideal when teaching students how to properly care for aquaponics systems.”

Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) is proud to announce the LEAP (Leading to Education and Advanced Preparation) program graduates. Designed for high schools, LEAP allows high school students to earn a Certificate of College Studies alongside their high school diploma. This spring Dakota College graduates eleven students from six high schools in North Dakota; Des Lacs–Burlington, Max, Midkota, Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood, South Prairie, TGU-Towner. Each graduate will be acknowledged as a high school and college graduate at their high school commencement exercise.

The Dakota College at Bottineau’s photography program is once again planning a study abroad course in Ireland for outdoor photography. This course is open to community members as well as college students. The 2022 trip will mark the fifth year for this wonderful class. Clint Saunders, the head of the photography program at DCB started the study abroad course in 2018. The 2020 trip had to be canceled due to COVID. With COVID restrictions lifting and the world trying to get back to normal, we think this will be one of our best trips yet.

Dakota College at Bottineau is excited to recognize students at its commencement this spring. The ceremony will be held at the Dakota College gym and will recognize 110 of the 240 graduating students on Friday, May 13th at 3:00 pm. The commencement event will also be streamed at YouTube.com/c/DakotaCollege.

This spring marks the 63rd Annual Scholastic Award Program. Hosted by the Bottineau Area Chamber of Commerce, recognition is given to area students for their academic success. There were eight Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) students recognized on Tuesday night, May 3rd at the Bottineau Public School James Holwell Auditorium. DCB students must have a GPA of 3.7 or higher and are on track to graduate in spring 2022 with an associate-level degree. In addition, the student’s extracurricular and co-curricular activities are taken into consideration. The academic achievements of some exceptionally bright and talented students were recognized by Larry Brooks, Dakota College Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Dakota College at Bottineau Is proud to announce Coach Travis Rybchinski has been selected as the 2021-2022 Men’s Division 2 National American Collegiate Hockey Association Coach of the Year. Coach Rybchinski is originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He led the Lumberjacks to a 17-10-3-1 record and was the #2 ranked team in the West Region this year. Coach Rybchinski was assisted this season by Corey Gorder.

Dakota College at Bottineau held its annual faculty and staff recognition luncheon last week, April 29, 2022. Excellence awards, which are determined by peers, were presented to faculty, staff and advisors. The Faculty, Staff, and Advising Excellence awards are intended to recognize and reward employee efforts whose job performance adds value to the college experience for students, colleagues, and the campus community. Recipients demonstrate qualities that make it clear their contributions are exemplary and go beyond what is required for the routine discharge of their duties.