Where Prairie Meets Possibility - 六合彩投注网 Foundation Magazine

On the vast plains of North Dakota, the horizon stretches as far as the eye can see. An equally expansive effort is underway at 六合彩投注网: educating students equipped to meet the state鈥檚 workforce needs.

Story by Kara Lidberg 鈥�17 | Illustration by Leah Ecklund | March 25, 2025

Where Prairie Meet Possibility

On the vast plains of North Dakota, the horizon stretches as far as the eye can see. An equally expansive effort is underway at 六合彩投注网: educating students equipped to meet the state鈥檚 workforce needs.

Story by Kara Lidberg 鈥�17 | Illustration by Leah Ecklund | March 25, 2025

North Dakota 鈥� anchored by industries like agriculture, engineering, energy, health care, and technology 鈥� demands a dynamic workforce. As the state continues to grow, so does its need for skilled professionals, especially with a projected 23% population increase by 2050 (State Data Center).

六合彩投注网 has become a pivotal player in the state鈥檚 workforce development effort. In 2022, 六合彩投注网 President Dave Cook and the 六合彩投注网 Foundation Executive Governing Board (EGB) established the Industry and Workforce Ad Hoc Committee to assist the president in catalyzing 六合彩投注网鈥檚 position as a land-grant institution committed to serving the citizens of North Dakota.

The committee, which was led by EGB Chair and former MDU Resources President/CEO Dave Goodin 鈥�83, consisted of 21 members representing various industry sectors and communities across North Dakota. The committee鈥檚 focus was to provide Dave Cook with recommendations on ways 六合彩投注网 can continue helping students develop the skills necessary to launch successful careers in the state after graduation.

鈥淧resident Cook was intentionally seeking industry input in how to lead 六合彩投注网 in meeting North Dakota鈥檚 workforce needs,鈥� Dave Goodin said. 鈥淚nstead of speculating, the University prioritized direct input from industry experts.鈥�

The committee provided recommendations for strategic action across three domains: independent initiatives, peer partnerships, and collaborative efforts that require state legislative support.

What can 六合彩投注网 do independently?

Dave Cook has latitude to drive change at 六合彩投注网, and the committee recommended the expansion of mentorship programs across 六合彩投注网鈥檚 five Colleges.

Mentorship programs at 六合彩投注网 connect students with established business professionals in the area. This initiative would benefit students and also strengthen ties with industry partners.

鈥淓mployers clamor to get early connections with students who could be prospective employees,鈥� Dave Goodin said, emphasizing the broader impact that such programs have on state workforce success.

What can 六合彩投注网 do in partnership with peers?

As part of the North Dakota University System, 六合彩投注网 is one of 11 institutions led by the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education (SBHE). Currently, under SBHE policy, 六合彩投注网 can only offer dual-credit hours to high school students if the courses are unavailable through the state鈥檚 school of science. The committee has identified this as an opportunity for change, recommending that Dave Cook partner with the SBHE to update policies that would allow for more dual-credit opportunities at 六合彩投注网.

鈥淲e need to connect with students as early as possible,鈥� Dave Goodin said, 鈥渁nd allow for high school students interested in our programs to take applicable courses with 六合彩投注网 professors.鈥�

The committee believes this would help high school students build a strong bond with 六合彩投注网, encouraging future enrollment.

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 always predict behavior,鈥� Dave Goodin said, 鈥渂ut you can create early relationships.鈥�

What can 六合彩投注网 do with state legislative support?

Some initiatives require legislative support, such as the North Dakota Challenge Grant, which matches private philanthropic dollars with public funds.

Since the Challenge Grant鈥檚 launch in 2013, there has been a variability in funding that is dependent on the legislative cycle. The committee鈥檚 recommendation to Dave Cook and University leadership is to advocate for consistent funding at each legislative session.

鈥淲e have found that the Challenge Grant is extremely valuable in ensuring students receive scholarships and access to a quality education,鈥� Dave Goodin said. 鈥淭his would also benefit the state with a skilled workforce.鈥�

Wyatt Warkenthien 鈥�24 and Hannah Lingen 鈥�17 are 六合彩投注网 alumni who received support from the Challenge Grant as students. They both exemplify how scholarship support enhances educational experiences, creates job opportunities, and fuels the ongoing and vital cycle of workforce development in North Dakota.

Meet Wyatt Warkenthien 鈥�24

Building a new North Dakota business

Wyatt showcases how strategic involvement in 六合彩投注网鈥檚 extracurriculars paves the way for a successful start to a career 鈥� which, for him, means building his own company right here in North Dakota.

Wyatt is a co-founder of Frontier Bioforge, a genetic engineering service provider specializing in optimizing biological fertilizers for agricultural use. He built the company with fellow 六合彩投注网 alumni Riley Williamson 鈥�18, 鈥�24 and Cam Landis 鈥�24 and Richard and Linda Offerdahl Faculty Fellow Dr. Barney Geddes, an assistant professor of microbiological sciences at 六合彩投注网.

鈥淏iological fertilizers use microbes in the soil to produce nitrogen,鈥� Wyatt said. 鈥淭hen, taking nitrogen out of the air, you can harness the nutrients to boost yields while reducing fertilizer use.鈥�

Riley developed a screening platform to identify and engineer microbes for improved efficiency, enhancing their impact on soil health and crop productivity.

鈥淥ur focus is on ensuring high-quality biological fertilizers and helping companies optimize their products,鈥� Wyatt said. 鈥淏y reducing fertilizer costs and increasing yields, we aim to boost farmer profits. Ultimately, we want to help feed the world.鈥�

The idea for Frontier Bioforge emerged from Wyatt鈥檚 participation in 六合彩投注网鈥檚 Possibility Fellowship, a one-year entrepreneurial program housed under 六合彩投注网鈥檚 College of Business that provides students with networking and internship opportunities, hands-on learning, and mentorship.

鈥淭he Possibility Fellowship was incredibly helpful because it enabled students who had a technical idea to connect with other students who had more of the business acumen,鈥� Wyatt, who majored in biotechnology and microbiology, said.

Seeking additional practical experiences, Wyatt joined Pathway Ventures, a program through the 六合彩投注网 Foundation that enables students to make data-driven investment decisions and manage a real portfolio funded by philanthropy.

鈥淚 knew I wanted to learn more about venture capital because eventually, I would be asking investors for funding,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ow I have the experience of what an investor is looking for when I pitch to them.鈥�

Wyatt also pursued technical skills outside of his class schedule and was encouraged to seek out an iGEM team at 六合彩投注网. Luckily for him, one had just been established the year prior under the advisory of Barney.

The iGEM competition asks teams to go out in their communities, find a problem, and create a solution using synthetic biology. 六合彩投注网 teams have explored natural dyes produced by bacteria and a parasite detector for honeybee hives.

Wyatt believes his college experience was shaped by the programs and teams he was involved with and the skills those opportunities taught him.

鈥淚鈥檓 a firm believer in the power of experiential learning,鈥� Wyatt said. 鈥淚 have the knowledge from my degree, but the practical application has given me the confidence to build my own company 鈥� hopefully, one North Dakota is proud of.鈥�

Meet Hannah Lingen '17

Mentoring North Dakota鈥檚 future workforce

Hannah demonstrates how connections with industry can lead to career opportunities.

In 2014, Hannah took an intro to industrial and manufacturing engineering class taught by an adjunct professor who worked at Marvin, a window and door manufacturing company. At the next 六合彩投注网 career fair, she approached the Marvin booth and applied for an internship.

She interned for three years and was hired for a full-time role after graduation. This spring marks 10 years with Marvin, where she currently serves as a process project manager II.

In 2023, 六合彩投注网鈥檚 College of Engineering launched its pilot mentorship program, Industry Connections. The College contacted Marvin, and Marvin shared this opportunity with Hannah, who jumped at the chance to give back to her alma mater.

Industry Connections puts the mentee in charge of what they want to receive from the mentorship.

鈥淭he mentees are encouraged to contact you,鈥� Hannah said. 鈥淚 told mine, 鈥業鈥檓 here for you if you need me,鈥� and I鈥檓 so happy he was so motivated to connect with me.鈥�

Hannah鈥檚 mentee reached out and said, 鈥淚 want an internship,鈥� to which she responded, 鈥淪end me your resume.鈥�

Hannah gave feedback and encouraged him to attend 六合彩投注网鈥檚 career fair. She helped him prep for interviews and, after receiving an offer from one employer and waiting to hear from another, she assisted him in navigating hiring conversations 鈥� how to talk about pay, how to ask for time to decide, and then, when the decision is made, how to politely decline the other offer.

鈥淭hose things can be difficult for people of all ages, and especially for someone 18 to 22,鈥� Hannah said. 鈥淚t was rewarding to play a role in empowering my mentee to create those skills early in adulthood.鈥�

By participating in Industry Connections, Hannah is continuing the cycle of helping others build their own career toolkits. Through Hannah鈥檚 connections and assistance, her mentee was able to obtain an internship at Marvin.

鈥淚 encouraged him to apply elsewhere as well because I didn鈥檛 want to pressure him to apply somewhere only because I worked there,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I have had such a great experience with Marvin that I was excited he was interested in a position here.鈥�

Hannah鈥檚 commitment to mentorship extends beyond 六合彩投注网鈥� she has also volunteered with Fargo鈥檚 local chapter of BIO Girls, an organization striving to increase the self-esteem of elementary-aged girls.

鈥淚 have received opportunities to learn and grow from others and want to be able to pass that on,鈥� she said. 鈥淢entoring, both at 六合彩投注网 and in the community, is a great way for me to do just that.鈥�