Watford City, ND – Breaking from its tradition, Dakota West awarded $500 to every student who submitted an application for its 2020 Dakota West Credit Union Annual Scholarships. Originally planning to award four scholarships, current high school seniors and enrolled college and trade school students submitted essays focusing on the Dakota West Value of Communication.
“The unconventional circumstances for most students right now made the final months of this school year an exercise in self-discipline. Any students who made the effort to speak to their viewpoint on the importance of Communication in this time of social distancing deserves to be recognized for his or her dedication,” Juliet Jones, Dakota West Marketing Coordinator, explained of the change in the number of recipients.
Taylalyn Kaczmar, Dakota West’s Watford City branch member, plans to pursue studies in Biological Sciences at North Dakota State University. Kaczmar wrote of the importance of Communication, “Once in the medical field, discussion with providers and patients will be critical for the best and efficient care to be provided. I recognize that having effective communication in the workplace can determine and impact how well my relationships with my superiors, coworkers, and patients will be.”
Charles Eriksmoen, a current student at Bismarck State College, is finishing his first year as a farm and ranch management major. Eriksmoen paused in his online studies to write, “Communication will impact my life heavily in the future years to come and it is a large part of my life and will always be a big part of my life to continue to communicate with breeders, friends, family, and anyone that is willing to help me succeed.”
A member of the Watford City branch of Dakota West, Ethan Kobosplans plans to study cyber security this fall at the University of North Dakota. His application pointed to the importance of Communication when he penned, “In current times, student engagement with teachers has been greatly diminished. And due to this, it has become important for students to develop the ability to briefly, yet professionally, communicate with teachers regarding their classroom questions.”
Gracey Russell from Washburn hopes to begin classes in the fall at Bismarck State College. Regardless of the change of in the current online class environment, Russell recognized the role of Communication in her future, “Communication also goes in hand with the career I want to pursue in the future. I want to get my nursing degree and become a nurse. Communication is vital in this field because if people do not communicate with each other, then others could potentially be at risk.”
One of the first applicants, prior to his school being closed in March, Clayton Ledahl intends to stay close to home when he enrolls at Williston State College in the fall. “After I graduate college I plan to open and run my own business. If I do open up my own business, I would have to do interviews with potential workers. In order to do this I’d be communicating with people I’m interviewing.” This could well include people in Ledahl’s hometown of Grenora.
Morgan Reiser, finishing her first year at Dakota College of Bottineau, took time to elaborate on the role of Communication in the current world scenario, “Right now, in these trying times, I do not think communication could be more crucial. With Blackboard Collaborate, Zoom, and email I am able to stay in daily contact with my professors to discuss all of my assignments and any questions I may have. Not only has communication been a huge part of my life, especially in these special circumstances, but it will continue to be a huge part of life in my future.” Reiser studies Nursing from her home in Turtle Lake.
A two-time Dakota West Scholarship recipient, Hannah Johnson quoted George Bernard Shaw in her take on Communication, “ ‘The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.’“ Johnson continues, “The importance of good communication cannot be overlooked and is needed on a daily basis.” Dakota West’s Grenora branch is proud to have Johnson as one of its members.
These seven students received news of their receipt of these scholarships on Dakota West’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/DakotaWestCredit Union) on Friday, May 15.
Dakota West expresses its congratulations and gratitude to all the student members who belong to the non-profit credit union headquartered in Watford City. Established in 1941, each of its branches and its members and employees help grow the Dakota West family with exceptional commitment to building relationships and strengthening communities.
Dedicated to exhibiting its values of Responsibility, Positive Attitude, Respectfulness, and Communication throughout west and central North Dakota, including branches in Grenora and Watford City, Dakota West Credit Union is instilling its young members with skills to maintain personal financial responsibility throughout their education. Dakota West supports that all its members grow with comprehensive, competitive financial products partnered with personal, professional service. To learn more about its services and communities, visit http://www.dakotawestcu.com/member-services/.
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