Seven spring 2023 graduates share their most memorable experiences and what makes NDSU a special place to learn and grow.
Molly Puhrmann
Major: Management communication
Hometown: Lakeland, Minnesota
What will you remember most about your experience at NDSU?
I will never forget the feeling I would have when walking around campus on a sunny day when classes are in session. There is a buzzing energy around NDSU when the Union is packed and the sidewalks are full. Students will be roaming from building-to-building and class-to-class. I could feel the passion for education and witness the excitement in the air and I love that. It’s a quite niche experience but I will forever cherish those warm days where I felt so proud to be a Bison.
Why is NDSU a special place?
NDSU is a diamond in the rough because the programs we have are so strong. This institution produces high caliber graduates who are prepared and ready for their next steps after college.
What will you miss most about NDSU?
I am going to miss all the people, the friends and connections I have made here. The feeling of camaraderie and intense loyalty that being a Bison brought me and my fellow NDSU graduates is something very special. We are top notch students, fans and people. I will deeply miss this community.
Future plans
I will conclude my internship at the end of May and continue my job search. I plan to relocate to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area where my family currently lives.
Ian Manock
Major: Finance
Hometown: West Fargo, North Dakota
What will you remember most about your experience at NDSU?
All the clubs and activities I got to experience. Getting to know new people and having fun will always be something I cherish. Whether it was winning big at casino night, working out at the Wellness Center or competing in Alabama with the NDSU Marksmanship Club, it will always be those fun memories with friends that I’ll remember the most about my time at NDSU.
Why is NDSU a special place?
NDSU is a special place because of the people. The students create a wonderful community that is especially alive at Bison games. The faculty was always helpful and informative. Any time I was on campus, I felt like people were there to help make my experience at NDSU better.
What will you miss most about NDSU?
The atmosphere on campus. I’ve been surrounded by people my age who were experiencing the same things I was for years and now I’m going out into “the real world”. I’ll miss the fun student activities and events on campus, as well as free tickets to Bison games.
Future plans
I plan on moving to full-time in accounting at Scheels Corporate Office, where I currently work part-time. I started at the Scheels Fargo store as a cashier when I turned 16 and have worked my way over the years to my current position.
Hannah Wiebold
Major: Construction engineering
Hometown: Shakopee, Minnesota
What will you remember most about your experience at NDSU?
All the clubs and intramural activities I was involved in. I was more involved than a lot of students and it kept me busy. I traveled to Frisco, Texas, as a yell leader, Las Vegas for the International Building Show and Custom Home Design Competition and Nebraska City, Nebraska, for the Association of General Contractors ASC competition.
Why is NDSU a special place?
It is a large university of so many different opportunities like the variety of clubs and classes, but has a small university feel. When I walk to class or just around campus, I usually see at least one person that I know and, on a good day, I know a lot of people that I walk past. It is a large enough university to have such amazing classes and professors but small enough where you know everyone in your class and have a good relationship with your professors and teaching assistants.
Future plans
I will be moving to Centennial, Colorado, which is just southeast of Denver. I will be working for Kiewit’s Regional Headquarters and doing estimating and scheduling in their Lone Tree Office.
Kaija Dockter
Major: Hospitality and event management
Hometown: Grand Forks, North Dakota
What will you remember most about your experience at NDSU?
I will most remember the moments I accepted an endeavor even though I internally felt incapable or unprepared. Whether or not I felt fit for a task at the time, these roles all contributed to my growth: conducting undergraduate research where I learned how to make sense of raw data, being president of the Hospitality Student Association where I learned to coordinate a fundraising event during COVID-19, working as a teaching assistant where I learned how to facilitate learning and working in my position in Human Resources/Payroll although I had no prior office experience. All in all, I will remember how I gained a growth mindset during my years at NDSU.
What will you miss most about NDSU?
I will most miss this time of life. Your early twenties in college can be fairly comfortable and predictable because of the similar routine to high school. Entering into a full-time position as a graduate is a large, sometimes intimidating step. We take the skills and concepts learned in college and find ourselves at a new time in our lives. I expect life to get a little more serious, a little more structured and a little more wobbly until we gain a sense of who we are as working professionals.
Future plans
I will be moving to Syracuse, New York. I am currently looking for a position where I can organize local community events. I have a passion for local food initiatives so hope to manage a farmers market or find a way to bring people from different walks of life together over food.
Melanie Hansen-Wright
Major: Precision agriculture
Hometown: Longmont, Colorado
Why is NDSU a special place?
The people. The faculty are so passionate in seeing each student succeed. My peers were so kind and we all helped each other when the need arose. To be surrounded by people who lift you up at a time in your life when you are trying to figure out your next steps is truly incredible.
What will you miss most about NDSU?
I’ll miss the atmosphere at NDSU. The campus is so welcoming and everyone you meet is so kind. Faculty care about who you are as a person, and professors go above and beyond to get to know who you are. My peers were so uplifting and really cared about making a difference.
Future plans
I will move back to Kansas and Colorado to farm with both my husband and my parents. In addition to farming, I will continue to train horses.
Gabriel Lothspeich
Major: Mechanical engineering
Hometown: Wyndmere, North Dakota
What will you remember most about your experience at NDSU?
The amazing friendships I’ve been able to create with incredible people. I’m so glad I was able to find “my people” as a student here, and I’m grateful for all the long-lasting relationships I’ve been able to find and build during my time at NDSU.
Why is NDSU a special place?
The community at NDSU makes this campus a special place. Everyone on campus has been so welcoming and so encouraging my entire time here. Classmates, friends in clubs and organizations, random people you meet in the Union, faculty, staff—the Bison pride is tangible in every part of NDSU, and everyone is so eager to share that pride and passion with others.
Future plans
This summer, I’ll be working full-time as a research assistant at Elinor Coatings, a company that I’ve held an internship at while I’ve been in school. In August, I’ll be starting a new role as a ministry intern with Chi Alpha Campus Ministries on NDSU’s campus.
Maggie Oberlander
Major: Nursing
Hometown: Valley City, North Dakota
What will you remember most about your experience at NDSU?
I will remember the people I have met and the relationships I have cultivated. I met some of the most down to earth individuals through the nursing program and my involvement with the NDSU Student Nurses Association chapter on campus. SNA has been involved with several volunteer events such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Out of the Darkness Fargo-Moorhead Area Walk that saw over 5,000 supporters for suicide prevention. I am so thankful for the people I met, the community I have built, and the growth I have had at NDSU.
Why is NDSU a special place?
NDSU is a special place to me and my family. I grew up with one parent an NDSU graduate and the other a UND graduate. However, you could say NDSU won in the end. My siblings and I chose to attend NDSU. I believe there was a reason all three of us chose NDSU. NDSU provided me and many others with a place of belonging and the security to live my life authentically. NDSU was a place I felt accepted and worthy to continue my academic journey.
What will you miss most about NDSU?
I will miss the mentors that have continued to push me and encourage me to pursue my ambitions. Both faculty and peers have been essential to my success and positive experience at NDSU. I wish I had built many relationships sooner in my academic career at NDSU so I could have cherished more time with them while I was on campus. While many will still be in the area, I will miss the weekly interactions and support.
Future plans
I will be working as a registered nurse for Sanford Health in Fargo on the in-patient psychology and mental health unit. I spent the summer of 2022 on the unit as a nurse intern. My internship in the unit helped me expanded my appreciation and passion for providing care to underserved and misunderstood patients in the mental health population. I was able to see the impact of my actions and see my patients progress toward their independence. I am excited to continue to grow and develop my skills in this area of nursing.
