NDSU’s Multicultural Student Services has received grants from Cargill Inc. to support three of its projects.
“In order to provide the programming that we see students at NDSU need, we aim to secure grant funding to meet those needs,” said Jaclynn Davis Wallette, assistant vice president for equity, diversity and global outreach and director of Multicultural Student Services. “Receiving these grants helps us in achieving those goals.”
A $5,000 grant supports the Mentoring Opportunities to Develop Excellent Leadership program, which pairs junior and senior mentors with underrepresented first-year and sophomore students to help them during their first years at NDSU.
“The program has a leadership component for domestic students of color. This grant allows us to improve what we’ve been doing,” explained Malika Carter, Multicultural Student Services assistant director. “The Cargill grant enhances the program by adding an enrichment portion, where students can get away from campus, reflect on who they are and meet other students.”
The second grant will support evening activities during the Nurturing American Tribal Undergraduate Research and Education’s summer program. The project aims to improve science, technology, engineering and mathematics education among North Dakota tribal college and high school students.
“In the past, we’ve taken students to the YMCA, and we’ve had a movie night showing a recent Native American film,” said Davis Wallette. “Those are two activities we anticipate doing again with these funds.”
The third grant supports bringing Fargo and West Fargo middle school-aged students to a state science fair in Bismarck, N.D. The $2,243 grant will provide funding for six local students to attend the event in January.
“The science fair has been in existence for 26 years, and is open to all Native American students across the state. Last year, was the first time students from Fargo or West Fargo competed,” Davis Wallette said. “We had great success. Three students took first place and went to the national competition. We hope to have similar success this year.”
Davis Wallette and Carter co-wrote the grant applications.
With about 160,000 employees in 67 countries, Cargill is an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services.
Dec. 9, 2008