Carlee Fleck, a senior in the NDSU School of Nursing at Sanford Health in Bismarck, was named the North Dakota Student Nurse of the Year for 2016-17. She received the honor from the Nursing Students' Association of North Dakota at the group’s annual convention held February 19-21 in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Fleck participated in interviews along with candidates from nursing programs statewide. She is an active member of NDSU’s Student Nurses Association, raising donations and awareness for health and nursing-related issues.
“I was very surprised and humbled,” said Fleck. “I was honored that the faculty would nominate me for this award and grateful for the opportunity.”
The Bismarck native said the field of nursing provides many different career paths. “I chose nursing because I enjoy caring for people and being able to support and encourage others when they are going through hard times. I wanted to make a difference in someone’s life,” said Fleck.
As a senior in nursing, she hopes to secure a registered nurse position in Bismarck when she graduates.
“I have enjoyed all of my clinicals, but I am particularly interested in either medical/surgical or ER,” explained Fleck. “A long-term goal of mine is to go back to school for my master’s and become a clinical instructor. I want to be able to empower and inspire other students someday just like my faculty did for me.”
Fleck said attending nursing school in her hometown was the right choice for her.
“I chose this nursing program at NDSU Bismarck because I like what the program stands for and the wonderful faculty. I like the smaller class sizes and being able to be a part of a university that supports research and advancement in the medical field.” 
At the state convention, the nursing student group from NDSU School of Nursing at Sanford Health in Bismarck also received awards for Highest Recruitment Chapter and for the Quarters Design Challenge, in which students created a nursing logo out of quarters. Students from the NDSU School of Nursing in Fargo received the award for nursing scrapbook of their activities.
In addition, Trish Strom, assistant professor of practice in the NDSU School of Nursing, was named Nurse Educator of the Year. Learn more about her class that she calls the “street smarts of nursing” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n94L3M6b8Nc 
The NDSU School of Nursing in the College of Health Professions provides bachelor’s and graduate nursing education to advance knowledge of nursing, demonstrate leadership, and meet the needs of a diverse society.
Approximately 80 percent of NDSU nursing graduates stay in North Dakota. Campus and online classes are offered, with locations in Fargo and in Bismarck. Find out more at www.ndsu.edu/nursing
As a student-focused, land grant, research university, we serve our citizens.