News

The following students graduated from Western Dakota Tech following Spring Semester 2018.

Graduates are listed by state beginning with South Dakota.

South Dakota
Belle Fourche: Nika Avalos, Surgical Technology; Kory Gabert, Electrical Trades; Wyatt Horn, Law Enforcement Technology; Kyle Jankord, Computer-Aided Drafting; Sara Rosencranz, Bookkeeping; Clay Schaeffer, Computer Science-Information Technology Specialist; and Steve Wopinski, HVAC/R Technology;  Belvidere: Patty Siglin, Practical Nursing; Bison: Wrangler Weishaar, Precision Machining Technology; Black Hawk: Ariana Bertolotto, Allied Health – Phlebotomy Lab Assistant, Phlebotomy/Laboratory Assistant; Kaitlyn Crowser, Business Management & Marketing; Aaron Galeana, EMT Certificate; Sean Kelly, Computer Science-Information Technology Specialist; Derick Olsen, HVAC/R Technology; Rhonda Rohde-Gehlsen, Criminal Justice; Kathryn Roselles, Allied Health – Practical Nursing, Practical Nursing; Macy Shupick, Accounting, Bookkeeping; Paulena Summers, Practical Nursing; Lacey Terkildsen, Transportation Technology – Heavy Duty; Robert Trostheim, Computer Science – Network Admin & Security; 

Jerhett Cattin, Western Dakota Tech Welding and Fabrication student and South Dakota SkillsUSA Welding gold medal winner, is a 2018 mikeroweWORKS scholarship recipient. 

Cattin was awarded the scholarship to be utilized for travel expenses incurred in attending the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Ky. 

As demonstrated through continuing education achievements, and confirmed through the receipt of numerous awards and accolades, Western Dakota Tech faculty are amongst the best in their educational fields. Western Dakota Tech is proud to announce another faculty member has recently twice received recognition at the national level.

In the last few weeks, Jade Hollister, Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) and Western Dakota Tech Surgical Technology Program Director, has earned two national honors in Surgical Technology.

PHOTO CUTLINE:
Jade Hollister, Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) and Western Dakota Tech Surgical Technology Program Director, left, recently earned two national honors. Tiffany Howe, Western Dakota Tech Vice President of Teaching and Learning, right, nominated Howe for Didactic Educator of the Year.

News release and photo courtesy National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) awarded Western Dakota Tech from Rapid City, South Dakota first place in the 2018 fourth annual Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC).

Judges awarded second place to Oakton Community College from Des Plaines, Illinois for their Heat Recovering Silencer project.

NSF and AACC established the challenge to encourage the nation's community colleges to develop the necessary STEM-based talent among their students. Community colleges represent an important academic sector for developing individuals with special skills, training and knowledge to perform highly technical job responsibilities.

It is difficult to understand what living in poverty is like unless you have lived it. To give people a better idea of the everyday struggles those living in poverty encounter, the Prosperity Initiative and Western Dakota Tech are hosting a free Poverty Simulation at the college, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Thursday, June 21.