Williston, N.D., May 13th - WSC 54th commencement will begin Friday May 15th at 10AM in the Thomas Witt Leach Center (The Well) and the public is encouraged to attend with a reception to follow in the front entryway. This year's graduation speaker is Kathleen Neset, the President of Neset Consulting Service, Inc., providing well site geologic/geosteering services to the oil industry since 1980. Neset is currently the State Board of Higher Education Vice Chair and will be the incoming President as of July 1, 2015. After receiving her B.A. in Geology from Brown University she continued her work as a seismologist in Michigan as well as worked for Core Laboratories in Texas and Wyoming before moving to North Dakota to work as an independent petroleum geologist.
In addition to Neset, two student speakers will be part of the commencement, Emma Keller and Dan Plucknett. Keller, from Velva North Dakota began her career at WSC when she was recruited to play basketball for the Tetons. Keller will be graduating with an AA and AS from WSC and will continue her education at North Dakota State University with the goal of obtaining a BA in Civil Engineering. Plucknett, came to WSC after being in the work force for a few years. "My time at Williston State was a wonderful experience and what made it so great was the teachers," Plucknett explained. "I was amazed how every teacher I had would do whatever they could to help me understand the course material and even answer my questions that were beyond the scope of the courses." Plucknett with be graduating with an AS degree and will major in physics as he transfers to the University of Wyoming.
Williston State College will be awarding 203 students an estimated 261 degrees and approximately 130 students will participate in Friday's commencement. Of these 261 degrees, 117 will be transfer degrees, 144 CTE Associate in Applied Science, Certificates, Certificates of Completion and Diplomas.
Commencement marks the end of the school year but things are not slowing down at WSC with preparations underway for their first year with students who applied to the Williams County Scholarship. "For the upcoming Fall 2015 semester, Williston State College has seen a 117% increase in applications for the upcoming semester. Fall 2015 enrollment has also seen a large increase. Current headcount as of Monday, May 4th is at 223 students, a number that has not been reached in previous terms until 8 weeks prior to Opening day in August," Kaylyn Bondy Registrar/Director for Effectiveness, explained. "Classes are filling up fast and we are excited to help students get registered for our upcoming fall term and would encourage students to participate in one our upcoming registration days. Our next registration days are: June 22nd, July 22nd, August 12th, and August 24th."
To sign up, students can go to: http://www.willistonstate.edu/Future-Students/Registration.html
For more information contact, Kaylyn Bondy at 701.774.4585
or for other information regarding Williston State, visit www.willistonstate.edu, call 1.888.863.9455, or stop by 1410 University Avenue, Williston, ND.