March 4, 2010

DWU hosts brunch for alumni, prospective students in Rapid City area

By Emily Nicolaisen
The Phreno Cosmian, student newspaper

A group of DWU alumni gathered Feb. 27 during a DWU-sponsored free brunch in Rapid City. (Submitted Photo)

MITCHELL — Amy Novak, provost and executive vice president of Dakota Wesleyan University, emphasized the university’s strengths before alumni and prospective students recently during a DWU-hosted free brunch in Rapid City.

About 80 people gathered Feb. 27 at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel at the invitation of the DWU admissions office.

The purpose of the event was to ask alumni and prospective students how Dakota Wesleyan can entice more students from the Black Hills area into coming to DWU. In addition to potential students and their parents, many alumni came to reminisce.

“You all came here because you had a profound, transforming experience at Dakota Wesleyan,” Novak stated.

Along with Novak, Missy Herr-Valburg, Neil Blair, Jackie Wentworth and sophomore Danielle Bellet discussed their goals for the university.

Novak shared details of the LearnStrong program, which provides freshmen with the opportunity to see their own strengths and talents. “We are educating more than just the mind. Education is the building of the whole person,” she said.

Herr-Valburg, director of admissions, recognized five seniors from the Hills area who received DWU scholarships.

Blair, vice-president for institutional advancement, introduced future renovations to be made on campus. He referred to working with such a strong, energetic staff as if they were his “morning coffee.”

“The one-on-one attention the professors provide ensures the success of their students, said Bellet, biology major and Spanish minor.

Wentworth, director of alumni relations, gave the crowd something to look forward to as she described upcoming events, such as the Founders’ Lecture in April, a collaborative campus service project during Reading Day, and Blue & White Days in October.

Seventy-five percent of students completed service learning projects or internships during their undergraduate experience, Novak said. “Learning goes beyond the classroom at Dakota Wesleyan,” she said.

Glenny Tays, a 1956 Wesleyan graduate, has taught for more than 40 years. She believes internship opportunities bring more students to campus. Tays commented on the outstanding improvements made at the university since she attended.

“Wesleyan is still my second home,” Tays said.

Some of the students in attendance expressed appreciation for the presentation.

“I know I’m going to get a good education, and I know after graduating I will get a good job,” said Jordan Smith, 18, of Lead. Smith plans to play golf at DWU this fall.