News
Editorial: Great opportunities
Scott Wagar
05/01/2012
In this week’s Bottineau Courant, there is an article featuring the importance of individuals considering going to a community college on Page 4A titled, “Campaign links training at state’s two year colleges to careers that are in demand.” The article informs individuals what community colleges have to offer and a link to a website (Nextstepnd.com) that provides information on North Dakota’s five community colleges and the programs they offer which will grant professional jobs with competitive salaries. (The link also offers individuals the opportunity to receive $1,500 to assist in their community college bill by meeting certain requirements.)
Of course, there are those individuals (including politicians in our own state) who feel community colleges have no place in the academic world, and, who would rather see them closed than remain open. I disagree with these individuals because community colleges play an important role in educating students and providing great career opportunities.
In the article on Page 4A, the article also touches on myths and misunderstandings of community colleges, which include scholarships not being available, credits not transferring to other schools and students not being able to obtain good employment opportunities after school. All these myths and misunderstandings are untrue. Two-year colleges provide individuals with respectable degrees, successful careers, with good pay.
I favor two-year colleges because of the opportunities they have to offer. For those who know me, they know that I am a graduate of Dakota College at Bottineau, which played an important role in my education and life.
When I started college, I wasn’t ready for a four-year university; and, I would have failed if I started my college education in that atmosphere. Fortunately for me, there was Dakota College at Bottineau, a community college which provided me what I needed to prepare myself for the next level of my education and life.
From Dakota College at Bottineau, I was able to transfer and graduate from Jamestown College, study towards a Master’s degree at the University of North Dakota, had the chance to be employed with the State Historical Society of North Dakota; and now, the opportunity of being employed with this newspaper.
Community colleges like Bottineau offer students numerous career programs, counselors who assist students in obtaining employment, and students receive the general education courses they need to transfer to a four-year university if they chose that direction.
More so, two-year colleges assist students with their classroom experience and studies by having well educated instructors, a reasonable student/teacher ratio, and a staff that works closely with their students so they can successfully graduate and gain employment.
When I think about Dakota College at Bottineau, and its alumnus, I see great success stories in the students this community college educated. I think of:
- Dr. Robert Kyle – A physician at Mayo Clinic who is one the world’s highest ranking hematologists and leaders in cancer research.
- Dan Nostdahl – A architect who owns his own private firm in Phoenix, Ariz., and who has a name known throughout his industry for his creativity in designing buildings and who has appeared in numerous publication like “Better Homes and Gardens.”
- Jack Olson – Prior to passing away a few years ago, Jack was a member of the Boeing and NASA team which sent the first man to the moon. Jack designed the landing pads for all the modules which landed on the moon.
The above list could go on and on because DCB has brought quality education to its students for the past 105 years.
Community colleges have a lot to offer students; and, it provides them with the credentials that will confer them respect at all times as they go through life.