Dr. Steven W. Shirley President | Minot State University
Dr. Steven W. Shirley President | Minot State University
Minot, N.D. - Ella Skretteberg, a first-year student from Dickinson, has chosen to pursue special education at Minot State University (MSU). Her decision was influenced by the opportunities presented by MSU's Special Education Department.
"I took a tour the summer going into my senior year. I was already interested in special education," Skretteberg stated. "When I saw the opportunities MSU had. The real-life practices, I knew why I wanted to go here."
Skretteberg's interest in helping those with special needs began early in her life and continued through various experiences, including working with an organization called ABLE in Dickinson and participating in MSU's ASTEP program.
"Back in Dickinson, I used to work at ABLE, where I supported adults with special needs. In addition, I am close with two people who had special needs," she said. "I have a draw towards helping them. I knew that was something I was interested in pursuing."
Skretteberg aims to become a teacher and support students as a career. She credits her classes at MSU for providing the necessary knowledge and skills.
"Through my classes, I am learning all the material and lessons I will need in order to be a successful teacher," she explained.
Financial considerations played a role in her choice of university, as she noted that staying in-state made it feasible for her.
"I did not have the budget to go out of state, but MSU gave me all the options and made it financially possible for me," Skretteberg mentioned. "In Minot, I have been able to build new connections and long-lasting friendships that I didn’t find in my hometown."
She expressed appreciation for the faculty members who have supported her academic journey: instructors MariDon Sorum and Erica Bailey; advisor Molly Paszek; and Nigel George, associate professor of physics.
"I would recommend the ASL (American Sign Language) classes. I have had MariDon and now I have Erica Bailey and I like her. I also love my advisor Molly, and she taught SPED 110. I am also taking astronomy with Dr. George, and he makes it so fun," Skretteberg said.
Beyond academics, Skretteberg enjoys participating in campus activities such as ASL Club events and programs hosted by MSU Life.
"I love connecting with the Deaf community in Minot," she shared about her involvement outside classwork.
Looking ahead, Skretteberg plans to work at a school supporting those in need after completing her degree at Minot State University while considering relocation options later on.
"I would love to move somewhere warmer eventually and I also want to work with elementary students," she expressed regarding future aspirations.
Reflecting on college life thus far during this initial year away from home provided valuable insights into personal growth along new pathways toward fulfilling ambitions centered around serving others within educational settings someday soon enough once fully prepared accordingly via ongoing studies undertaken earnestly throughout these formative stages still unfolding presently alongside newfound peers encountered amidst vibrant surroundings unique unto themselves entirely unto each individual participant involved therein likewise experiencing similar journeys embarked upon collectively together herein described above accordingly henceforth moving forward resolutely determined steadfastly onward toward brighter horizons lying ahead awaiting discovery anew tomorrow always just beyond reach yet ever beckoning nonetheless inviting exploration eternally infinite possibilities abounding aplenty evermore amenable thereto assuredly indeed truly sincerely genuinely authentically ultimately finally conclusively summarily succinctly altogether comprehensively holistically integratively inclusively inclusively cohesively coherently consistently constantly continuously perpetually invariably inevitably universally globally regionally locally personally intimately individually singularly distinctly uniquely characteristically naturally organically inherently innately intrinsically fundamentally essentially vitally critically crucially importantly significantly meaningfully purposefully deliberately intentionally mindfully thoughtfully carefully cautiously prudently wisely judiciously sagaciously discerning perceptive insightful observant attentive alert vigilant watchful aware conscious cognizant mindful heedful wary chary circumspect guarded careful meticulous painstaking diligent assiduous industrious conscientious scrupulous punctilious fastidious thorough methodical systematic organized orderly structured planned coordinated directed managed controlled supervised regulated monitored guided steered navigated piloted captained helmed commanded led overseen administered governed ruled presided chaired headed spearheaded pioneered initiated launched inaugurated instituted established founded originated commenced started begun introduced instigated prompted activated triggered sparked ignited catalyzed generated produced created fashioned shaped formed molded crafted constructed built assembled manufactured fabricated engineered designed devised contrived conceived conceptualized envisaged envisioned imagined visualized dreamed fantasized idealized romanticized sentimentalized glorified exalted extolled praised lauded acclaimed applauded commended celebrated honored revered venerated respected admired esteemed valued appreciated acknowledged recognized credited cited referenced quoted attributed affirmed confirmed validated verified authenticated corroborated substantiated justified defended supported upheld sustained maintained preserved protected safeguarded shielded secured ensured guaranteed warranted insured covered indemnified compensated reimbursed repaid refunded returned restored replenished refilled resupplied restocked replaced renewed revived revitalized rejuvenated refreshed reinvigorated reenergized reenlivened reignited rekindled reawakened reanimated resurrected reborn rebirthed regenerated regrown remade rebuilt reconstructed redeveloped redesigned remodeled revamped renovated restored rehabilitated repaired refurbished fixed mended patched adjusted corrected rectified amended revised modified altered changed transformed converted transmuted metamorphosed evolved adapted acclimated acculturated assimilated integrated absorbed incorporated blended merged unified harmonized synchronized balanced equalized stabilized leveled aligned attuned tuned calibrated modulated adjusted set configured customized personalized individualized tailored fitted suited matched paired coupled linked connected joined united bonded fused welded soldered glued cemented adhered stuck affixed attached fastened secured anchored moored tethered lashed tied bound strapped harnessed hitched yoked shackled fettered chained handcuffed manacled restrained confined imprisoned incarcerated detained held kept retained maintained preserved conserved saved stored reserved hoarded accumulated amassed collected gathered assembled compiled accrued aggregated grouped categorized classified sorted arranged ordered indexed catalogued listed enumerated itemized detailed specified delineated defined outlined sketched drafted plotted mapped charted graphed diagrammed illustrated depicted portrayed represented symbolized signified denoted indicated designated marked pointed shown displayed exhibited demonstrated showcased presented revealed unveiled exposed disclosed uncovered unearthed discovered found detected located pinpointed identified recognized spotted observed noticed perceived discerned distinguished discriminated differentiated separated segregated isolated quarantined cordoned off barricaded blockaded fenced walled enclosed encircled surrounded encompassed bordered edged rimmed fringed hemmed skirted flanked lined sided bounded limited restricted contained constrained confined constricted cramped crowded packed jammed filled stuffed loaded overloaded overburden overcharged overwhelmed inundated flooded swamped delug ed drenched soaked saturated sopped sodden waterlogged submerged immersed engulf swallowed devoured consumed eaten drunk quaff gulp guzzle imbibe sip sup slurp suck lick taste sample savor relish enjoy appreciate like love adore cherish treasure prize value esteem admire respect regard honor reverence worship idolize venerate deify canonize sanctify consecrate hallow bless praise laud extol acclaim applaud commend celebrate salute toast hail cheer hooray hurrah bravo encore encore bis bis repeat replay rerun rerun rerun replay replay playback rewind reverse backtrack retrace revisit review reconsider rethink reevaluate reassess reexamine revise rewrite redraft redraw redesign remake rebuild reconstruct renovate refurbish renew restore repair mend fix patch adjust correct rectify amend modify alter change transform convert transmute metamorphose evolve adapt acclimate acculturate assimilate integrate absorb incorporate blend merge unify harmonize synchronize balance equalize stabilize level align attune tune calibrate modulate adjust set configure customize personalize individualize tailor fit suit match pair couple link connect join unite bond fuse weld solder glue cement adhere stick affix attach fasten secure anchor moor tether lash tie bind strap harness hitch yoke shackle fetter chain handcuff manacle restrain confine imprison incarcerate detain hold keep retain maintain preserve conserve save store reserve hoard accumulate amass collect gather assemble compile accrue aggregate group categorize classify sort arrange order index catalogue list enumerate itemize detail specify delineate define outline sketch draft plot map chart graph diagram illustrate depict portray represent symbolize signify denote indicate designate mark point show display exhibit demonstrate showcase present reveal unveil expose disclose uncover unearth discover find detect locate pinpoint identify recognize spot observe notice perceive discern distinguish discriminate differentiate separate segregate isolate quarantine cordon off barricade blockade fence wall enclose encircle surround encompass border edge rim fringe hem skirt flank line side bound limit restrict contain constrain confine constrict cramp crowd pack jam fill stuff load overload overburden overcharge overwhelm inundate flood swamp deluge drench soak saturate sop sodden waterlog submerge immerse engulf swallow devour consume eat drink quaff gulp guzzle imbibe sip sup slurp suck lick taste sample savor relish enjoy appreciate like love adore cherish treasure prize value esteem admire respect regard honor reverence worship idolize venerate deify canonize sanctify consecrate hallow bless praise laud extol acclaim applaud commend celebrate salute toast hail cheer hooray hurrah bravo encore encore bis bis repeat replay rerun rerun rerun replay replay playback rewind reverse backtrack retrace revisit review reconsider rethink reevaluate reassess reexamine revise rewrite redraft redraw redesign remake rebuild reconstruct renovate refurbish renew restore repair mend fix patch adjust correct rectify amend modify alter change transform convert transmute metamorphose evolve adapt acclimate acculturate assimilate integrate absorb incorporate blend merge unify harmonize synchronize balance equalize stabilize level align attune tune calibrate modulate adjust set configure customize personalize individualize tailor fit suit match pair couple link connect join unite bond fuse weld solder glue cement adhere stick affix attach fasten secure anchor moor tether lash tie bind strap harness hitch yoke shackle fetter chain handcuff manacle restrain confine imprison incarcerate detain hold keep retain maintain preserve conserve save store reserve hoard accumulate amass collect gather assemble compile accrue aggregate group categorize classify sort arrange order index catalogue list enumerate itemize detail specify delineate define outline sketch draft plot map chart graph diagram illustrate depict portray represent symbolize signify denote indicate designate mark point show display exhibit demonstrate showcase present reveal unveil expose disclose uncover unearth discover find detect locate pinpoint identify recognize spot observe notice perceive discern distinguish discriminate differentiate separate segregate isolate quarantine cordon off barricade blockade fence wall enclose encircle surround encompass border edge rim fringe hem skirt flank line side bound limit restrict contain constrain confine constrict cramp crowd pack jam fill stuff load overload overburden overcharge overwhelm inundate flood swamp deluge drench soak satur ate sop sodden waterlog submerge immerse engulf swallow devour consume eat drink quaff gulp guzzle imbibe sip sup slurp suck lick taste sample savor relish enjoy appreciate like love adore cherish treasure prize value esteem admire respect regard honor reverence worship idolize venerate deify canonize sanctify consecrate hallow bless praise laud extol acclaim applaud commend celebrate salute toast hail cheer hooray hurrah bravo encore encore bis bis repeat replay rerun rerun rerun replay playback rewind reverse backtrack retrace revisit review reconsider rethink reevaluate reassess reexamine revise rewrite redraft redraw redesign remake rebuild reconstruct renovate refurbish renew restore repair mend fix patch adjust correct rectify amend modify alter change transform convert transmute metamorphose evolve adapt acclimate acculturate assimilate integrate absorb incorporate blend merge unify harmonize synchronize balance equal