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Last modified: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 3:08 PM CDT
Barth’s first year exciting at NDSCS
by Erin C. Hevern • Daily News
The last year of Brad Barth's career at North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) in Wahpeton has been full of firsts and exciting challenges.
He credits his smooth transition into the position of Alumni/Foundation director to past and current foundation team members, like Woody Caspers and Kim Nelson, who kept good relationships with alumni and businesses in the community.
"A lot of things have been really well done. It was a good team prior to me," Barth said.
He was one of two candidates considered for the position in a series of interviews held by the foundation last summer. He was chosen over Nelson Sept. 29, 2008.
The majority of Barth's duties involve connecting the community to the college by helping to organize events such as homecoming, the DREAM$ Auction and numerous scholarship banquets. An event that stands out for Barth was a series of meet and greets he performed with Dr. John Richman, NDSCS president. The pair traveled to communities such as Valley City, Jamestown, Minot and Grand Forks in order to connect with NDSCS alumni.
"When you reconnect past students with the college and get them to remember how the college helped them achieve what they've achieved in life... that typically turns into more support for the college," Barth said.
He hopes to continue the meet and greets this upcoming year and venture into more populated Minnesota and South Dakota cities, such as Bemidji, Minneapolis and Pierre.
Barth said 30 percent of his duties revolve around connecting with individual NDSCS academic departments. He's spent the most time acclimating himself to the needs of each department. To date, Barth has helped put on two to three different workshops allowing departments the opportunity to connect with alumni and businesses in order to create better support for NDSCS academics.
"Over time, I'll probably be spending more time when them," Barth said. "I've gotta take some of the skills that I have — the gaining, the building of relationships — I've got to help some of the departments understand that."
As Barth looks ahead to future years with NDSCS, he hopes to continue making positive changes and put his own "stamp" on the Alumni/Foundation.
"People are always concerned 'if we give to the college, what happens?'" Barth said. "We're going to work more on recognition of donors, alumni and other friends of the college. I think that's something that's on that next level for us."
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