July 2018 News and Notes

Each spring, the Williston CoyoteFoundation awards thousands of dollars to graduating seniors in the form of scholarships.  But what many do not know, we also give out scholarship to WPSD educators who are pursuing higher education degrees.  This spring, we awarded the Jim Haugen Memorial Teacher Scholarship to two of our educators -- Anthony Vandal and Brandi Mehlhoff.

Jim Haugen, pictured above, owned and operated, along with his family, Haugen Implement.  He was a true community leader.  Probably his biggest civic job was as the Williston mayor.  He was a very generous man, especially with the youth of Williston.  When he died, his family established a scholarship in his memory and honor, desiring the funds be used towards helping our outstanding educators who want to pursue a higher degree.

Anthony Vandal, pictured above, is starting his fifth year for Williston Public Schools.His  tenure includes teaching fifth grade at Lewis & Clark, an Instructional Coach for the district, and more recently, the Interim principal for McVay Elementary school.   Because Vandal loves what he does, he says it doesn't even feel like "work."  He is in my second year of a doctoral program and will begin his research in the spring of 2019 on his dissertation, which will include direct instruction and its use in a general education classroom and will focus on primary students. Vandal looks forward to sharing his leadership skills to lead our district on a continued path of innovation as we prepare our students for a global economy and workforce.

Brandi Mehlhoff, pictured above, graduated from Dickinson State University with a degree in elementary education.  She is married to Jeremy, and they have three children.  She began her teaching career in Marmarth, ND, teaching kindergarten through fourth grade at a small country school.  After teaching there for two and a half years, they moved to Williston.  She taught Title I at Stony Creek for one year.  For ten years, she taught 5th and 6th grade at Rickard and Lewis and Clark Elementary.  When Bakken Elementary was created, she accepted the role of the library media specialist, transforming the library into an amazing space for students.  She's passionate about creating a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) in the library, called a Maker Space, hoping to make it the best space for learning in Williston.  She's finishing up her Master's Degree this year.

Congratulations to these two winners of the  Jim Haugen Memorial Teacher Scholarship.

The 2nd board member in our new"School Board Spotlight" feature is another newly-elected member of the WPSD #1 School Board -- Theresa Hegge.

Theresa Hegge is a mom, wife, and physician who grew up here in Willistonand is excited to bring a different viewpoint to help solve some of the District 1 issues.

She practices here in Williston as a Plastic, Reconstructive, and Hand Surgeon and received her MD and MPH degrees from the University of Minnesota Medical School and University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Public Health.  She completed her residency in Plastic Surgery at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, IL.

Being from Williston, ND, she returned to practice in her hometown with her husband, Dr. Ryan Hegge, who is a Radiologist. Together they have 2 kids, Esten and Eleanor.

In Williston she serves on the CHIFoundation Board and previously served on the Graduate Medical Education Board in Springfield, IL.  She is also active in Operation Smile and the Cleft Lip and Palate Team with the ND Department of Health.

She enjoys piano, books, outside activities, the family cabin, her Peloton, and has a special interest in project improvements and efficiency.

Welcome, Dr. Hegge! It's always great when talented former Coyotes come home to make the community stronger for the next generation!