Representatives of Minot State University and Dakota College at Bottineau joined community supporters and center staff in celebrating the completion of the facility, which opens for its first full day of classes in dental assisting on Aug. 27.

Eight students have finished prerequisite courses and will make up the CTE’s first class. It is a 10-month program that finishes with an eight-week experience in dental offices. The CTE center has additional students in prerequisite courses for its dental hygiene program expected to start next year.

“The vision for this facility has been years in the making and has included so many partners getting us here to this day. It is a great example of collaboration and what is truly possible in the Magic City,” MSU President Steve Shirley said.

The concept for the CTE came during development of the city’s application in the National Disaster Resilience competition. The successful grant application earmarked $3.5 million of the $74.3 million award for a technical training center. The city added $800,000 from the MAGIC Fund for a building purchase and $1.84 million from its state Hub City funds toward construction. A grant obtained from the North Dakota Department of Commerce through the Minot Area Chamber EDC also helped with funding.

Minot State University President Steve Shirley and Dakota College at Bottineau Campus Dean Carmen Simone, surrounded by Chamber Ambassadors, give final remarks before cutting the ribbon on the new Career and Technical Education center in downtown Minot Friday. Left of Shirley is Dr. Mark Hildahl, who has provided advisory guidance in the development of the dental assisting program to be hosted at the center. At right is Kristie Pladson, who has led in writing curriculum and obtaining accreditation for the program. Jill Schramm/MDN

The building, formerly owned by Trinity Health on Burdick Expressway, is leased to DCB, which also invested in curriculum development. The building has been renovated with classrooms, a simulation laboratory, equipment sterilization space, 12 dental stations,locker rooms, study/meeting room and offices. The dental assisting program is fully accredited.

“I know the dental community is excited and we appreciate their support and look forward to partnering together and addressing workforce shortages in this incredibly important field,” MSU President Steve Shirley said. “Beyond dental programs, we will pursue future opportunities of using this Dakota College downtown building for other career and technical education programs, thereby creating further options for career development and workforce fulfillment for many folks in this community and throughout the broader regions of central and western North Dakota.”

Carmen Simone, campus dean at DCB, said the project had ups and downs but promoters never lost faith that it would come to fruition.

“And today is a very special day because of that,” she said.

Kristie Pladson, who came out of retirement as an educator in dental assisting to help spearhead the program development in Minot, said no one ever told her “no” when she was creating the curriculum, guiding the team through the accreditation process or selecting equipment.

“We are the only program in the state that has a simulation lab for dental hygiene and dental assisting. That’s going to be invaluable for new students that come through our doors,” she said.

She noted the first eight students visited the new building during student orientation and are thrilled to get started.

“They are an excited group. They want to learn. They want to transform their lives. We all know that education can transform lives, and that’s what this building and the people in it are going to do,” Pladson said.

Minot City Council member Lisa Olson, who served on the committee overseeing the project, attested to times when it seemed the project was impossible, but they pushed ahead anyway.

“None of us imagined that this would be home to a state-of-the-art dental hygiene and dental assisting program. But I’m grateful that the others saw the need and potential for this program in central and western North Dakota. I know that area dentists are anxious to hire our graduates,” she said.

“I”m speaking on behalf of dentists, in western North Dakota especially, who have been trying to deliver dental services to our patients for many years while trying to fill our positions in our staffs,” said Dr. Mark Hildahl, dental adviser on the project. “I can tell you that all of us in western North Dakota – on behalf of all the dentists in the Dental Association – are very excited about this.”