FARGO – North Dakota State University students will be heading west for the inaugural Bison to the Bakken experience, arriving in Minot Monday. The immersive, 12-day summer program offers a chance for students to dive into the heart of North Dakota’s energy sector and connect with industry leaders.

“Bison to the Bakken is a powerful example of what happens when academia and industry come together,” said Kathryn Birkeland, Ronald and Kaye Olson dean of the College of Business, in an NDSU news release. “Our partners across western North Dakota have opened their doors to our students, offering firsthand experiences that can’t be replicated in a classroom. Our long-term goal is to build lasting connections between our students, the communities and companies shaping North Dakota’s future.”

Students will meet with industry leaders on Monday at Creedence Energy Services in Minot. They will visit Hess Corp. in Tioga on May 20; Neset Consulting Service in Tioga on May 21, Bakken Area Skills Center in Watford City on May 22, ALLETE Clean Energy in Glen Ullin on May 27, Steffes in Dickinson on May 29 and Marathon Petroleum Refinery tour in Mandan on May 30.

The group of 37 students majoring in agriculture, business, engineering and other fields also will be interacting with leadership at companies such as Chord Energy, ONEOK, BNI Coal, Sandpro, New Kota, Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative, Red Trail Energy, Xcel Energy, Falkirk Mining Company and Rainbow Energy Center. Participants will earn academic credit as they gain insight into oil and gas, fracking, pipelines, carbon capture, biofuels, lignite coal, wind energy and broader economic activity connected to the state’s energy industry.

Each student selected to participate in the program receives a scholarship to help offset the cost of summer tuition for the course. Travel and lodging expenses are fully covered by the Economic Diversification Research Funds appropriated by the North Dakota Legislature during the 2023 session.

In addition to industry connections, students will take in cultural events, including a rodeo event and a dinner cruise on the Lewis and Clark Riverboat.