Dickinson State University's Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program (TRHLP) recently made a mark at the annual Upper Midwest Regional Honors Council Conference held at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. Led by the program's Director, Marivern Easton, a delegation of TRHLP scholars immersed themselves in the enriching three-day event, contributing their diverse perspectives and ideas to the various sessions.
Among the standout participants were TRHLP Scholars Mackenzie Conzelman, Griffin Obrigewitch, and Gracie Roller, who engaged in the conference's activities and discussions. The TRHLP participants absorbed insights from fellow honors students across the eight-state region. They plan to implement innovative ideas they gathered from the conference within the program.
Griffin Obrigewitch distinguished himself by presenting a roundtable discussion titled "Experiences of a Servant Leader" at the conference. Obrigewitch was also chosen to serve as the North Dakota student representative on the Upper Midwest Honors Council (UMHC) for the 2024-25 academic year. According to Obrigewitch, “The conference was a great opportunity to network with other honors programs and the amazing people in them. Just by striking up a conversation, connections with other motivated individuals were formed that will serve for personal growth and growth of the program.”
Reflecting on their experiences, Mackenzie Conzelman and Gracie Roller, both first-year DSU students, expressed their enthusiasm for the networking opportunities and personal growth the conference offered. Conzelman remarked, "I was pleasantly surprised at how much I was able to take away from the conference and how we were able to make new friends," while Roller added, "Everyone was so nice, which made my first experience at a conference like this much more enjoyable."
Marivern Easton, Director of DSU's Honors Program, commended the scholars for their outstanding representation of the TRHLP. She particularly praised Griffin's selection as a presenter, stating, "It is encouraging to see our scholars take advantage of the opportunities provided to them through the TRHLP."
As a member of both the National Collegiate Honors Council and the Upper Midwest Regional Honors Council, DSU's TRHLP is committed to excellence and continuous improvement. Looking ahead, the program aims to expand its presence on the national stage by attending the National Honors Conference and setting goals to become featured presenters at prestigious keynote events.
For more information on DSU’s Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program, including how to become a student-scholar, visit dickinsonstate.edu/TRHLP.