Dickinson State University (DSU) is buzzing with excitement as it prepares for the 2024 Homecoming, a time-honored tradition that brings the campus community together in celebration of school pride. A key highlight of the event is the much-anticipated selection of the Homecoming King and Queen, recognizing the university's most passionate and engaged students. Through thoughtful interviews, the Queen candidates reflect on their ambitions, cherished experiences, and memorable moments at DSU. Each nominee brings their own perspective, contributing to a selection process that honors the unique qualities that define the strong sense of community at DSU.
Whitney Edwards
What is your major?
Exercise Science
What is your favorite part about homecoming week?
The Blue Hawks have a ton of school spirit as it is, and homecoming week amplifies it. I love watching the volleyball and football teams compete and hanging out with my teammates and friends. There are so many fun activities to attend throughout the week.
What does being a Blue Hawk mean to you?
As a Blue Hawk, I love the many opportunities we get to inspire young kids, showing them that with hard work, they can achieve their goals and passions. DSU not only supports my career path but also empowers me to give back. The many community events allow us to interact with future Hawks and meet the families that support the school.
The relationships I have built so far with local professionals and mentors have aided me as I work toward my goals of attending graduate school. In addition, the support and dedication from the Heritage Foundation and DSU Alumni Association prove that the Blue Hawk pride stays with you forever!
What's your favorite memory of DSU?
Many of my favorite memories at DSU include traveling to away games with my basketball team and hitting up Applebee’s for half-priced apps with my friends.
Who is someone that has inspired you?
My older brother Taylor inspires me and encourages me daily. He was also a college basketball player and always had a positive attitude and smile. He is now teaching and coaching- living the life he worked hard for!
Would you vote Buster for President for 2024?
Yes, Buster would make an excellent president. He is strong, kind, confident, and hardworking- who cares if he can’t talk!
What are you involved with on campus?
I am on the women’s basketball team, which I love! This is also my 2nd year as a resident assistant. I recently joined Student Senate and am excited to be involved in that on campus. I also do a team Bible Study through Fellowship of Christian Athletes!
What is something you hope to take away from your time at DSU?
I love seeing DSU alumni reunite at events throughout the year, because it reminds me that I am building relationships that will carry me through life. I know that I will leave DSU with long-lasting friendships with my teammates and peers. The staff here and local business owners have mentored me and taught me valuable life and career skills. I will be taking away a positive experience from DSU that I am forever grateful for, so I hope to be leaving a positive impact as well.
How old do you think Buster is?
I would guess Buster is 22 or 23, he has the swag of a senior on campus.
Natalie Lile
What is your major?
Biology with a minor Leadership
What is your favorite part about homecoming week?
My favorite part about homecoming week is the various activities on and off campus to keep students involved in the fun!
What does being a Blue Hawk mean to you?
To me, being a Blue Hawk means being part of a family that stands by you, not just in moments of success but through every challenge. As a Blue Hawk, I’m reminded that I’m part of something larger than myself and get to take pride in that. Every experience, friendship, and opportunity has shaped who I am at DSU. I know that my peers and faculty believe in me, encouraging my academic and personal growth. Being a Blue Hawk is about creating bonds that last beyond our time at Dickinson State, they are memories that will expand across the years. To be a Blue Hawk is to be loved!
What's your favorite memory of DSU?
My favorite memory of DSU was last fall when the boys' and girls' cross-country teams won the North Star Conference Championship in Wisconsin, and we realized that we were going to Nationals as a whole team! It was high intensity when the girls’ won, but once we realized the boys’ had won, we were all on top of the world.
Who is someone that has inspired you?
Someone, or two people I should say, who have inspired me are my parents. My parents have shaped me into the person I am today and taught me how to navigate through life with my head held high. I have received more love, lessons, and dedication from my parents than anyone. From always showing up to races and games or helping me get through trials and tribulations, they have been there. They instilled in me the ability to work hard, have fun, and keep my morals high. My parents inspire me to do my best in every aspect of life and I am forever grateful for their love.
Would you vote Buster for President for 2024?
I’d need to hear more about his campaign... but, of course I would vote for Buster 2024!
What are you involved with on campus?
On campus I am involved with both Cross Country and Track and Field, as well as the Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program where I am a Student Assistant Director. I am also a member of Student Ambassadors, Student Senate, and Science Club!
What is something you hope to take away from your time at DSU?
Something I hope to take away from my time at DSU would be friendships and memories that will last a lifetime!
How old do you think Buster is?
If I had to guess how old Buster is, I would say 50 years old.
Kaitlyn McColly
What is your major?
Nursing!
What is your favorite part about homecoming week?
My favorite part about homecoming week is watching the Blue Hawks win the football game from the midst of the student section and cheering loudly.
What does being a Blue Hawk mean to you?
Being a Blue Hawk means I have become a part of a large support system of friends, coaches, peers, professors, and other Hawks who help me achieve my biggest dreams and goals. Being a Blue Hawk has provided me with best friends, a career, success in track and field and so much more. Being a Blue Hawk means I know I will always have a fellow Hawk in my corner.
What's your favorite memory of DSU?
My favorite memory of DSU occurred before I was even enrolled. It was June of 2021, and I just happened to swing by for a track visit on my way back from a road trip to Virginia to pick up a piano with my mom. At the time I was signed to play basketball for Williston but was not confident about my decision. I remembered meeting Coach Wittkopp for the first time, touring the facility and discussing a potential future in nursing and track and field and it just felt right. I told him that day I would sign and after a difficult call to the basketball coach at Williston, I did. It just reminds me that everything happens for a reason and to this day, signing with DSU has been one of my greatest decisions.
Who is someone that has inspired you?
My mom is extremely inspirational. She has been a nurse, family nurse practitioner, and is now a psychiatric nurse practitioner. She began working in small-town hospitals and then transitioned into starting her own practice and had a clinic from our basement. Since then, she has grown her practice to a tele-med psychiatric clinic, caring for patients across rural Montana, and it continues expanding. She has made it a point to always puts her faith in Christ and her family first, forming her practice to fit these values. She is hard working, a dedicated mother, and also ensures to make time for herself in this busy world. I couldn’t think of anyone else more inspirational.
Would you vote Buster for President for 2024?
Not likely, however I think if Chirp was his Vice President, I may reconsider.
What are you involved with on campus?
I am on the Track and Field team and am a part of the Nursing Student Association (NSA). I have spent year with the Science Club as well.
What is something you hope to take away from your time at DSU?
I hope to take away lifelong relationships and connections. These will continue to support me in all my endeavors even after becoming alumni.
How old do you think Buster is?
Buster is likely old enough to enter the stage life in which he denies that he is old but knows it deep down. To me, he is more like an ageless character stuck in time, so Buster can be however old he would like to be.
Rohnnie Nacota
What is your major?
Business Administration and Human Resource Management
What is your favorite part about homecoming week?
My favorite part about Homecoming is the parade and seeing all the DSU supporters, from ages 5 to 85. The streets are always packed no matter the weather— Dickinson’s love for DSU is shown on parade day.
What does being a Blue Hawk mean to you?
It means support, community, family, and generational to me. I say this because DSU makes their students feel like they are all a part of something, something that their families have passed down or first-generation Blue Hawks will continue.
What's your favorite memory of DSU?
My favorite memory at DSU is the red paper clip challenge with Dr. Dragseth and getting to make a difference around Dickinson through learning at the same time.
Who is someone that has inspired you?
I would have to say Debra Dragseth. I came into my sophomore year with a heavy head, and she turned it all around for me whether she knew it or not. I applied to be her work study in the fall of 2022 and from there I really felt like Dickinson State became my home the longer I worked with Dr. Dragseth. She has been through some hardships these past few years and there wasn’t a day when Dr. Dragseth came in where you couldn’t tell the weight that was on her shoulders. Dr. Dragseth is a strong, successful women and she truly inspires me every day.
Would you vote Buster for President for 2024?
100% yes— who wouldn’t?
What are you involved with on campus?
I am a student ambassador on campus, which allows me to give tours to prospective students and help admissions with their events. I am also a line judge for DSU home volleyball games. I have also been an Honors Usher at nearly every graduation since my time at Dickinson State. I personally just like to help wherever anyone needs it.
What is something you hope to take away from your time at DSU?
I hope to take with me how DSU helps you see opportunities even when there doesn’t feel like there are any.
How old do you think Buster is?
I think buster is 47 years old. I hope that isn’t too old.
Jewel Olson
What is your major?
Biology
What is your favorite part about homecoming week?
My favorite part about homecoming week is hanging out with friends at the football game.
What does being a Blue Hawk mean to you?
Being a Blue Hawk means being part of a close-knit community, working hard, and supporting each other, just like in my rural hometown. It is about carrying those small-town values with pride and always giving my best.
What's your favorite memory of DSU?
My favorite memory at DSU was when one of my friends tried dying her hair, and it turned out bad, so she had us dye her hair again at the dorms. It didn’t turn out.
Who is someone that has inspired you?
Someone who inspires me is my grandma. She holds my entire family together. She has always been a hard worker, supporting her children and grandchildren. I hope to be able to help lessen that load.
Would you vote Buster for President for 2024?
I would vote Buster for President.
What are you involved with on campus?
I'm a track athlete here. I'm a part of the Campus Activity Board and the Homecoming Committee. I'm am also a senior resident assistant.
What is something you hope to take away from your time at DSU?
I hope to take away the friendships I made here, and the skills I gained from my degree.
How old do you think Buster is?
Buster has to be like old enough to run for president so older than 35 right…probably 35.
Taylynd Stuhr
What is your major?
Ag Business/Ag Communications
What is your favorite part about homecoming week?
My favorite part of homecoming week has to be the jacket! As a pageant queen, I have a special love for clothes, and this piece feels like more than just something to wear—it is something I can pass down. I'm really excited about that connection and tradition it holds!
What does being a Blue Hawk mean to you?
Being a Blue Hawk means everything to me. Coming from a junior college, I never imagined I would find my forever home at Dickinson State University. Transitioning from a JUCO athlete, I was unsure if I would ever find a place where I felt like I truly belonged—a place that would not only push me to grow academically and athletically but also offer a sense of community and family.
That all changed the day I got a call from Coach Wittkopp. That one call transformed my life. It gave me an opportunity I never thought I would have and opened a door that led me to a place I can proudly call my nest. Coach Wittkopp believed in me and gave me the chance to continue competing, something I had thought might be out of reach. More than just an athletic opportunity, that phone call gave me a chance to be part of a team, a campus, and a family that I am incredibly grateful for.
Being a Blue Hawk isn’t just about the sport or the school—it’s about the connections, the experiences, and the feeling of having a home. DSU welcomed me with open arms and allowed me to grow not only as an athlete but as a person. It’s a place where I feel supported, valued, and constantly encouraged to reach my full potential. Now, as I continue to represent DSU, I carry that Blue Hawk pride with me, knowing that I’ve found my forever home.
What's your favorite memory of DSU?
One of my favorite memories of DSU is the whirlwind of how I ended up here. I was all set to go to another school when, out of the blue, I got a call from the coach on a Monday asking me to check out DSU. I didn’t expect much, but by Wednesday I was on a visit, and by Friday morning, I had signed the paperwork. That same day, I flew home, packed up, and started a 1500-mile drive. By Sunday night, I made it here, and by Monday morning, I was sitting in class. Funny how life can completely change in just one week!
Who is someone that has inspired you?
My dad has been my greatest inspiration, not only as a father but as a business owner and farmer. He has taught me that "no is not always no,” and “there’s always a back door” to find another path to success. One of the lessons I hold closest is the meaning of our last name, Stuhr, which means stubborn in German. That stubbornness, for us, represents perseverance and determination. Watching my dad run his business and manage our farm has shown me the importance of hard work, resilience, and never backing down, even in the face of challenges.
His dedication to both family and work inspires me every day, and I hope to carry those same traits into my own life. Just like him, I want to approach business and life with the same patience, grit, and commitment, living up to the legacy of our last name, and embracing the values that have shaped who I am.
Would you vote Buster for President for 2024?
Without a doubt, I would vote for Buster as President in 2024! Buster is the epitome of Dickinson State University's spirit, representing everything that makes DSU feel like home, the Blue Hawk community's pride, passion, and vitality. Buster would bring us all together, as he does at every game and function, reminding us of what it means to be a part of this amazing family. Plus, who wouldn't want a leader with such heart and school spirit? Buster for President, all the way!
What are you involved with on campus?
On campus I am involved with Track and field, where I pole vault, high jump and 4x4 as needed for DSU. I am also apart of Ag Club, I’m a campus tutor, I’m an office assistant to Acting President Orton, I am a member of TRHLP, a TRHLP Mentor, and an FBLA member. I need a nap after that list…
What is something you hope to take away from your time at DSU?
From my time at DSU, I hope to walk away with so much more than just a degree. I’m aiming for a great job, being debt-free, and leaving a lasting impression. I want to build valuable contacts, create unforgettable memories, and seize the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity this experience offers. And hey, a medal or two along the way wouldn’t hurt either!
How old do you think Buster is?
Buster, DSU's mascot, appears to have been there for a while, so I'm guessing he has a lengthy history with the school. If I had to guess, Buster is probably at least 90 years old, given his great connection to DSU's traditions and pride!