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Students celebrate the end of semester outside the Jack Science Center. Bismarck State College is experiencing a historic surge in enrollment this spring semester, with the highest student numbers in its 86-year history. The milestone follows consecutive semesters of steady growth signaling a sustained rise in interest and attendance. While the increase reflects a positive trend for the college, it has also brought new challenges. Departments across campus have found it nece

The new college president explores and connects with Bismarck State College. Brian Kalk began his new endeavor as Bismarck State College’s 8th president on April 16. He has been busy getting to know the people on campus, including some media students on The Mystician. Where are you from, and where did you go to college? “I was born in Bottineau, North Dakota, which is, basically 200 miles straight north of here and the Canadian border. I went to high school there. After high

College can be a challenging time. Whether it’s moving away from home, a stressful work load, or personal things happening off campus, the pressure that society has applied on young adults in college has been a problem for generations. Poor sleep, bad diet, and isolation are common problems among college students. Trying to balance everything is hard and can be overwhelming, but Bismarck State College has resources to help. Amber Vollmers is the Behavior Health & Wellness C

Tomanek reads his students' poetry during class and gives feedback afterward. There is a wide range of art and humanities programs offered throughout the Bismarck-Mandan community. Less, however, offered to residents at the North Dakota State Penitentiary. Poetry at the Penn has been a part of bridging that gap, offering residents a chance to develop a skill that can be used in and out of the facility. Poetry at the Penn is a program created by Michael Tomanek, an Associat

On Monday, April 13 the Philosophy Club was officially recognized as a club by Bismarck State College, making it the 20th student club on campus. The first official meeting took place three weeks prior in the library commons area on March 25. Philosophy Club President Isaac Sayler explained that the club centers around open discussion of philosophical and ethical beliefs. “It was Lex’s (Professor Alexius Belile’s) idea to start the club. She came to us and asked if we were

Members of the 2026 PTK All-North Dakota Academic Team accepted their awards in Williston, N.D. in April. From left to right: Sophia Fafard, Chance Leingang, Dr. Dan Leingang, Professor Michael Tomanek, Shelly Whitley, and Paysha Rex. Leadership, service, fellowship, and academic excellence are the pillars of Phi Theta Kappa at Bismarck State College. Founded in 1918, PTK is an internationally recognized honor society for two-year colleges and community colleges with 1,285 c

Sophia Fafard and Elena Sanchez pose for a photo at the Spring Carnival photo booth. For this year's carnival, the theme was Las Vegas. On Thursday, April 23, Bismarck State College hosted its annual Spring Carnival in the Student Union, transforming the space into a lively hub of games, music, and student engagement. The event, organized by a Project Management class, served as both a fun campus activity and a real-world learning experience for the students involved. Led b

Shelly Whitley and her daughter Ivy pose with big smiles for a photo after an interview in the BSC Student Union. Community colleges can be a great stepping stone for students graduating high school. They can also be a pathway for parents to continue their education after high school or return to college. Bismarck State College is one of these schools, allowing parents flexibility surrounding their busy schedules. But balancing schoolwork, a job, and raising children can b

La La La! - Absolute Studios has a sound studio on location and Caelyn Mason jumped behind the mic for a test run. The ambient lighting set the mood for her to sing a tune. On March 27, at around eight in the morning, eight members of the Bismarck State College Graphic Design Club departed from Bismarck and started their journey to Fargo, N. D. The purpose of the one day excursion was to visit two commercial printing companies: Absolute Studios and Knight Printing. This allo

The community and BSC come together to meet the need for pediatric dentistry in the workforce. On June 6, the Mystic Smiles Dental Clinic had its grand opening. Located at 210 W. Century Avenue in Bismarck, Mystic Smiles is a nonprofit clinic owned and operated by Bismarck State College. It serves as a dental clinic with the intention to one day be a training facility for BSC’s dental program. The goal of Mystic Smiles is to provide high quality dental care to children i

A Night of Legacy and Pride: BSC Honors 2025 Alumni and Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees The evening of May 15 shimmered with pride, gratitude, and a deep sense of community as Bismarck State College hosted its annual Alumni and Athletic Hall of Fame Awards Dinner. Held in the elegantly adorned National Energy Center of Excellence, the event brought together alumni, students, faculty, and friends of the college for a celebration of achievement, service, and lifelong connection

The "Binary Brains" Cyber Team. Back: Bart Gnirk and Dylan Bahm. Front: Taylor Betting, Matthew Levorson, and Jordan Bartlett. Not photographed: Nathan Perry and Quincy Kautzman. Bismarck State College’s “Binary Brains” cyber team became the highest-ranking and highest-scoring BSC team in National Cyber League history. In an online competition in April from 12 p.m. on a Friday to 8 p.m. on a Sunday, the team ranked 26th out of 457 teams in the Experienced Students Bracket. T

Bismarck State College Theater brought the story of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna to campus with multiple performances of “Anastasia: The Musical.” The theater performed the musical from April 10-12 at 7:30 p.m. and April 13 at 2:30 p.m. in the Sidney J. Lee Auditorium. The musical featured a large-scale cast, detailed costuming, and an intricate set design. The cast included the talent of Schatzy Eichmann as Anastasia, Max Wild as Dmitry, and Trace Tysver as Vlad.

A disc golf basket sits near the Bavendick Center, which is currently under construction. The disc golf course on campus at Bismarck State College is currently a 15-hole course, but the BSC Student Government Association is working to remodel it again. The course was established in 2017 as an 18-hole course that spanned most of the BSC campus. In recent years, it has undergone significant changes. “Everything keeps changing at the campus,” Grounds Supervisor David Rohrich s

Danielle Dolechek discusses her role as Student Engagement Coordinator with Isaiah Johnson. Sarah Owens has stepped down as the Student Engagement Coordinator. Now, Danielle Dolechek has taken over that position. She is excited about this position and the chance to plan fun activities and events. Getting to know students is another thing she is excited about. Dolechek has plans for next year. She is currently working on stuff for homecoming. She plans to make it even bigg

On Monday, May 5, Bismarck State College will host a summit addressing the national crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, People, and Relatives (MMIWP). The event will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in the Live Event Venue. This event will have a keynote speaker, Connie Walker. She was announced as one of the TIMES top 100 most influential people in 2024. Walker talks about Indigenous stories and shares them with her power