Why I Attended College and Am Growing My Career in North Dakota

Williston State College

From newcomers to boomerangs to college students, more people are discovering the cool, rewarding lifestyle you can live in the Peace Garden State. North Dakota’s variety of great careers and higher education institutions is complimented by its affordable cost of living, four seasons of outdoor fun, delicious cuisine and creative offerings. Kaleigh Topilko and Luke Jones are two who fell in love with the state while here for college, and both have chosen to further their lives and careers in North Dakota. Topilko, who hails from Canada, was recruited by Williston State College to play softball, while Jones, who was raised in Maui, attended the University of Mary and is now in graduate school there. Read on to learn more about their love of North Dakota and why they’ve chosen to build their lives and careers here.  

Why did you choose to attend Williston State?

Five or six schools recruited me. When I toured Williston State, I felt that I belonged there. Everyone on campus was so inviting. I told my parents they could drop me off then, and I’d be fine, even though I was still in high school. It was the people who sold me.

What did you love about attending Williston State?

Everyone in town supports the college heavily. I made friends with people off campus as well as at school. I love how close people are and how the community comes together in support of Williston State athletics.

You’re on the staffing side of Williston State athletics now. How did that happen?

My long-term goal was always to coach. After I received my associate degree from Williston, I went to a four-year school in Iowa to continue my education and play softball. Injuries in Iowa kind of forced me to hang up playing. While all this was going on, an assistant coaching spot opened at Williston State. Now, I’m the pitching coach and assistant softball coach at Williston.

Tell us about your career in North Dakota.

I work to build connections with the girls and be a mentor, which is a really big role for me. There’s been a lot of opportunity for me here, learning what goes into a head coaching job, getting to know the other Williston coaches and learning how they recruit and run their programs.

Why was coming to North Dakota the right decision for you?

When I left school in Iowa, I couldn’t see myself moving back to my town outside Edmonton, Alberta, and thriving at a typical 9 to 5 job. I had so much support from the coaches, athletic trainers and friends at Williston State that I wanted to come back to help rebuild the softball program and give back to those who gave so much to me. I would never in my life have thought this little town would have such a big impact on me. I have roots in Williston now.    

How did you end up at the University of Mary?

I was born and raised in Maui, and my plan for college was to work a year, go to school at the University of Hawaii for a year, and do that back and forth. I had a chance to spend six months in England, most of it in a Benedictine monastery, which was really formative for me. When I came back, I wanted to finish my undergrad at a Catholic university. I found the University of Mary and did two semesters online from Hawaii. The final semester was an intensive summer institute in Latin, so I moved to Bismarck for that in the summer of 2023.

And now you’re attending graduate school at the University of Mary?

I started working on this degree – a master’s in Catholic studies – from a desire to spend time in North Dakota, rather than a concrete plan. Now, I’m working on it with a goal of teaching. But I wouldn’t have developed that desire for teaching if I hadn’t stayed in North Dakota to explore something new.

What’s special about North Dakota?

There’s a community tightness that I really appreciate. It’s much less transient than other places I’ve been in the U.S. Everyone in North Dakota has an identity of being a North Dakotan, whether they’re a transplant or were born here.

You work in addition to taking graduate courses, correct? Tell us about your career in North Dakota.

I’m the program specialist for Serve ND, which handles all things AmeriCorps, the federal agency for community service and volunteerism, in the state.

What’s your experience been like at Serve ND?

I’ve had an overwhelmingly positive experience, and I’m now taking on increased ownership of recruitment for AmeriCorps in North Dakota. I was able to lean into an aspect of my job that I enjoyed, and I was empowered to go further with it. This is the sort of thing that has characterized my experience in North Dakota. If you’re here, connected and open to possibilities, doors will open for you because people are tight knit, and they’re willing to try new things. Whatever you are interested in, if you can find your community, you can further those interests. But there will also be unexpected opportunities that come to you because North Dakota is so active and growing. 

This article was sponsored by the North Dakota Department of Commerce.