Area Students Lead for Positive Change
Ten talented students from North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota were selected for the inaugural Digital Impact Fellowship for Giving Hearts Day 2021. Powered by The Nice Center at NDSU, The High Impact Institute, and Dakota Medical Foundation, students partnered with nonprofits throughout the region to help maximize their digital reach for Giving Hearts Day 2021.
The Fellows are: Cassandra Tweed, a junior at North Dakota State University
Dylan Demers, a freshman at Fargo North High School
Emma Olson, a sophomore at Valley City High School
Grace Lange, a junior at North Dakota State University
Haison Nguyen, a sophomore at the University of St. Thomas
Kendra Hassan, a senior at North Dakota State University
Lorena Diaz-Martinez, a senior at South Dakota State University
Skyler Manney, a freshman at North Dakota State University
Skyler Strand, a freshman at the University of North Dakota
Tobias Zikmund, a junior at Minnesota State University Moorhead
“Giving Hearts Day provides a platform for nonprofits to connect with donors and volunteers to propel their missions to
even greater impact. The Fellows have provided an extraordinary boost to help amplify the message and increase support for participating nonprofits and those they serve at a critical time,” said Scott Holdman, Chief Transformation Officer at The High Impact Institute.
“The Fellowship provided students with high-impact projects to add to their creative portfolios and connected them to a community of peers working to make the world a better place. We’re proud of the work they’ve done and fortunate to have their incredible talent in our region,” said Kodee Furst, Programs Manager at The Nice Center at NDSU.
The ten Fellows will showcase their digital impact work and share their experiences during a Digital Impact Showcase. The Showcase will take place online on February 25, 2021, from 3:00 PM - 4:00 p.m. Central Standard Time. Tickets are free and available on Eventbrite.
Local 4-Her Emma Olson got involved with the Digital Impact Fellowship after Sue Milender sent out an email about it and because she saw that the DGI was going to be assisting with Giving Hearts Day, Emma wanted to be involved. She especially wanted to help make an impact on charities she is passionate about. Through the DGI, Emma and the other people involved partnered with a charity to help maximize each of their digital Giving Hearts Day Campaign, which took place on February 11. The one Emma partnered with was St. Gianna’s Maternity Home in Minto, ND.
Though the fellowship isn’t directly related to 4-H, Emma says that her 4-H background was incredibly helpful to her in participating. Emma got involved with 4-H after a friend encouraged her to join 5 years ago. She loves that she can learn, be of service and have fun with 4-H, and she encourages everyone who wants to be a part of 4-H to join. Emma Olson and Alyssa Thomsen, both Sr. 4-Hers, helped compile the information for this article.