The community’s support of building projects in recent years has not only upgraded facilities at Williston State, it is tipping the balance for prospective students in favor of Williston State.

Burlington, North Dakota native Brittany Jacobson had sports scholarship offers from other schools but, thanks to the Leonard P. Nelson health training center, she came here.

“Williston State now has a good Physical Therapy Assistant program. It’s one of the only schools in the state where you can get this degree,” said Brittany.

But it didn’t hurt that Williston also added the Thomas Witt Leach Complex, with a spanking new sports facility, as Brittany plays both basketball and volleyball.

The new gymnasium has become the envy of rival teams, according to teammate Ashley Coffin, an education major from Minot. “I took a tour here and saw the Well. It’s amazing!”

But if these new facilities helped recruit them, it was the smaller, personable “home away from home” environment that is keeping them, they said.

“It can be overwhelming for a high school student to go to a larger university,” said Ashley.

“Here teachers know your name, but they don’t baby you,” she said.

Brittany agreed. “It’s a homey setting, and I’m never lost. If I have a sports commitment, the professors understand and even help me catch up.”

Williston state is “homey” to Brittany in two other ways, as well. “I really like the sports dorms here. It’s like living in one big house with my whole volleyball team. My teammates are like really close family. And we don’t mind having all the kitchen appliances, a comfortable living room with a love seat, and a cable TV!”

In fact, in one sense, Brittany hardly had to leave home since her brother Garrett also attends Williston State. “He’s in all of my classes. Some people think we’re twins. Others think we’re dating,” she laughed. “But we’re just siblings.”