在波蒂诺上大学是卡伦（波尔）·布兰德沃尔德（Karen (Bohl) Brandvold）继承的传统，她的第三代孩子在这座有118年历史的校园里上课。 Karen is a 1988 Elementary Education graduate of NDSU-Bottineau (NDSU-B) or 波蒂诺达科塔学院 who was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.

作为一名Towner高中的高年级学生，Karen被NDSU-B录取，并接到了大学级别的篮球招募电话。 唐纳德·汤普森，也就是著名的d.t.教练，从纽大b找到了她。 “I got the opportunity to meet D.T., and he had the most endearing smile, and his blue eyes sparkled. I had a tough decision to make, but I knew after my visit that NDSU-Bottineau was going to be my new home and my new family,” explains Karen. “I really liked the idea that it was close to home and that it was a smaller campus.”

她在校园里最美好的回忆就是和她的小伙伴们一起玩耍的时光。 “Coach D.T. treated us like his own daughters. 他总是关心我们，鼓励我们在场上和课堂上都做到最好。 My teammates were my best friends, and they always were encouraging and fun to be around,” says Karen.

在两年的NDSU-B比赛开始时，她对成为一名大一首发感到惊讶和兴奋。 One of her most special memories happened while playing as a freshman, when the Ladyjacks beat Williston State College for the first time in the school's history in that division. 凯伦在比赛中16罚16中，创造了联盟纪录。 “I don't know if my record is still standing or if somebody broke it. 威利斯顿是另一所招收我打篮球的学校。 Winning that game was like winning a championship game,” she says with pride.

Though she loved attending NDSU-B, Karen didn’t know the important role Bottineau would play in her future. 大二的时候，她遇到了她未来的丈夫鲍勃，他也曾就读于新大b。 他的父母，马文和詹尼斯，一起就读于波蒂诺的北达科他州林业学校或波蒂诺的达科他学院（DCB）。 Bob’s aunts, Helen and Donna, also attended the 十大博彩平台 十大博彩平台 School of Forestry and met their spouses, Lee Taylor and Gary Molander, there. 鲍勃和他的七个兄弟姐妹都在波蒂诺上大学。 Ten of the Brandvold siblings’ children also attended Minot State University-Bottineau or 波蒂诺达科塔学院. Four out of five of Karen’s and Bob’s children are among the third generation to choose Bottineau. 第四代已经来到了波蒂诺的达科塔学院。 Josie Wintermute, a second cousin to Karen’s and Bob’s kids, plays basketball like several of her family members before her.

凯伦和鲍勃结婚36年了，他们继承了布兰沃德的传统，用家庭烹饪和友谊欢迎当地的大学生。 “Bob’s family members and our family always invited students for meals, snacks, visiting, and various family activities. People still talk about all the delicious meals and fun they had at the Brandvold’s Farm,” Karen says with a smile.

虽然自从Karen进入新大以来，很多事情都发生了变化，但有些事情仍然没有改变。 DCB采用学期制，而不是季度制。 老美因仍然是校园的焦点，但没有人文、经济和历史课程，翻修后的建筑是DCB护理项目的所在地。 有一个新的自助餐厅，宿舍也更新了。 “When our daughter Whitney went to DCB, she stayed in the same dorm room I did when I went to NDSU-B. That was pretty cool,” says Karen. “Our children actually had some of the same instructors that were there when I attended college!”

整个布兰德沃德家族在波蒂诺都有很棒的经历。 Karen and Bob’s son Jesse says of his time at DCB, “It was a good stepping st十大博彩平台. 小班授课让你觉得自己很重要，而不仅仅是一个数字。 老师和教授都知道你是谁。 此外，你可以在大学里见到所有的学生，并在个人层面上了解他们。 For people who don’t know what their major is or are undecided, it is a great place to get the most out of your investment until you decide. It gives a person the opportunity to consider lifetime careers.”

回想起她在纽大b的时光，凯伦说，她的大学经历让她找到了自己喜欢的职业，并把波蒂诺当成了自己的家。 “Playing basketball taught me about life. 我们分享欢笑、泪水、胜利、失望和教训。 My experience playing basketball at NDSU-B inspired me to become a teacher and coach.”

毕业后，Karen在迈诺特州立大学获得了基础教育学士学位。 她的职业生涯开始于兼职代课老师，帮助罗伯特给奶牛和农场挤奶。 She spent six years teaching fifth grade at the Ojibwa Indian School, where she also coached 5th and 6th-grade girls’ basketball. 2006年，她在农场和牧场帮忙的同时，专注于做一个母亲。 在此期间，凯伦开始在波蒂诺高中执教初级校队和校队篮球。 10年后，她转为5年级和6年级的教练。 在过去的16年里，凯伦一直在波蒂诺公立学校任教，并在五年级和六年级担任教练超过30年。 “I really enjoy living and working in Bottineau because it’s the most beautiful place, especially with the rolling hills and scenic view by Lake Metigoshe. 这里的人很友好，很有爱心。 Anytime people need a helping hand, every十大博彩平台 pitches in to help,” Karen says. 1995年，布兰沃尔德一家在一场大火中失去了家园，他们对此有亲身体会。 “The fire department, first responders, and people from the community and all around helped us to rebuild our lives again. 多亏了他们的礼物和慷慨，我的家人才能从失去亲人的悲痛中走出来。 We are so blessed and grateful to every十大博彩平台 who has continually touched our families’ lives. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. 每个人都互相照顾，互相照顾。 I feel so lucky and blessed to live in Bottineau.”

Whether she’s talking to a former student or a member of her family who is considering what to do after high school graduation, Karen’s advice is, “open yourself to life’s opportunities no matter how ‘big’ or ‘small’ they may seem. Attending NDSU-B wasn’t part of my original plan, but it’s the best choice I ever made. I am so glad I followed my heart.” 布兰沃尔德家族的其他成员可能会同意，有29名成员选择了波蒂诺，而且还在增加。