Laurie Lekang

It is an honor to present Laurie Lekang with the inaugural Performing Arts Alumni Award.  Laurie discovered her passion for teaching in middle school and appreciates the opportunity she had to teach at the post-secondary level. She especially enjoyed the culture of NDSCS and the rural values of her students here. Laurie is a significant part of NDSCS Performing Arts history and continues to be a strong advocate and an outstanding goodwill ambassador for the college. As a Homecoming Honoree, it’s fitting to recognize that Laurie led the Homecoming parade with the NDSCS Band for over 30 years. Her dedication and love for music benefited many students during their time at NDSCS.

The Lekang family has a rich history at NDSCS. Laurie retired from NDSCS in 2016 after 35 years in the Performing Arts Department. Her husband, Paul, taught for 29 years in the Architectural Drafting & Design Program. Their daughters, Sarah and Lara, are NDSCS alumni who were involved with campus activities, including band, chorus, Wildcat Singers, and Wildcat Stage Band. Sara graduated in 2007 with a Liberal Arts degree, and Lara in 2011 with an Architectural Drafting degree. Lara is now an Instructor at NDSCS in the Architectural Modeling & Design Department, teaching from the same office as her father once did.

Laurie is honored to be the first recipient of the Performing Arts Alumni Award and expresses gratitude to her fellow Performing Arts instructors who shared the joys and challenges of positively impacting students through the arts. Early in her career, she was mentored by Tilford Kroshus and she grew professionally alongside Peter Benson and Mike Rockne, and was fortunate to have a year with Bryan Poyzer before she retired. Laurie’s fondest memories from her time at NDSCS revolve around her “team.”

Both Laurie and her husband, Paul, have much to be proud of from their careers at NDSCS. They are now enjoying retirement in Underwood, MN, spending time with family and friends at their lake cabin.