Madeline & Darrel Miller Family

Congratulations to the late Daryl & Madeline Miller family for being honored with the 2014 Family Tradition Award! The Miller family has a long history with NDSCS, going back to the College’s beginnings when Daryl Miller’s grandmother attended what was then Red River College and eventually became a teacher. Many of Madeline’s family members have attended NDSCS through the years, including her brother, two of her children, her daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, many cousins and many nieces and nephews.

Madeline enjoyed her time at NDSCS during the 1940s, at which time the College had an enrollment of approximately 700 students. Madeline had the opportunity to work for Wally Nordgaard, who was the Registrar at the time. She says she learned much from Mr. Nordgaard but definitely learned respect for the individual in the way he treated all people the same. Madeline also tells the story of her late daughter, Gayle, who attended NDSCS before transferring to a chiropractic college. One of the instructors was impressed by Gayle’s knowledge of chemistry and asked her where she earned her chemistry degree. Gayle replied that she did not have a degree and had only taken one year of chemistry at NDSSS. The instructor replied, “That must have been some college and some instructor!”

Madeline says she has seen many young people over the years attend prestigious colleges far from Wahpeton and graduate with large student loans then have a hard time finding a job. She said that doesn’t seem to be a problem at NDSCS, where students often find jobs before they graduate. Madeline said, “I even had a job offer one month before I graduated from Science! On graduation day, the ceremony was in the morning and I ate lunch and went to work after lunch.” 

The NDSCS Foundation is pleased to honor the late Daryl and Madeline Miller family with the Family Tradition Award.