Jill Briggs and family pledge $5,000 to DCTC Foundation
Jill Briggs, RN, MS, MPH, and her family have pledged $5,000 to the Dakota County Technical College Foundation to fund scholarships for individuals seeking to earn a Class B Commercial Driver’s License through training provided by Minnesota Training Connection (MTC).
A former director of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Section of the Minnesota Department of Health, Jill created the Briggs, Larson, Hatch (BLH) Scholarship to honor the truck drivers in her family, including her father, David Briggs, who drove city routes for Indianhead Truck Lines out of Roseville, Minnesota.
“My dad and five of my uncles were truck drivers,” Jill said. “My dad was an incredibly quiet, do-your-job kind of guy. He was the 1967 Minnesota Truck Rodeo Rookie of the Year and thought Mack trucks were the best. I loved Christmas time at our home when everyone would gather to play cards and talk about trucks.”
Jill added that her father drove a Hamm’s Beer truck on weekends to augment the family income, accruing over-the-road miles.
“The scholarships will be hugely beneficial for students wishing to earn the license they need to become commercial drivers, but might not be able to afford the training.”
— Jim Unger, Public Safety Coordinator, Minnesota Training Connection
Michelle Boe, executive director of the DCTC and Inver Hills foundations, reported that the BLH Scholarship recognizes how the livelihoods of people in diverse fields depend on the continued prosperity of the trucking industry.
“Jill comes from a family of professional truckers and she has a strong desire to support the trucking industry,” Michelle said. “Her late father, David Briggs, and a number of her uncles made their living driving truck. The BLH Scholarship is a family contribution in their honor. The DCTC Foundation will provide two $500 scholarships per year to individuals seeking their Class B CDL license through Minnesota Training Connection.”
The BLH Scholarship pays tribute to following members of Jill’s family:
David Briggs, father, Indianhead Truck Lines, city routes
Bill Briggs, paternal uncle, married to Jill’s Aunt Shirley, Indianhead Truck Lines, over-the-road routes
Wayne Larson, maternal uncle, married to Jill’s Aunt Iris, Indianhead Truck Lines, over-the-road routes
Lynn Larson, maternal uncle, married to Jill’s Aunt Bernice, Advance United, city routes
Ronald Hatch, uncle, married to Jill’s Aunt Cathy, Advance United, city routes
Roger Hatch, uncle, married to Jill’s Aunt Jill, Advance United, city routes
Ronald and Roger are twins; Roger teaches truck driver training courses for Minnesota Training Connection.
BLH Scholarship gallery
More about Jill Briggs…
Originally from Scandia, Minnesota, Jill Briggs attended Forest Lake High School, graduating in 1975. Jill went on to earn her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Nursing from St. Catherine University.
In 1979, she began her career as a registered nurse (RN) serving as a public health nurse (PHN) for Dakota County for four years. She then took on the role of PHN for Washington County, serving from 1983 to 1996.
Jill earned her Master of Science (M.S.) in Nursing and Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) from the University of Minnesota in 1999. She continued her career, working for Dakota Healthy Families from 1997 to 2000 and the Minnesota Department of Health from 2000 to 2007. She retired in 2012 after serving as public health director for Chisago County for five years.
“I am grateful for a fulfilling career,” Jill said. “Never a dull moment.”
Jill resides with her husband, Dennis, a retired mechanical engineer at 3M, in Scandia near Jill’s family home during the summer months, staying warm in Sun City, Arizona, from October to May. Jill and Dennis have four children and six grandchildren.
Jill enjoys four-wheeling with her husband on their Polaris RZRs. They also enjoy traveling and have a pickup camper for road trips. Jill’s other pastimes include golf, tennis, pickleball and riding motorcycles.
Jill Briggs Q & A
Jill Briggs wearing Indianhead Truck Lines hat her father wore
What do you admire most about people working in the trucking industry?
They are dependable, hardworking and dedicated to providing for their families.
What is one thing every truck driver should know?
Safety is the utmost concern.
What is the most challenging aspect of driving truck?
Road conditions, other drivers and the weather are all regular challenges.
What is the most rewarding aspect of driving truck?
Driving truck is fulfilling a need for society. Things have to get from point A to point B—and truck drivers make that happen.
More about Minnesota Training Connection…
Minnesota Training Connection (MTC), a partnership between Dakota County Technical College and Inver Hills Community College, is dedicated to providing flexible career training solutions to business and industry. Leveraging the resources of Minnesota State colleges and universities, our training is designed to make your business more competent and more competitive.
Learn more by visiting:
Minnesota Training ConnectionLearn more about MTC truck and bus driver training by visiting:
Transportation & Safety Courses or contact Jim Unger at 651-423-8482
Learn more about the DCTC Foundation by contacting:
Michelle Boe, JD
Executive Director of Foundation
Dakota County Technical College and Inver Hills Community College
DCTC Office: 651-423-8236
Inver Hills Office: 651-450-3519
Amy Eppen
Foundation Development Director
651-423-8265
