Student Senate president receives Mark M. Welter “The 100% American” Scholarship
Sheri Hanson, 57, a student at Dakota County Technical College, was recognized by LeadMN with a $500 Mark M. Welter “The 100% American” Scholarship for fall semester 2021. Sheri is earning her Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Digital Marketing Specialist and is on track to graduate from DCTC in spring 2022.
Sheri thanked LeadMN for the scholarship funds by quoting the Irish Christian missionary, Amy Carmichael: “‘You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.'”
More about the scholarship…
“The 100% American” Scholarship is for all students attending a Minnesota State college or university. This scholarship is sponsored through the generosity of the Mark M. Welter Foundation.
Five $500 scholarships will be awarded for both the fall and spring semesters. The five winners will be selected for their skills in integrating the 24 retrieval answers with the four essay questions. Accurate use of the “optional enrichment exercise” will elevate chances of winning an award.
LEARN MORE…
Student involvement at DCTC…
An exceptionally engaged student on campus, Sheri serves as Student Senate president and Phi Theta Kappa president. She is also a participant in TRIO/Student Support Services.
Sheri works part-time while going to college as a replenishment specialist at Michael’s. Her goal after earning her A.A.S. degree is landing a job in the marketing field.
“I would like to start out as a marketing specialist,” Sheri said, “and eventually become a marketing coordinator.”
She added that marketing is hugely important for the prosperity of any business or organization.
“Marketing to some extent is the future,” she said. “The world is turning more and more to having everything online—and succeeding online has everything to do with marketing.”
DCTC faculty and staff perspectives
Sheri Hanson is a role model for students who want to continue their college education. She set out in college to gain new skills focusing on the field of marketing.
Sheri learned to navigate the college experience, and through her hard work and staying open to new opportunities, she took on leadership roles at the college. It has been exciting to follow Sheri’s growth at DCTC.
Carie M. Statz, MA, DBA
Marketing and Sales Faculty
Dakota County Technical College
Sheri is a dedicated student and student leader. She is committed to getting the most out of her educational experience at DCTC and also helping other students have the best experience possible.
This is evident by her involvement in support services on campus such as TRIO/SSS and Student Life involvement through campus events and the Student Senate.
Sheri is passionate about helping all students get connected to the resources on campus they need to be successful. She is seen as a leader among her peers, and they elected her Student Senate president for the 2021–2022 school year.
It has been a pleasure working with Sheri this summer and past spring semester, and I look forward watching her continue to positively impact our student body this coming year!
Anna Voight
Associate Director of Student Life
Dakota County Technical College
More about Sheri…
Originally from Crosby, Minnesota, a city with just over 2,300 residents in Crow Wing County, Sheri graduated from Crosby-Ironton High School, Class of 1982.
Sheri has four grown children, Adam, 37, Krista, 34, Ashley, 27, and Jordan, 22, and five grandchildren, Kya, 13, Landon, 10, Maddox, 6, Isaiah, 2, and Blake, 1.
“My newest grandchild, Blake, was born three months early and she weighed a little over two pounds,” Sheri said.
In her free time, Sheri enjoys rock collecting (mostly agates), making artificial flower arrangements, going to concerts and spending time with family. Her favorite concert of all time was Bob Seger; Michael Jackson is the performer she would most liked to have seen. She has had numerous photos taken with artists, bands and celebrities.
Sheri resides in Buffalo, Minnesota.
Sheri Hanson celebrity gallery




More about the DCTC Marketing program…
Marketing professionals leverage their attention to detail and communication skills to create marketing messages that address their customer needs through various communication methods. Marketers develop strategies to benefit both internal audiences and external customers. Their ability to work in fast-paced environment, deadline-oriented environments is due to marketers being independent thinkers.
The Marketing program at DCTC teaches you all general marketing concepts as well as crucial marketing skills, including:
- Managing projects
- Determining strategies to reach markets
- Coordinating the distribution of products
- Planning advertising and promotional campaigns
- Creating digital strategies to establish a strong web presence
- Analyzing data
- Researching to assist in market planning
Marketing career paths
Earning your Marketing A.S. and/or Digital Marketing Specialist A.A.S. at DCTC can be the gateway to a number of rewarding careers in the marketing field, including:
- Marketing
- Sales manager
- Account executive
- Marketing director
- Public relations specialist
- Commercial marketing specialist
- Market development manager
- Marketing coordinator
- Media outreach coordinator
- Communications manager
- Information and communications specialist
- Public affairs officer
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Sheri Hanson • Q & A
What do you like best about the Digital Marketing Specialist program?
Going more in depth into computers and their programming. I think it’s interesting to learn about the programs that make computers run.
What do you enjoy most about your role as Student Senate president?
Dealing with a wide variety of different people. My responsibilities include overseeing Senate meetings and getting together with staff members to go over the campaigns we are working on.
What advice would you give students thinking about joining the Student Senate?
I think everyone should join the Student Senate—even if only for one year. Serving on the Student Senate is a great confidence booster.
Three words that describe you as a college student:
HONORED. HOPEFUL. GRATEFUL.
How has TRIO/Student Support Services helped you succeed on your academic journey?
You get more one-on-one help and advice.
What person has influenced your life the most and why?
My mom—she died in 1991 when I was only 28 years old, but I still think about the great words of wisdom that she gave me.
Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
Retired!! 😀
One word that best describes your experience at DCTC:
AWESOME
Sheri Hanson • 12 Answers
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Tie: volleyball and softball
Place you would most like to visit: China
- The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Tie: whitewater rafting down Snake River in Wyoming and parasailing over the ocean (Hello, Jaws!)
- Two things you would do if you won a $1 billion lottery: 1) Set my kids and grandkids up for life 2) Donate a good chunk
- Favorite TV show you’re watching now: House of Cards (for the second time)
- Time period you would explore if you could time travel: 1940s—back when men were real men and women were real ladies
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Make sure my four children are in a good place in life before I die (if I can help in any way)
Your national bird if you were your own country: Pileated woodpecker
- Dream occupation: Manager for some different country singers
- Person you would most like to meet: God
- Skill you would most like to learn and master: Welding and electrical
- Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Tie: lack of fresh water and overpopulation
Learn more about the Marketing & Sales department at DCTC by contacting:
Carie Statz
Marketing Design Faculty
651-423-8622
Erin Lund
Academic & Financial Aid Advisor
651-423-8278
Sales Managers
Coordinate the process of getting a product or service to a customer.
WAGE
This career pays well above the statewide median of $23.00/hour
Minnesota
Median: $60.13/hour
High: $82.85/hourSeven-county Twin Cities metro
Median: $63.52/hour
High: $85.92/hourOUTLOOK
In Minnesota, there are 10,050 workers employed in this large career. This career is currently in very high demand and seeing high growth compared to other careers. Growth rate in Minnesota is 5.5 percent.
There will be a need for about 11,186 new Sales Managers to meet market demand between 2018–2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.
— Minnesota State CAREERwise Education
Public Relations Specialists
Create a public image for their organization or product.
WAGE
This career pays above the statewide median of $23.00/hour
Minnesota
Median: $30.95/hour
High: $39.036/hourSeven-county Twin Cities metro
Median: $32.25/hour
High: $40.13/hourOUTLOOK
This career is currently in high demand and seeing high growth compared to other careers. Growth rate in Minnesota is 6.1 percent.
There will be a need for about 6,454 new Public Relations Specialists to meet market demand between 2018–2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.
— Minnesota State CAREERwise Education
Marketing Managers
Identify how much demand there is for a product and find customers.
WAGE
This is a very high-wage career that pays well above the statewide median of $23.00/hour
Minnesota
Median: $70.08/hour
High: $87.36/hourSeven-county Twin Cities metro
Median: $71.94/hour
High: $88.94/hourOUTLOOK
This career is currently in very high demand and seeing high growth compared to other careers. Growth rate in Minnesota is 6.9 percent.
There will be a need for about 8,621 new Marketing Managers to meet market demand between 2018–2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.
— Minnesota State CAREERwise Education