NDSU
graduating senior Joe Heilman has spent the past year as the
public face of the student body in his role as student body
president. He's testified before North Dakota legislative
committees on behalf of NDSU and its students. He's visited with
students in India and alumni in Arizona about the value of a U.S.
degree.
At 10 a.m., Saturday, May 16, he will be the student speaker at
NDSU commencement ceremonies in the Fargodome.
"I really enjoy public speaking," he said. "It will be the
largest group I have ever spoken to. I want to share my message
and the experience we've had as a class."
Heilman will speak about the NDSU theme, "students are
paramount," and how that phrase has changed for him during his
student career.
"As I became more involved in the decision making that happens
here, the phrase took on a whole new meaning in that everything
we do is for students. It's not just a marketing scheme, it's a
way of life," he said.
As the student body president, Heilman can often be seen around
campus talking to faculty, administrators and students. His ease
with talking to people comes from a deep-rooted passion to learn
about people.
"Just being able to visit with people helps me learn - whether
it's a conversation about their kids or their success as an
entrepreneur. You just have to be an active listener," Heilman
said.
Since he was 15, Heilman has been an entrepreneur himself. He
started a disc jockey business and soon booked 40 to 50 shows a
year based only on word of mouth marketing. He started off his
NDSU career as an engineering major, but shifted to business with
a minor in accounting during his freshman year.
During his time at NDSU, he's been involved with Concert Choir,
Accounting Club, Student Government, Kujenga Diversity Retreat,
Summer Leadership Institute, North Dakota Student Association,
Dance Marathon, and numerous Student Government Committees. He's
also served the community through Students Today Leaders Forever,
the Pay It Forward tour and the flood fighting efforts in March.
This passion for service can be traced back to high school in
Rugby, N.D., when he received the President's Gold Volunteer
Service Award.
He spent five semester's on the Dean's List, but had to sacrifice
some of his academics to run for and serve as president. The
sacrifice was worth it.
"You don't understand what your place is in the world and what
impact you have until you come to a large community," he said. He
added that being exposed to all levels of diversity "really makes
you realize the role you can play. It really opened my eyes in
the way of how you meet people - how you treat them fairly. You
can have a connection with anybody if you truly seek to do
so."
Heilman got involved with Student Government through friends who
also served. As president, he helped lead many of the
organization's accomplishments in the past year. They helped to
lay groundwork for a new advising system. They opened lines of
communication between faculty, staff, administration, alumni and
students. They started a volunteer-based service to help
temporarily disabled students, a Sustainability Task Force and a
new football ticket policy. All this while managing a nearly $3
million budget.
"Joe is a fine example of a student who has taken advantage of
all NDSU has had to offer and given back to NDSU as much as he
has had to offer," wrote Jo Ann Miller, NDSU distinguished
professor of music, in a letter of support for his selection as
student speaker.
Heilman is the son of Duane and Jeni Heilman of rural Rugby, N.D.
With his business major and accounting minor, he plans to pursue
a master's of business administration degree and hopes to join a
local company that has opportunity for growth.