American Crystal Sugar Company granted $5,000 to Dakota Memorial School (DMS), the on-campus school of Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, to underwrite the purchase of tools and equipment to teach four science units (Weather, Aquaponics and Aquaculture, Ecology—Water Quality, and Genetics).
The grant will allow DMS Science Teacher, Shea Durham, to purchase the remaining equipment needed to add these STEM units to the curriculum.
DMS provides the most complicated, troubled, and amazing kids a best-in-class education where teachers look them in the eye, walk with them, and help them become their best selves. Most of our kids have experienced significant trauma in their young lives—which impacts their ability to learn.
Because the children at DMS have often been out of the classroom due to their behaviors, they have little introduction to the subject areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Through small class sizes, balanced learning environments, and a variety of best-practice teaching techniques, DMS teachers keep kids in the classroom—where they can introduce students to these very important subjects. DMS students often learn they are quite competent, and even excel, in STEM subjects—which gives them the self-confidence they need to move forward with anticipation and success.
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch is a Christian residential treatment and educational center for children and their families. We help the most troubled, complicated and amazing kids by providing best-in-class psychiatric therapy and trauma-informed care, where we look kids in the eye, walk with them, and help them become their best selves. In addition to Residential Treatment Facilities in Fargo, Bismarck, and Minot, the Ranch provides Outpatient Psychiatric and Psychological Services, and Spiritual Life Programs. Our on-campus school, Dakota Memorial School (DMS), provides a personalized education for kids who have psychiatric, behavioral and trauma issues.
American Crystal Sugar Company is an agricultural cooperative owned by 2,650 shareholders in the Red River Valley involved in the growing and processing of sugarbeets. American Crystal is the largest beet sugar producer in the United States. American Crystal operates sugar factories at East Grand Forks, Crookston and Moorhead, Minnesota, Drayton and Hillsboro, North Dakota, and Sidney, Montana. Its corporate headquarters and technical services center are located in Moorhead.