“Becoming a Blue Hawk was the best decision I have made in my entire life.”

If you ask Dickinson State University (DSU) student Hunter Flynn why he feels this way, he’ll tell it to you straight. “DSU gives you opportunities that can only be found here in Dickinson. The professors and staff want you to succeed, and they do everything they can to make your college experience worthwhile. The people I have met here at DSU have changed my life. I have been given so many opportunities to succeed and grow as a person during my time at DSU.”

Flynn hails from Whitehall, Montana, and ran (track and field/cross-country) for his local high school until his graduation in 2017. “Since the day I started running, it was my biggest dream to compete in college,” Flynn said. “I was unsure of what I wanted to study in college, but I absolutely knew for sure I wanted to continue my running career at the collegiate level.” Dreams do come true. Flynn connected with Ben Shroyer, a former coach at DSU, when Flynn was just a sophomore at Whitehall High.

“He took interest in my running career and consistently reached out to me, checking in to wish me luck for the state meet every season, or to see how I was doing. He made me feel valued as an athlete… [and] truly wanted me to succeed no matter where I went to school.” Flynn considered his options, chatting with representatives of Montana State University and Graceland University as well as DSU. His two goals were to run and to find a quality, affordable education, and Flynn knew Dickinson State was the right choice.

Flynn is now an exercise science major who competes for the Blue Hawk cross-country and track and field teams. He holds a position at the DSU Heritage Foundation, assisting with fundraisers for student scholarships, maintaining constituent records, and archiving University artifacts. He is a Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program (TRHLP) scholar, and he spends time volunteering, most recently painting walls, ceilings and shelving units for the local House of Manna charity.

Flynn has also served as a volunteer firefighter in his hometown since the summer of 2018. “My dad has been a volunteer firefighter for nearly 20 years, so it has been an honor to follow in his footsteps,” he said. “Just last month, I became a member of the Dickinson Volunteer Fire Department and I will be volunteering my time to serve the Dickinson community.” In his downtime, Flynn hangs out with his friends and teammates, and whether that time is spent playing ultimate frisbee or Guitar Hero, it’s time well-earned.

Flynn plans to graduate this spring and feels ready for life afterward. He attributes his confidence in part to the affect his instructors and coaches have had on him while at DSU. Shayne Wittkopp, head coach for the cross country and track & field teams and instructor of health and physical education, and Pete Leno, assistant professor of health and physical education, have challenged Flynn to think outside the box, teaching him lessons he can apply to whatever life may have in store for him next. “They made waking up early for class worth it every morning. Wittkopp and Leno have helped me become a better athlete because of the things they are teaching me in class,” he said.

Flynn’s gratitude doesn’t stop there. “I would just like to take this opportunity to thank my family and friends for always supporting me. My family has always believed in me and they truly are my biggest fans. I also wanted to give a shout-out to my girlfriend, Jacey Wilson, who has pushed me to be a better student, athlete, and human being.” Can you believe this guy? Hearts are melting.

To Flynn, the connections he’s made as a Blue Hawk mean everything, and he hopes to continue connecting with others beyond graduation. “I have met countless former students, teachers, and coaches that have dedicated their lives to this amazing University, and the passion they have for Blue Hawks is contagious. I plan to follow in their footsteps and become a supporter of DSU once I graduate and start a scholarship to help student-athletes have access to the opportunities that I was given.” That’s true #bluehawkspirit.

So, what does life have in store for Flynn next? He’s hoping a full-time firefighting position, but as for where, he’s not so sure. “My ultimate goal is to find my way back to Southwestern Montana to be close to my family, but each year I grow closer to the community of Dickinson, so I could see myself staying in Dickinson for a while,” he said. “It has been a life-long dream of mine to become a professional firefighter, so I will go anywhere to accomplish that goal. I plan to always stay close to my Blue Hawk family and you can bet that I will always support the DSU community.”