Multi-talented Dragon Balances Books and Baking

When Grace Kollie first began exploring her college options, she had her sights set on the Twin Cities. She didn’t expect a single conversation to shape her educational journey and open up a path as an entrepreneur.

While attending Moorhead High School, Grace approached the Mayor of Moorhead, Shelly Carlson, for a recommendation letter to support her applications to larger universities. Mayor Carlson agreed, but with one specific condition: Grace had to tour Minnesota State Moorhead first.

Grace accepted the term. Once she toured the campus, her perspective instantly flipped. Meeting President Tim Downs and seeing the support system firsthand helped her realize how much she loved the environment. This sense of belonging was further reinforced by the practical resources the university offered to help her succeed.

“There were tons of scholarship opportunities; that really sealed the deal on coming here,” says Grace.Photo Courtesy of Cakelle Goodies

Now a first-year student pursuing nursing, Grace’s journey has expanded beyond the classroom. She recently launched Cakelle Goodies, an in-home cake decorating business serving the Fargo-Moorhead area. The inspiration to start the venture came after she created treats for a baby shower and realized she could turn a fun hobby into a profitable business.

Nursing Program

Kelly re-arranged the flowers into small bouquets and packed them in her car, hoping to deliver them to individuals in places like recovery or hospice centers.

While there are challenges that come with owning a business as a full-time student, Grace says, “Trying to fulfill orders, you can’t just say ‘I’m going to do it later or reschedule.’”

The academic rigor of the nursing program has become the perfect training ground for her entrepreneurial spirit. “When it comes to the academic rigor of this school, you must balance a lot of things at once. It helps my organization and figuring out my priorities, which will definitely be something I continue to utilize.”

Her work as a student has helped hone the specific time management skills needed to run a professional operation. “If you would have asked me seven months ago to run a business, I wouldn’t have thought I was able to," she says. "Balancing school on top of that, I feel like being here has really allowed me to take initiative a lot more.”

By staying local, Grace has found that her support system and her business can grow side-by-side.

Photo Courtesy of Cakelle Goodies

“Coming to Minnesota State Moorhead, it’s good to stay around your community where you know you will be supported—whether it’s financial aid and scholarships, in the classroom, or figuring out how to balance everything at once,” she adds. “Then once the time comes that you graduate, you’ll have this foundation here in Fargo-Moorhead.”

Finding a community and a solid support system in college is one of the best things a student can do for themselves, especially during their first year. Minnesota State Moorhead continues to foster those connections, ensuring students have the resources they need to succeed both in the classroom and in the community.