Natalie Lang

Minot native Natalie Lang focuses on integrating kindness into her everyday life which has earned her an Eagle Award while working at Margie’s Art Glass Studio in Minot.

Lang has been working at Margie’s for two and a half years and was nominated after repairing a sentimental ceramic box for a woman and her daughter. The box displayed the footprint of her then-newborn daughter which Lang repaired with super glue.

Lang said she was in a fire-spinning group with Margie Bolton’s daughter, Sarah Wright, when Wright mentioned her mother was looking to hire an extra hand at the shop. Lang has two children and was looking for a more stable work environment so she put in an application and was offered a management position. Since then, Lang has loved her job.

“I love helping people facilitate their art and making coffee’s really fun. It’s just a nice environment – I don’t dread coming into work,” Lang said.

She said she was having a rough day when she was told she had a letter addressed to her, which she was stunned to find it was an Eagle Award nomination.

“I’ve always been in customer service, pretty much since I was a teenager. So to finally get one it was kind of like, ‘Yes! I’ve been recognized.’ I’ve worked so hard so it felt really good. It was just a nice surprise for that day,” she said.

Outside of work and fire-spinning, Lang is involved with the Parent-Teacher Organization at her daughter’s school, John Hoeven Elementary, which she helped start. Through PTO, she helped build the only inclusive playground in Minot. She said John Hoeven Elementary is one of the only preschools in Minot for children with physical disabilities. When the school opened its doors the playground wasn’t adapted for children with disabilities, which Lang said is a vital part of social and emotional development in children.

“We made it our mission to make an inclusive playground. It’s not just adaptive, it’s completely, 100% inclusive so those kids get to play and interact with the other kids,” she said.

She said the project took multiple years to raise funds for, stating that the flooring alone cost approximately $120,000.

“A little bit of kindness goes a long way, and that’s what I try to do every day,” she said.

December Eagle Awards announced

The Minot Area Chamber EDC announces the recipients of the Eagle Awards for December.

The recipients are Angelique Bernadette Chapin, Broadway Liquor; George Fealy, Toad’s Wash and Run; Casey Fjeld, Duffy’s Hockey & Sports; Felix Gyabaa, Trusted Tire & Auto; Deanna Haider, JC Penney; Katie Hawkins, ARC Express, Inc.; Nick Jesz, Circle Sanitation; Natalie Lang, Margie’s Art Glass Studio; Brigitte McCauley, The Title Team; Lindsey Meyer, Gate City Bank; Vinny Neyrajauregui, JOANN Fabric & Crafts; Brianna Olson, YMCA; Scot Pederson, Gate City Bank; Mike Perdue, Don Bessette Hyundai; Allyce Scherasky, SRT; Tara Sexton, Office Max; Missi Spitzer, I. Keating Carpet One Floor & Home; Brian Szablewski, Cash Wise Foods/Coborns, Inc.; and Kadee Simensen, The Station.