Scholarly Research MICHAEL GREBNER, a biochemistry major, spent the year assisting Dr. Amy Dolan’s research studying on Western painted turtles in the Prairie Coteau ecosystem. In the summer, he assisted with fieldwork and later contributed to ongoing genetic research of the population by extracting and amplifying DNA using PCR. He gave an oral presentation at the annual meeting of the South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society on Feb. 28, 2025, titled A Comparison of Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) Early and Late Season Captures at Two Sites in Marshall County, South Dakota. NSU English Club—2024-25 “SWEETS AND STORIES” is an annual event hosted by the Northern State University English Club. Professors are invited to read a composition of their choosing, while the club sells treats and baked goods as a fundraiser. It is the club’s signature event and is emceed by the English Club leadership. The readings are often funny, odd, spooky—or all of the above. The event took place on Oct. 28, 2024. STUDENT EXCELLENCE / CLUBS Northern Pheasants Forever Student Chapter IN THE SPRING OF 2024, a group of students established the fourth collegiate chapter of Pheasants Forever in the nation. Pheasants Forever is a nonprofit dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail, and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public access, education and conservation advocacy. This group is a natural fit to Northern as Aberdeen has great pheasant populations and pheasant hunting. They have already adopted a section of Highway 281, held birdhouse building events, went on a couple pheasant hunts and are establishing a pollinator garden in Aberdeen. They have worked extensively with the local Pheasants Forever, Chapter #77. In addition, the club and the local Pheasants Forever chapter has sponsored the science display in the Jewitt Regional Science Center. The board members are Kaden St. Pierre, president; Kaisha VanEngen, vice president and publicist; Kolby Lacher, treasurer; Bryce Knapek, secretary; Logan Galuska, Habitat coordinator; and Talan Lunders, freshman liaison. Scholarly Research COMMUNICATION STUDIES majors NKEM CHIBUKO and NATALIA SZYBINSKA and alumnus BRIDGET SHISHNIA presented original research they wrote for CMST 416: Rhetorical Criticism at the annual meeting of the Western States Communication Association. The convention took place in Albuquerque, NM, on February 14-15, 2025. Chibuko’s paper, “Reclaiming Agency: Rhetoric, Resistance, and the Path to Liberation in The Joys of Motherhood,” explores a juxtaposition of feminist perspectives and colonial history in Nigerian fiction. Szybinska’s work, “Dune Through the Perspective of Feminist Criticism,” explores the relationship between the two opposing factions in the Dune universe. Shishina, in “Symbols of Strength: A Critical Analysis of Kesha’s Feminist Narrative in Praying” explores the intricacies of a music video in light of struggles of the artist to protest her treatment in the music industry.
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