NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY Aberdeen, SD | Winter 2024 BUSINESS AND HEALTH INNOVATION CENTER Page 10
NORTHERN TODAY 2 WINTER 2024 EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM Dr. Neal Schnoor, President Dr. Michael Wanous, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Ms. Veronica Paulson, Vice President for Finance and Administration Dr. Debbi Bumpous, Vice President for Technology/CIO Mr. Sean Blackburn, Dean of Student Affairs Mr. Nate Davis, Athletic Director, University Athletics Dr. Marcus Garstecki Chief Enrollment Management Officer Mr. Chad Hatzenbuhler, Director of Communications and Marketing Mr. Zach Flakus, President and CEO, NSU Foundation DESIGNED AND PRODUCED BY NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING FOR THE NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION WRITTEN BY Katherine Haas Jacque Niles PHOTOS Elizabeth Varin Lily Tobin DESIGN Amanda Mahlke Northern Today is published biannually by Northern State University, 1200 S. Jay St., Aberdeen, SD 57401, for Northern alumni and friends. Recipients receive the publication after completion of a degree or by requesting a subscription. Contact the Foundation to subscribe, give a gift or change your address. CONTACT US @AlumniNSU @NorthernStateUniversityFoundation EMAIL nsualumni@northern.edu 4 Future teachers to benefit from redesigned 1901 Scholarship and Gerber Hall remodel “Education is the most empowering force in the world, and to believe in education is to believe in the future." 4 Dr. Anna Schwan named dean NSU has named a new leader for the Millicent Atkins School of Education. 5 Visual Impairment Scholarship encourages new teachers into education field A new scholarship to help with a specialized teacher shortage before it becomes an issue. 6 Honors earn a win in Chicago “Nationals is an amazing opportunity for students to present their undergraduate research on a big stage.” 7 Gift of land allows Clayton Olson to leave Northern legacy "By giving this now, I get to see how it benefits both the students and the University community." 8 Recent alum turning passion project into business It all started with her Honors Program thesis. 9 Northern Night celebrates 25th anniversary A small wine tasting event has flourished into a quarter-century tradition and Northern’s largest fundraising gala. 10 New building will lead to new programs, additional community access The facility will house the School of Business, Northern’s nursing program, and the Innovation and Startup Center. 12 A.I. subject of film produced by Northern team “We’re always open to community member involvement.” 13 New Director ready for more innovation Programing for the community and region. 14 NSU Athletics Student-athlete features. 16 Goal for 2024 GiveNDay is 2000 donors This giving event will be a 36 hour challenge. 17 Gypsy Day Recap Northern’s annual homecoming celebration was held Oct. 2-7, with the theme, as voted on by students, of “Wolves go to Vegas.” 18 Alumni News See class notes, celebrations and memorials. 19 NSU Foundation WolfPups Show off your little ones in their favorite NSU gear. Contents ON THE COVER: Northern Business and Health Innovation Center Rendering, Nov. 2023 p. Northern Night9 p. Athletics Features 14 p. Business and Health Innovation Center 10
NORTHERN TODAY 3 WINTER 2024 Dr. Neal Schnoor President Letter from the President NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY | Letter from the President NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY is thriving, evolving, and creating opportunities that align with our core values and serving our region and state. A large part of our institution's success can be attributed to the enduring support of our alumni community. Northern continues a remarkable journey, and we share some exciting news about our continued growth and accomplishments with great pride. Our fall enrollment increased by 5.3%, with 3,521 students choosing Northern State University as their educational destination. Northern attracted 319 firsttime freshmen, a 6.7% increase. Construction will soon begin on our eagerly-awaited Business and Health Innovation Center. The leadingedge facility will be home to the School of Business, Innovation and Startup Center, and new Nursing Program. All will play a critical role in advancing regional health and economic development while addressing vital workforce needs for generations to come. Northern is also proud to continue a century-long tradition of preparing outstanding teachers and counselors. With a $5 million renovation of Gerber Hall and new scholarships, we will nurture highly qualified educators, and administrators who are in high demand across the region, state, and nation. New initiatives like the 1901 Scholarship and Visual Impairment Scholarship will help recruit aspiring educational professionals. We hope you will join us in celebrating these achievements, being a part of our journey, and continuing to contribute to Northern's legacy. Thank you for your unwavering support. Go Wolves!
NORTHERN TODAY 4 WINTER 2024 News | NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY In October, Schwan was named Dean of the Millicent Atkins School of Education. She had been serving as the interim dean since fall 2022. Dr. Anna Schwan named dean HEN Northern State University opened in 1901 as a teacher education college, it was known as Northern Normal and Industrial School. The only admission requirements were a desire to teach and applicants had to be at least 14 years old. Northern has changed a lot over 120+ years and there are more changes on the horizon, including a new business building and nursing program. What hasn’t changed is its dedication to creating the educators of the university's future. An updated scholarship and building remodel will help the Millicent Atkins School of Education continue to distinguish itself as a leader in teacher education, said Anna Schwan, dean of the school of education. The updated 1901 scholarship intentionally reflects Northern’s inception date, in name and amount awarded, as a way to instill a deeper connection with Northern’s history. The scholarship will honor Northern’s teacher school roots, as well as alumna Millicent Atkins passion for teacher education by offering qualifying students $1901 a year, for up to four years. Atkins had an appreciation for Northern and the university’s roots as a teacher’s college. When she died, Atkins donated approximately $15 million to Northern’s school of education. It was the largest donation in Northern’s history. In response, Northern renamed the school of education and erected a statue of Atkins. Her donation will fund the 1901 Scholarship. “Millicent’s gift is special, and her legacy will impact generations of future teachers,” said Schwan. The new scholarship is applicable for a wider range of students than the previous design of the Atkins scholarship model, which was tiered. Starting fall 2024, all future educators, including current, new and transfer students, pursuing a bachelor's degree in elementary education or an associate degree in early childhood education with a high school GPA of 3.5 or above are eligible for the 1901 Scholarship. Those who do not meet the GPA requirements can still receive $1,000 from the scholarship. The donation reaffirms that Northern is the best teacher education program in the state and region, Schwan said. “Education is the most empowering force in the world, and to believe in education is to believe in the future. Millicent was clearly a planner and she believed in education and in Northern,” Schwan said. “We are proud that teaching is the profession for which all other professions depend. Without teachers we would not have a future.” Remodel Gerber Hall is one of the oldest buildings on campus. It’s where Northern began, as a teacher education college. The building has been slated for a $5 million update, starting in spring 2024, with the hopes to be finished by December 2024. Presently, the building contains classrooms that were designed W Future teachers to benefit from redesigned 1901 Scholarship and Gerber Hall remodel “For me, education is not only what I do, but also who I am,” said Dr. Anna Schwan. “Continuing to serve as dean of the Millicent Atkins School of Education allows me the opportunity to empower the faculty and staff to make the changes that they truly want to see…the intentional changes that they believe will impact our students’ lives.” Even before her appointment as dean, Schwan had been making monumental changes that benefit future teachers. In the last year, Schwan launched a 2-year degree in early childhood education to help meet the demand for qualified childcare providers in South Dakota and brought the Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway program to Northern as a flexible, low-cost option for educational assistants to earn their bachelor's degree in secondary education. In addition, she revamped a previous scholarship into the 1901 Scholarship. “What we have in the Millicent Atkins School of Education is special, and every day when I shut the lights off and walk out of our building, I know that the work that we are doing is important,” said Schwan. “I know that everyone in this building has chosen this career path out of passion and heart, and we genuinely love to teach and serve students. That’s what special, that’s what will inspire true change, and that is why I know this is where I want to be…where I’m meant to be.” for a traditional teacher-centered environment. The renovations will reconfigure much of the existing space to provide environments conducive to preparing 21st century leaders in education, said Schwan. “We want Gerber to be alive. We want it to be the place where students, faculty, and staff learn, collaborate, research, study, or even just be. I want our building to match the vibrancy of the teaching and learning happening within its walls,” said Schwan. Gerber Hall currently houses teacher education, sports sciences, psychology, and counselor education. Each department is focused on student-centric instruction that incorporates authentic, innovative strategies for training students to excel in the field of education.
NORTHERN TODAY 5 WINTER 2024 NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY | News Visual Impairment Scholarship encourages new teachers into field new scholarship will hopefully help with a specialized teacher shortage before it becomes an issue in the area. Nationwide there is a critical need for teachers of the visually impaired, which requires an endorsement in visual impairments. Most educators are eligible to add the visual impairment endorsement to their certification by completing the coursework. Locally, the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired is down a teacher. “Immediately, we are doing ok. In the future, we really need to have teachers who specialize in the area of visual impairments,” said Dr. Jessica Vogel, Superintendent of SDSBVI. Finding teachers has been difficult and SDSBVI went into this school year with multiple positions unfilled. “We had to do some rearranging in-house. But we have people who will want to retire in the next 5 to 10 years and there are just so few teachers of the visually impaired,” said Vogel. Currently, Northern is the only university in South Dakota that offers this specialization. Even across the USA, there are a limited number of universities offering a visual impairment specialization. “The program at Northern has the capacity to grow, and having a specific scholarship fund that can offer financial assistance is an important part of recruiting and retaining students,” said Dr. Cheryl Wold, associate professor of special education and graduate coordinator of the master’s in special education. “This is a highly specialized area which requires knowledge and understanding of the impact of visual impairments as well as expertise in using braille and other assistive technologies to help support persons with visual impairments.” Northern has offered the visual impairment courses at the undergraduate and graduate level for many years, Wold said. And in fall 2021, a Master of Education in special education with the visual impairment specialization was launched. The Visual Impairment Scholarship will support students who are in their second year of the program. Two scholarships have been awarded so far, one to Molly Moes and the other to Cody Brouwer. Wold and Vogel worked together to launch this new scholarship in conjunction with GiveNDay 2023. Donations to the scholarship are welcome and anyone who is interested in contributing should contact the NSU Foundation, Wold said. “Our goal is to raise additional funds so that we can use the scholarship as a recruitment and retention tool for students in the program,” said Wold. “Ideally, we would like to provide some significant funding for each year of the two-year program.” The team up with SDSBVI is nothing new for Northern. The two schools have a long-standing, mutually beneficial partnership that was strengthened by the Educational Impact Campaign, which provided funding for the new SDSBVI building, as well as Dacotah Bank Stadium and Koehler Hall of Fame Field. “Since the creation of the special education master’s with the visual impairment emphasis, we’ve really tried to ramp up our relationship to make it more cohesive, to make sure that we were educating students and creating a successful transition into visual impairment services,” Vogel said. The partnership allows students to gain experience and confidence in working with people with visual impairments. Vogel said she’s heard from many future educators that they were nervous because they’d never met someone who was blind and had no idea what to do, but after spending time at SDSBVI, they loved it, because it was just like a typical school. “It scares people who don’t know anyone who is blind or visually impaired, but working with the students is actually easy, because they are people, just like the rest of us,” Vogel said. “You don’t have to have prior experience to work with kids who have visual impairments or to help in the community. Our kids can tell you what they need.” A NSU's partnership with the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired allows area students to gain knowledge while using braille and other assistive technologies. You don’t have to have prior experience to work with kids who have visual impairments or to help in the community. “ ”
NORTHERN TODAY 6 WINTER 2024 News | NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY INE Northern Honors students spent four days in the windy city for the National Collegiate Honors Council annual conference. While there, students had a chance to explore Chicago and network with fellow Honors students. Northern students have been on a streak of placing highly at the conference. Last year, Alex Arndt placed first, and in 2021 Allison Anderson and Tawnie Williams placed second in their respective categories. Jaeden Shaving continued the streak! Shaving earned first place in the Diversity poster category. His research poster was titled “The Sacred Rites: The Meaning Behind Lakota Spiritual Ceremonies.” “Nationals is an amazing opportunity for students to present their undergraduate research on a big stage,” said Kristi Bockorny, director of the Honors Program and associate professor of management. Colleges across the United States, as well as institutions from six other countries, participate in Nationals. Admission for the conference is very competitive, with only 60% of all submission being accepted. For eight of the last ten years, Northern has had a 100% acceptance rate. This year continued the trend. All 11 Northern student submissions were accepted. Honors students who have completed Honors 390 can apply. Once they are accepted, the students will need to decide if they have enough time in their schedules to prepare and attend. Nine of the 11 students chose to attend with the remaining two not being able to due to time demands. All nine students presented their research in the poster category. At the conference, the students stood next to their research posters and interacted with the people walking through the expo. “The poster sessions were by far my favorite part. I got to watch our students shine as they shared their research,” said Bockorny. “Students saw their hard work and dedication pay off. They shared what they’ve learned and accomplished and why they are passionate about this topic with similarly minded peers." The Honors thesis process and presenting can start off as daunting work, said Bockorny. “The nerves and anxiousness turn into excitement and fun because they are interacting with students from other schools who are just as passionate about similar disciplines, but they are taking a different spin on the topic or the research. Just to expose the students to that is such an experience and I’m so grateful Northern supports that,” Bockorny. The students receive support from across campus. Each student has the help Jaeden Shaving, middle, presents his Honors research poster to Dr. David Grettler, far right, at Northern State University. Honors students presented their research to the university community before heading to Chicago. of a thesis advisor, the Honors Program, librarians, as well as other touch points throughout campus, Bockorny said. “There are so many departments that come in contact with these students. We’ve used everything from recording studios and science labs to databases, interlibrary loans and 3D modeling,” Bockorny said. Since the conference moves around the country, it’s an opportunity for students to go somewhere different, somewhere they might not have been before, Bockorny said. The conference provides an in-depth look at the current host city through a program called City as Text. This year, students had a chance to tour Chicago. The students broke into small groups to explore different parts of the city and then regrouped to share their experiences. “It’s been fun seeing what students notice and appreciate,” Bockorny said. “There’s also some form of appreciation of home that comes out. Definitely on the agenda was a solid deep-dish pizza.” N Students who attended the National Collegiate Honors Council annual conference and their research titles John Jacklin Comparison of Newspaper Sports Sections Between Western and Eastern European Countries BriAnna Linn Are the Returns on Post-Secondary Education Becoming Obsolete in the Workforce: Evidence from the Midwest Peyton Melius Education vs. Implementation – Inclusion of Students with Special Education Needs in Physical Education Jeremy Pasara To Trick an Auditor Randi Schuster The Mismanagement of Autism in the General Education Classroom Jaeden Shaving The Sacred Rites: The Meaning Behind Lakota Spiritual Ceremonies Trent Shuey The Julio-Claudian Emperors: An Analysis of Who They Patronized Darius Swanson Promises Made, Promises Forgotten: Dangers that Demagoguery Presented with the Advancements of Modern Politics and the Media Sierra Sweeney The Relationship Between Lower Extremity Stress and Injury Risk in Triple Jump Athletes
NORTHERN TODAY 7 WINTER 2024 NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY | News LAYTON OLSON had a resource and a vision. What he didn’t have was a plan. Not, that is, until a collaborative effort between Olson and the Northern State University Foundation put one together. That plan allowed Olson to give the gift of education that will impact generations to come. Originally a farm kid from Beadle County, Olson, who graduated from Northern State in 1963, returned to the farm in the early 1980s. By the mid-1990s, Olson was presented with a unique opportunity – a teaching job in China. He stayed for the better part of the next two decades, teaching English to post-secondary Chinese students. It was, admittedly, a unique and somewhat unexpected career choice for Olson, who played football at Northern, then taught math for a while and spent some time in the banking arena before returning to the farm. “English was not my best subject,” Olson admitted. “When I told people I was going to go to China and teach English, they said, ‘You’re going to teach English?’” Olson was undeterred. As a young boy, he had watched a movie about Genghis Kahn and decided then and there he was going to go to China someday, so when the opportunity arrived, he took it. “I loved all the time I was there,” Olson said. Olson spent 17 years there, spending the majority of his time along the East Coast in Shandong Province. And it truly changed his perspective. So much so that when he retired back to the Sioux Falls area, he found himself wanting that sort of experience for other people as well. “Too many people in America have no idea about the rest of the world,” he said. “Probably a lot of people have never been out of South Dakota. Maybe they’ve been to Minneapolis for a Vikings game or a Twins game, but that’s the extent of their world travel.” Enter the plan. Olson, who bought the family farm from his parents in 1983, donated a portion of that land to Northern with stipulations that the money be used for post-secondary education scholarships, study abroad programs and Northern’s Common Read program. “(Northern is) still probably the best school in the Midwest for education, and education is very important,” Olson said. “There are people in South Dakota – and some other places – that could use some scholarships from this. Maybe I’ll get some joy out of seeing people that wouldn’t be able to go to school otherwise or making it easier for them to go to school.” The study abroad program will allow Northern State students to attend classes in other countries. While Olson appreciated his time in China, he said it’s not overtly necessary that students study there. But the perspective that comes with studying abroad is important, he said. “I think people need to see the world,” he said. “The time I spent in China, I probably learned more than I did in my formal education. … I think it’s important to give somebody the opportunity that wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity. … If even one person gets to go and it changes their perspective, how they see the world and their values, it’s money well spent.” For some, however, studying abroad just isn’t possible. That’s where the Common Read program comes in. Olson’s gift will allow Northern to bring higher-level speakers to campus. “If they can’t go,” Olson noted, “maybe somebody can come here.” While this is not the first time that Olson has donated funds to Northern, it stands as the culmination of decades of commitment to the institution. “This really started in the 80’s when my wife, Marlene, died of cancer,” Olson said. Olson started a scholarship in Marlene’s memory with the memorials he received. “It was not a large amount of money, but it was a start,” he said. “Over the years, the endowment has been added to by some of the students who actually received the scholarship and by me. Now, I can make a bigger difference. Most of the time, we start small and grow something over time.” Olson expressed gratitude for all the assistance he has received throughout the process and recommended reaching out to the Foundation with questions or ideas. Timing, of course, is everything when it comes to gifts of things like land and commodities, and Olson admitted he could wait until his death and simply pass along his estate. But that really didn’t fit either his values or his personality. “I could wait until I died,” he said. “But I don’t need (the land) now. I have other resources. … I really didn’t know what else to do with it. You don’t own land; you’re a steward of it. You have possession for a number of years, but I don’t need it now and I don’t think I should be a steward of it. And education was important to my parents and to my whole family.” Plus, by donating the land now, Olson gets to have a say in how it’s used. There are tax considerations, as well, but Olson said his main benefit will come from being able to see the tangible implications of his donation. “By giving this now, I get to see how it benefits both the students and the University community,” he said. Clayton Olson on Northern's campus green. Gift of land allows Clayton Olson to leave Northern legacy C By giving this now, I get to see how it benefits both the students and the University community. “ ” The NSU Foundation would like to thank Clayton for his donation in helping educate our next generation of leaders. If you are interested in supporting Northern State University, contact the NSU Foundation at 605-626-2550 or nsualumni@northern.edu.
NORTHERN TODAY 8 WINTER 2024 News | NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY It’s really cool to come out of school and right after graduation be able to do a passion project full time. “ ” INCE graduating from Northern State University in May 2023, Grace Kramer has been working full time to turn her business idea into reality. It all started with her Honors Program thesis, when Kramer researched the genetic component of urinary tract infections. There is a high prevalence of UTIs in women, she said, but because people don’t want to talk about it, there is nothing preventative on the market. “I never planned on running a company,” she said. “My original plan was going to medical school.” But then she came up with the idea for her product and realized it was viable— and something that can be manufactured in South Dakota. Her solution, called eqUTI, is an over-the-counter patch that sticks onto the urethra to stop bacteria from entering during intercourse. “It’s really cool to come out of school and right after graduation be able to do a passion project full time,” Kramer said. For now, Kramer is keeping quiet about her business and getting all the legal protections in place. Kramer secured financial backing to pay for the trademark, and it’s been sent to the trademark filing office. She’s still working on getting a patent. “That’s been exciting— the intellectual property protection,” Kramer said. “Although, right now, I can’t really have a social media presence or website.” Once Kramer gets the patent filed, she plans to start the information campaign and investigate manufacturers. “Eventually, I want to work with a manufacturer in South Dakota, like 3M, but I haven’t been making any deals yet,” Kramer said. “Ideally, I’d love the business to be in Aberdeen, but I know the materials I use are already manufactured in Brookings.” That’s still a year out, as she waits for the legal protection to be in place, she said. In the meantime, Kramer plans to conduct experiments and work at her part time job. “It’s mostly waiting for lawyers right now,” Kramer said, “so I can’t do a ton of hands-on work.” Kramer has received amazing support from the community, both on and off campus, she said. “I don’t think in a bigger city you would get this kind of support, especially as a young person who doesn’t have a business background,” she said. “If I lived in a big tech city like Silicon Valley or Seattle, my idea probably would have been gone.” Dr. Sal Villegas, assistant professor of management, is on her board of directors, as is Mike Bockorny, CEO of Aberdeen Development Corp. “Aberdeen Development Corp. has been super helpful,” Kramer said. The Aberdeen Development Corp team has taken on a supportive role, helping Kramer set up meetings and advising her on the best plan of action. Bockorny has been walking Kramer through the process of getting the business setup, she said. Currently, Kramer isn’t looking for additional funding. She has good backing right now and received investor funding from Hub City Capital LLC. But, once she starts trials and applies for FDA approval, she’ll be open to new funding. No matter what, Kramer intends to keep the business in South Dakota. She wants to expand the number of science careers available in the state beyond agriculture, like jobs in biotech and microbiology, in order to keep more science students in South Dakota. While she waits on the patent, Kramer is considering competing in the business section of the South Dakota Governor’s Giant Vision Competition. Kramer won second place in the 2023 student competition. Kramer said the stakes would be a little higher this year, and it’s a chance to get feedback on her business. Future ideas are already percolating, but Kramer isn’t ready to talk about them just yet. The new ideas are in the same sphere as eqUTI: FemTech. Kramer is passionate about women’s health issues. “I really want to make women feel heard,” she said. For other young women in the sciences, Kramer’s advice is to be brave. “Don’t be shy to talk about your big idea. Your professors at Northern really want to help you and they’ll make sure you have everything you need to get your idea going. I had help from all the departments on campus. Reach out for help,” Kramer said. And if students need additional incentive to get started, Kramer recommends Northern’s annual Idea Pitch competition. “That’s where I got started,” Kramer said. Recent alum turning passion project into business S
NORTHERN TODAY 9 WINTER 2024 NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY | News Northern Night celebrates 25th anniversary small wine tasting event has flourished into a quartercentury tradition and Northern’s largest fundraising gala. In November, Northern Night celebrated its 25th anniversary with the theme “Invest in the Legacy.” The annual gala was host to 570 donors, alumni and friends. There’s still wine, of course. “It really has become one of the largest events in our community and a very special evening for Northern to celebrate all that has been accomplished throughout the year with the help of our supporters,” said Lauren Bittner, Northern Foundation marketing and development coordinator. The event gives the community a chance to break out their special occasions dresses and suits as they enjoy a night of extravagance. The evening begins with a champagne hour with hors d'oeuvres, followed by a dinner, program, silent and live auctions, and entertainment to finish out the evening. “Northern Night is a legacy event in itself but it’s the donors, alumni and friends that have created that legacy with their investments over the years. We’re really proud of that and we hope to continue building on it for many years to come,” said Bittner. Over the years, the event has raised more than $2.5 million. There were a number of items up for auction this year, including Northern game day experience packages, a wine sommelier private party, getaway packages to various locations, a dinner with NSU’s president, and numerous custom Northern pieces, which are always very popular. “Whether it’s funding scholarships, travel opportunities for students, faculty and staff, University marketing efforts, alumni engagements, or other vital activities, Northern Night plays a crucial role in advancing Northern State University,” Bittner said. “Northern Night is an annual event that supports Northern State University by bringing together donors, supporters, and the community to raise funds and celebrate the successes of the University.” A Give to NSU There are numerous ways you can offer philanthropic support for Northern State University. Below are just some of the ways you can partner with Northern to make an impact: To learn more about giving opportunities, contact the NSU Foundation at nsualumni@northern.edu, or visit northernstatefoundation.com. The Northern Fund A powerful source of unrestricted funding is critical to the continued success of NSU. These gifts have an immediate impact on today’s students, faculty and the university overall. NSU Wolves Club This program is the largest annual fundraising program for intercollegiate athletics. Founded in 1978, these boosters raise annual revenue for Northern athletics. Heritage Society The Heritage Society honors a special group of individuals who have named the NSU Foundation as beneficiary through planned gifts such as trusts, insurance and bequests. Friends of the Arts/NSU Friends of the Arts/NSU is the supporting body for the School of Fine Arts and Northern. Its support and membership ensures the highest quality of education in visual and performing arts. Annual Scholarships Annual Scholarships provide critical financial support to students who meet criteria established by the donor and university. Legacy of Leadership Legacy of Leadership provides naming opportunities for programs, buildings or endowments to memorialize a loved one, salute a member or honor one’s entire family.
NORTHERN TODAY 10 WINTER 2024 News | NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY New building will lead to new programs, additional community access ISITORS to Northern State University will soon have an additional entry point on campus that will bookend the recently completed Jewett Regional Science Education Center. Demolition and construction for the new, leading-edge Business and Health Innovation Center will start this spring, with anticipated completion in the fall of 2025. The project includes the demolition of Lincoln and Briscoe Halls. Funding for the project was approved by the US Treasury in September, said Veronica Paulson, vice president of finance and administration. “The goal is to enhance the corner of 12th Avenue and Washington to make it an inviting point of arrival to campus,” Paulson said. “The architects are studying the traffic flow on Washington Street to determine if any changes are needed to improve safety and provide good access to the building.” Every aspect of the design will enhance recruitment, instruction, collaboration, accessibility and student engagement, as well as enable community members to directly engage in work, education and health monitoring. “The Business and Health Innovation Center positions Northern to meet critical workforce needs in business, banking, finance, accounting and nursing,” said Dr. Neal Schnoor, president of Northern. “It is a generational opportunity to advance regional health and economic development.” The soon-to-be-built facility will house the School of Business, Northern’s nursing program, and the Innovation and Startup Center. The Innovation and Startup Center opened January 2023 and is being temporarily housed in the Beulah Williams Library. The new facility will include state-of-the-art nursing labs and simulation equipment. The development of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at Northern State University is well underway. Northern has received approval from the South Dakota Board of Regents to start the bachelor’s degree program, as well as approval from the South Dakota Board of Nursing. The goal is to have the Bachelor of Science in Nursing available to students by fall 2025, in order to address the critical workforce needs in the community, region and state. “The Fall 2025 Bachelor of Science in Nursing program launch is contingent on final approval of our Associate Dean by the South Dakota Board of Nursing, obtaining new applicant status from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and final approval V
NORTHERN TODAY 11 WINTER 2024 NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY | News by the Higher Learning Commission, NSU’s institutional accreditor,” said Dr. Mike Wanous, provost and vice president for academic affairs. Currently, Northern is looking to hire an Associate Dean of Nursing to launch and direct the program. The program will soft launch in fall 2024 by increasing the number of prenursing students enrolled. The proposed program will tie neatly into the pre-nursing program Northern has offered for several decades. “We have a long-standing pre-nursing program that has facilitated the transition of students into traditional and accelerated programs, and with the continuation of this program, we are well-positioned to facilitate the ‘soft launch’ in fall 2024,” Wanous said. The current pre-nursing program is considered a “two plus two,” meaning students complete all the pre-nursing requirements in their first two years before being accepted into a nursing program for the last two years. “Our hope is that with our program, we can start transitioning students into nursing classes as sophomores instead of waiting until junior year, so they get more practical experience,” said Dr. Alyssa Kiesow, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Kiesow also noted that telehealth and gerontology will be embedded into the program and telehealth spaces will be designed into the new Business and Health Innovation Center. Proposed Layout First floor • School of Business faculty and dean’s offices • Two classrooms • Student study areas • Northern Innovation and Startup Center offices • Huddle rooms • Commons area/event space • Telehealth spaces for community members Second floor • School of Business classrooms • Nursing offices • Nursing program classrooms • Nursing simulation and skills labs • Conference room
NORTHERN TODAY 12 WINTER 2024 News | NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY IVEN the choice between chase/ escape film or the theme “technology gone wrong,” Northern’s team for the Four-Points Film Challenge chose technology gone wrong and produced “Hallowed Be Thy N(AI)me” within the 77 hour time limit. “We think we have a submission that is really strong, especially with some of the new techniques and technologies that we worked into it,” said D. Jason Knowles, assistant professor of art/digital media. “It’s so wonderfully written. Kudos to Jensen Eckert and Kane Anderson.” Anderson is an assistant professor of theatre and Eckert is a freshman at Northern majoring in Digital Media. This year, Knowles’ podcast class was part of the crew. The film challenge also requires each team to include three predetermined elements in their submission: a prop (yoga mat), a line of dialogue (“Welcome to a world of endless possibilities”) and a character with a specific occupation (Carl, a fruit stand owner). From that, the team produced a film about a pastor who struggles to produce good sermons and as a result is losing people out of congregation. He turns to religious based ChatGPT and things go really well, until they don’t, Knowles said. The challenge started Nov 3 at 7 p.m. with submissions due by Nov. 6 at 11:59 p.m. No work could be done ahead of time. The team spent three days and three hours working to get their film ready for submission. “We got this festival cut right at the seven-minute mark, with three frames to spare,” Knowles said. Unlike with shorter film challenges, the team had time to sleep, Knowles said. But, there were some hurdles at the start. “We had a story, but we had a little bit of a struggle initially with the screenwriting,” Knowles. “Once Kane Anderson and Jensen Eckart took it over and committed to doing it, they produced pure gold. The script is funny, with a lot of dark humor references to current events. It’s just very well done.” This is the second year a Northern team has participated in the international competition and the team had access to updated professional filmmaking equipment, as well as the new Moving Imagery Lab. A CETL Pedagogy grant won last spring by Knowles and English faculty colleague, Kristen Brown, for a cross-disciplinary podcasting experiment allowed for the purchase of highend shotgun microphones and audio recorders. Knowles brought his personal 6k cinema camera he purchased over the past summer. One of the technological advancements used included motion captured for the special effects. “Ironically, we used AI software to do some animation,” Knowles said. “We’re excited. We think we’re very strong in the visual effects, but the story of course is more important, and we have a great story, excellent acting, and good lighting and cinematography.” For a short period of time, the FourPoints competition allows the public to screen submissions and vote for their favorite short film. Once the public voting period has concluded, the film can’t be shown publicly or submitted to other festivals until the competition decisions are announced in early December. Until the competition decisions are announced in early December, the film can’t be shown to the public or submitted to other festivals. “Kane gave us so much great acting material that the director’s cut is easily going to be 14 minutes,” Knowles said. “This version will fill in a few gaps and help the flow of the storyline.” Knowles already has plans to compete in next year’s Four-Points challenge and encourages anyone interested to stop in, see the facilities and take part. “We’re always open to community member involvement,” Knowles said. A.I. subject of film produced by Northern team Kane Anderson: story, screenplay, “Pastor Pete” Jensen Eckart: story, screenplay, gaffer/key grip D. Jason Knowles: director, executive producer, story, visual effects supervisor, “Carl Pearce” John A. Schwab: story, director of photography, assistant director, post-production supervisor “SermonGPT Robot Voice” Matt Klundt: director of photography, assistant director Tessa Weist: “SermonGPT Robot Stand-in/motion capture,” “Congregation” Kayleen Hermans: “Congregation”, mixer/recordist Abigail Himmerich: “Congregation,” first assistant camera Jalyssa Johnson: “Congregation,” production assistant Delaynie Parker: “Congregation,” production assistant Ksenia Unser: “Congregation,” production assistant Lily McCraw: boom operator Maria Martens: boom operator Hilary Sonnabend: production assistant Lillian Russell: production assistant Scan to watch “Hallowed Be Thy N(AI) me” here. G Challenge Team name: Verdical Productions
NORTHERN TODAY 13 WINTER 2024 NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY | News EA SMITH is ready to infuse the community and region with innovative technology ideas and comprehensive support. Smith, the newly appointed Director of the Northern Innovation and Startup Center, has been busy taking the reins on an ambitious fall schedule of events. The Startup Center opened fall 2022 and already hosted several key events, including the first annual Technology & Entrepreneurship Summit. Smith stressed that entrepreneurship is for everyone, and the Innovation and Startup Center is here to encourage the region to take that first step in realizing their ideas. “Entrepreneurship is not just for businessminded people,” said Smith. “Sometimes the best entrepreneurial idea is something simple that makes your life easier.” The entrepreneurial mindset was reflected in the speaker lineup at the Technology & Entrepreneurship Summit, which showcased artists, entrepreneurs, and AI experts. The summit was a resounding success, with over 300 people attending to see the nearly 20 speakers, including several notable people speaking in-person at the event, such as Dr. Radhika Dirks. “Entrepreneurship has always been the life blood of our community, and it’s time we celebrate that,” Smith said. “Countless businesses have started here and then flourished beyond the region, growing into national and international companies.” As Director of the Startup Center, Smith is intentional about connecting long-standing entrepreneurs with the next generation of innovators to inspire people to do amazing things right here in northeast South Dakota. “People don’t have to move to Sioux Falls or to Silicon Valley to do cool tech things,” Smith said. “We have the resources and the mentorship opportunities right here.” Smith is excited for the Northern Innovation and Startup Center to set a positive, creative, tech-forward tone for the community. “Technology is in everything we do. When small businesses embrace technology, New Director ready for more innovation they can take their business to the next level,” Smith said. “We bring in experts to provide education via HyFlex which means people have the flexibility to attend in-person, online synchronously, or online asynchronously.” Smith is working to expand two more programs. One is the Community Champion’s Network, a collaboration of entrepreneurial cheerleaders and champions to celebrate the innovative and entrepreneurial efforts happening in our region. In addition, Smith is launching a mentorship program. By building mentorship relationships, we can combine relevant knowledge and support founders build and scale their startups. Smith said the Startup Center’s value to the community comes from its established connections. Instead of an individual trying to search for mentors and resources themselves, they can rely on the Startup Center to have already curated those connections in the community, the region and across the state. The Startup Center works with other community organizations to build our supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem, Smith said. “The goal of the Northern Innovation and Startup Center is to serve the Aberdeen community and region; making it a place where technology is embraced, innovation is celebrated, and a fail forward culture of entrepreneurship is shared broadly.” Smith said. What is the Northern Innovation and Startup Center All programs offered by the Startup Center are open to Northern students, community members and individuals from the region at large. In addition, most of the programs are free to attend and offered in HyFlex, which gives individuals the flexibility to attend virtually. The Northern Innovation and Startup Center has two flagship programs: Ideation and Incubation. The Ideation program helps participants generate creative ideas and solutions. The eightweek Incubation program nurtures the growth and development of ideas so aspiring entrepreneurs walk away with a feasible business model. Bea Smith, Director of the Northern Innovation and Startup Center AND EVENTS WORKSHOPS NORTHERN INNOVATION AND STARTUP CENTER SPRING 2024 JAN. 9 4 – 5 P.M. HOW TO LAUNCH YOUR BUSINESS Location: K.O. Lee Library JAN. 11 3:30 – 5 P.M. THE IDEA WORKSHOP Location: NVC JAN. 18 – MARCH 7 EVERY THURSDAY | 3:30 – 5 P.M. IDEA TO MARKET: 8-WEEK PROGRAM Over 8 weeks, participants will gain valuable insights to e ectively launch a startup business from scratch as they refine their ideas. Location: NVC JAN. 30 3:30 – 4:30 P.M. CHATGPT 101 FOR STARTUPS: WHAT IS IT? HOW DO I USE IT? Location: Beulah Williams Library, NSU FEB. 13 4 – 5 P.M. I OUTGREW MY GARAGE, NOW WHAT? Location: K.O. Lee Library FEB. 27 4 – 6 P.M. COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS NETWORK Location: Engels Event Company MARCH 19 3:30 – 5 P.M. STARTUP FUNDING: LOANS, STATE PROGRAMS AND MORE! Location: K.O. Lee Library MARCH 28 THE WOMEN’S BUSINESS CONFERENCE SD CEO West Women's Business Center Location: Dakota Event Center APRIL 9 1 – 2 P.M. BIOTECH ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY Location: Jewett Science Center, NSU Campus APRIL 23 1 – 2 P.M. THE HEART OF MARKETING FOR STARTUPS Location: K.O. Lee Library northernstartupcenter.com startup@northern.edu INNOVATION AND STARTUP CENTER B
NORTHERN TODAY 14 WINTER 2024 News | NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY Wolves Athletics Feature Alex Arndt - Wolves Softball Alex Arndt has had a college experience that is unique to NCAA Division II – Arndt is not only the catcher on Northern’s softball team, she’s also president pro tempore and senator for College of Arts & Science Student Government Association, softball representative for student athlete advisory committee, president of speech and debate, a member of Honors, a member of TRIO, and a tutor for student success center. “Student athletes are incredibly busy people. Sports require tons of hidden work,” Arndt said. “The fact that I have the support and backing of coaches and professors to balance my schedule, take on different projects, lead organizations, and volunteer is unique to someone in my position. I’m really lucky to be able to do that.” Her secret? Diligent planning and communication. Arndt has routines and keeps her calendars and planners upto-date. She coordinates with coaches, professors and other organization leaders to ensure that she hasn’t double booked herself. “They give me a lot of grace,” Arndt said. “You have to be a big picture person, especially when your work environment all day every day is in the small details. Everyone jokes that softball is the sport of failure. You go 3 for 10 and you’re a hall of famer. It’s kept me humble and resilient.” That drive is fueling Arndt’s future as a lawyer. Arndt has already been accepted into law at the University of South Dakota for fall 2024. Though she’s excited, Ardnt hasn’t picked her specialization yet. “I’m so passionate about every field of the law. I want to learn as much as I can,” Arndt said. Arndt is from Kansas City, Missouri. She chose Northern for the closeknit relationships she could form. “I knew, as a first-generation student, I wanted to go somewhere that was a college town. I wanted support; I wanted community. I knew that having smaller classes meant that my professors would know me really well and I’d have those functional relationships,” Arndt said. “It was really important that I felt seen and that everyone around me would be invested in my success. The community on and off campus was crucial to me.” And of course, for the chance to play softball. Arndt started playing softball when she was 11 years old as a way to bond with her father, who played slow pitch league for his work. She fell in love with the sport and has been playing ever since. After a near-record breaking sophomore year and a tough season last year when she broke her catching hand, Arndt wants to go out with a smile. “I recently volunteered with Central High School girls. They are always so happy to be out there playing the game. So, my goal this year is to go out there loving the game as I did when I first started. I want to walk into practice, gameday, lift – no matter how early- with a smile on my face, having fun, feeling fulfilled in the knowledge that this is a game that carried through adolescence, gave me so many opportunities, so many core memories with my mom and dad, and got me to college. “I want to always leave it knowing that I loved it. It was probably one of my favorite memories as a kid and made a huge impact.” I knew, as a first-generation student, I wanted to go somewhere that was a college town. I wanted support; I wanted community. I knew that having smaller classes meant that my professors would know me really well and I’d have those functional relationships. “ ” ALEX ARNDT, Senior Hometown: Blue Spring, MO Major: Criminal Justice Softball had huge impact on Arndt’s life
NORTHERN TODAY 15 WINTER 2024 “I want to end this on the right note. I’ve been playing college basketball for six years,” said Gus Reede. “I want to go out the way I came in - playing really hard, trying to be a good teammate, and doing what it takes to help the team win.” Reede’s basketball career will end when he graduates with his Master of Accounting Analytics at the end of this year. He’s played an extra two years of basketball, due to additional years of eligibility granted during COVID. Reede has come a long way from the child who dreamed of being on the court while watching games at Northern. He’s been playing basketball seriously since he was in eighth grade and was on the court at Northern even before his college career began and attended several of Don Meyer’s basketball camps. Reede cemented his future when he was tossing a ball around on the court. “I was messing around and imagined hitting a huge shot at Wach’s arena. I thought, this is where I need to be,” Reede said. Although he considered other colleges, Reede was firm in his decision to choose Northern. “I felt like Aberdeen, Northern and the community as a whole is my home. I love being here. It’s my place.” Both on and off the court, Reede has been able to make an impact. He tries to give back to the people that gave to him and had the opportunity to become the basketball hero that he looked up to. “When I attended Don Meyer’s basketball camps, Kyle Schwan would be like my mentor. Now, playing here, Kyle’s son Kasen came to a basketball camp and I got to be the mentor playing at Northern." Although he’s running out of time on the court, Gus has an abundance of time on his hands this year, unlike his undergraduate teammates. As a graduate student, Gus is spending far less time in class, even if the workload has increased, so he had more flexibility, which allows him to work a part time job. “It’s challenging, but if you have it set up right, you have a lot of time. It’s very unique being in college at 24,” Reede said. His parting from the sport isn’t bittersweet and Reede has no regrets. “My time’s up. I’ve put so much blood, sweat and tears into this. I’m at peace, and very fulfilled with how my career has been,” Reede said. After graduation, Reede plans to work at the family business, Reede Construction. Juggling athletics and education for six years has forced Reede to hone his organization and prioritization skills. He hopes to bring those skills and the knowledge gained to the business. That doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t be playing anymore basketball. He might join the city league. “We’ve got a lot of talented players here in Aberdeen. It’s pretty competitive from what I’ve heard,” he said. NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY | News Wolves Athletics Feature Gus Reede - Wolves Basketball GUS REEDE, Graduate Student Hometown: Aberdeen, SD Major: Accounting After 6 years, Reed is leaving it all on the court
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