Northern State University | Aberdeen, South Dakota | SPRING 2014
contents DESIGNED AND PRODUCED BY NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY RELATIONS FOR THE NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION WRITTEN by Elissa Dickey Nathan Geffre Darla Scarlett EDITOR Greg Smith DESIGN Jennifer Vaughn FOUNDATION PRESIDENT AND CEO Todd Jordre ADDRESS FOR MAGAZINE INQUIRIES: University Relations Northern State University 1200 South Jay St. Aberdeen, S.D. 57401 About Northern State University Northern State University is a premier residential, liberal arts institution characterized by outstanding instruction, extraordinary community relations and unparalleled co-curricular opportunities. In August 2014, NSU was again named by U.S. News and World Report as one of the best undergraduate public schools in the Midwest. For more information about NSU, visit our website at northern.edu. SENIOR CABINET Dr. James M. Smith, President Dr. Thomas Hawley, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Ms. Debbi Bumpous, Chief Information Officer, NET Services Mr. Greg Smith, Director, University Relations Mr. Todd Jordre, Foundation President and CEO Mr. Joshua Moon, Athletic Director, University Athletics Ms. Veronica Paulson, Vice President for Finance and Administration Mr. Calvin Phillips Vice President of Student Affairs Contact us Twitter NorthernStateU Facebook northernstateu email nsualumni@northern.edu subscribe | give a gift change your address Wolves Sports Update Senior Alison Kusler page 13 Staging a Revolution Anthony Rohr as Jean Valjean in NSU’s production of Les Misérables page 6 A Tribute to Coach Don Meyer page 10 ON THE COVER from top to bottom, left to right: Shelby Bauer, Tommy Bader; Kate Jarland, Christopher Rinkenberger, Sasha Seekins, Kimberly Schilling, Joshua Frachiseur and Tina Hanagan; Joshua Hinkemeyer, Dominic Meyers; Delayna LaBelle, Kirk Bender, Sam Johnson, Lyndsey Messmer, Davonte Robertson, Jessica Massa; Kristina Walden, Ryan Puffer, Tyson Meyer, Eric Derington Johnson Fine Arts Center expansion begins Construction is set to begin on the Johnson Fine Arts Center project................................................................................page 4 faculty news..................................................................page 4 staging a revolution Couple creates costumes, set for NSU Theater’s production of ‘Les Misèrables’..............................................................................page 6 Q&A: Dr. Sara Schmidt Dr. Sara Schmidt, assistant professor of accounting, is in her sixth year of teaching at Northern.........................................page 8 wolves Sports update The Northern State winter sports season was a big success for the Wolves.............................................................................page 9 a tribute to coach don meyer Beloved Northern State University coach Don Meyer, one of the nation’s most successful basketball coaches of all time, died the morning of May 18.....................................................page 10 students to watch Ethan Brown, Katelyn Kippes, Lu Liu, Mike Newman and Mark Sperry.......................................................................page 14 Greenhouse to enhance research, teaching at NSU A greenhouse planned for the Northern State University campus will significantly benefit NSU................................. page 16 NSU renovation helps art department gain accreditation The Northern State University art department earned full accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD.................................................................. page 16 Tonemah delivers Northern state commencement address Dr. Darryl Tonemah remembers his graduation from Northern State University 25 years ago................................................. page 17 alumni news 2014 Gypsy Day Alumni Awards.......................................... page 18 Class Notes | Celebrations | In Memoriam.....................page 19 setting the stage for les misérables Behind the scenes crew
northern today 3 spring 2014 First, let me say that right now building construction and remodeling is the top subject here on campus. The Johnson Fine Arts Center will soon undergo massive remodeling. The 40-year-old structure will increase in size, add new functionality, become more studentcentered in its design, and offer an auditorium that is capable of showcasing the depth and breadth of talent we now have here at Northern. As the remodeling begins for the JFAC, we also are in the design and development phase for construction of a state-of-the-art greenhouse that will serve needs of science and science education students at all levels of study. This new greenhouse will allow Northern students to investigate biotechnology in ways never possible before on this campus. And, the sophisticated design of this building will add to the massively impressive technological inventory of buildings, classrooms, offices, studios and learning labs on this campus. Our art department, too, is in the midst of exciting enhancements. The department recently earned full accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, and a major renovation project is under way in Dacotah Hall that is key to maintaining that accreditation. Although buildings are fascinating to design and talk about, the essence of our work rests with the development of our students. The award- winning play, Les Misèrables, was performed to sold out audiences in April. Our students were masterful – their singing rivaled off-Broadway casts and other like touring companies, and their acting was also absolutely superb. Virtually all in attendance were just blown away by the overall quality of this collegiate performance. In our cover story, we have featured a pair of talented faculty members and alums who helped make this production of Les Mis a reality for our campus and community, and you’ll see we’ve done so for very good reason. Other stories found throughout the publication are important in their display of our forward movement as a campus. The work currently being undertaken by our students, faculty and staff never ceases to amaze me. I hope all of this amazes you as well! Of course, despite all the recent excitement and momentum, this semester ended on a sad note for our campus community – indeed, for the entire community and beyond – with the passing of our beloved Coach Don Meyer. Don was known as a phenomenal basketball coach, but his excellence was evident off the basketball court as well. He touched countless lives, leaving behind a legacy of leadership and compassion that will never be forgotten. In this issue, we’ve tried to honor this influential and inspirational man. We hope you find it to be a fitting tribute. I wish you a wonderful summer, and I urge you to keep an eye on the continuous improvements to our beautiful campus! letter from the president Welcome to yet another edition of Northern Today! The past few months have been extremely exciting here on campus, and I truly believe that we have captured that level of excitement in this latest issue. James M. Smith, President
Construction is set to begin on the Johnson Fine Arts Center project, rejuvenating this cultural hub for the university, community and region. Offices began moving out of JFAC after spring semester ended in anticipation of the project. The instrumental department and choral rehearsal hall moved to Jerde dining hall, said Dr. Alan LaFave, dean of the School of Fine Arts. The theater department moved its activities downtown to the Aberdeen Community Theatre, but will maintain offices on campus, LaFave said. The expansion project, which has an anticipated completion date of August 2015, is needed to accommodate explosive growth in NSU fine arts departments. Work will include: a renovated main theater; black box theater; expanded practice rooms; art gallery; faculty teaching studios; expanded lobby and foyer space; classroom expansion; bright and creative lighting; and a box office and covered patron drop-off zone. The Johnson Fine Arts Center, which opened its doors in 1972, hosts thousands of students, parents and visitors each year. Events include NSU theater productions and concerts; world-renowned performers; community recitals; Boys State; and All-State Band. The NSU Foundation continues to raise money for the project, and several naming opportunities for the main theater are still available and range from $100 to $500,000, said Todd Jordre, president and CEO of the NSU Foundation. northern news Johnson Fine Arts Center expansion begins To support the project, visit www.northern.edu, click on “alumni and giving” and then click “Give Now.” The cultural landscape at Northern State University is about to change. Brent Aldridge, head volleyball coach, was named South Dakota Sportswriters Association collegiate women’s coach of the year for 2013. Aldridge, who also was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference coach of the year in November, led the Wolves to an ap- pearance in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Central Regional Tournament for the second time in program history. Aldridge also led Northern to its first appearance in the American Volleyball Coaches Association top 25 poll. Dr. Alyssa Anderson has been named co-editor of the CHIRONOMUS Newsletter on Chironomidae Research. An editorial by Anderson, assistant professor of biology at NSU, was published this fall in the CHIRONOMUS, a peer-reviewed scientific journal. In her editorial, “The Importance of Illustration,” Anderson explains why drawings are critical components of research and should continue to be used along with digital images. Kristi Bockorny, management/ marketing faculty member, has co-written a chapter to be published in a book, “Employee Engagement in Theory and Practice.” Bockorny is co-author of the chapter, Engagement in the Context of Positive Psychology, with Dr. Carolyn Youssef-Morgan, chair of business at Bellevue University. The chapter has a unique perspective on positivity and how it can be used to enhance employee engagement. Drs. Gayle Bortnem, Joel Filmore and Andria Moon were accepted to present at the National Association for the Education of Young Children Conference in Washington, D.C.; the Hawaii International Conference on Education in Honolulu; and the American Counseling Association Conference and Expo, also in Honolulu. Dr. Willard Broucek, dean of the School of Business, was a featured speaker at the Siouxland Lean Consortium’s inaugural conference on Jan. 15. Broucek discussed the application of lean principles to the design and delivery of a business course. The conference took place at Western Iowa Technical Community College in Sioux City, Iowa. northern today 4 spring 2014 facu lt y news
Dr. Joel Filmore was recog- nized as a 2013 ACES Emerging Leaders Fellow. He is president-elect of the South Dakota Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Filmore was also accepted to present at the National Association for the Education of Young Children Conference in Washington, D.C.; the Hawaii International Conference on Education in Honolulu; and the American Counseling Association Conference and Expo, also in Honolulu. Drs. Joel Filmore, Dianna Knox and Antony White announced that NSU has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors as a testing site for the National Counseling Examination for Licensure and Certification. Dr. Erin Fouberg, professor of geography, was named to the board of directors of the South Dakota Historical Society Foundation. The South Dakota Historical Society Foundation is a private, charitable nonprofit established in 1982. Fouberg is the second generation in her family to serve on the founda- tion’s board of directors. Her father, Edward Hogan, was a board member in the 2000s. Joshua John Frachiseur, assistant professor of theater, presented a workshop at a theater festival in Lincoln, Neb., in January. Frachiseur presented his workshop on costing out designs (geared for technical directors and graduate students) to a packed, highly engaged room during the regional Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Drs. Jeff Howard and Antony White have estab- lished the Behavioral Sciences Research Center (BSRC), located in Administration Building Room 111. Housed in the BSRC are the Institute for Counselor Education and Supervision, the Center for Mental Health Policy and the Cognition and AudioVisual Perception Lab. Dr. Alan LaFave, dean of fine arts and professor of music/ clarinet, was named 2012-13 Outstanding Music Educator. LaFave maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor, adjudicator and soloist through- out the U.S. and Canada. He served as past president of the South Dakota Music Educators Association; has taught at the International Music Camp in Peace Garden, N.D., and Yellowstone Music Camp in Powell, Wyo.; and is director of Rushmore National Music Camp in Keystone. Dr. Jon Mitchell, assistant professor of biology at NSU, was among seven public university faculty members who were awarded competitive state re- search grants through the South Dakota Board of Regents. Mitchell received a grant of $22,454 for his research topic, “Molecular characterization of insecticidal activity from envi- ronmentally-isolated bacterial strains.” Dr. Alan L. Neville and NSU alumna Alyssa Kaye Anderson are authors of an essay featured in the fall 2013 issue of the Great Plains Quarterly. The article was titled “The Diminishment of the Great Sioux Reservation: Treaties, Tricks, and Time.” Neville, a member of the South Dakota Commission on Teaching and Learning, also participated in the pilot project draft of the South Dakota Teacher Effectiveness Handbook. Dr. Thomas Orr, assistant professor of sport marketing and administration, discussed local and national issues on ESPN Aberdeen’s The Sports Hub. Orr spoke about issues around Richie Incognito and the Miami Dolphins as it related to the “mock trial” conducted in his law and ethics class. In May 2013, he spoke on The Huffington Post’s HuffPostLive about the death of a soccer referee who was attacked after giving a player a yellow card for a foul. Dr. John Peterson, associate professor of finance at NSU, was asked to speak at the opening ceremony of the 2013 Hanyang University International Summer School. Peterson delivered introductory remarks at the ceremony in Seoul, South Korea, in July 2013. Northern has had an exchange partnership with Hanyang University since 2009. Peterson was the only NSU representative at the summer school last year. Dr. Calvin D. Phillips, vice president of Student Affairs, made a presentation at The New Professional Institute for National Student Personnel Association’s IV West Conference in Hot Springs, Ark. Dr. Phillips co-presented “Charting Your Career: Thinking about the Future in the Field.” He also co-facilitated a discussion: “Creating the Mentoring Relationship: Finding Support and Guidance During Your Early Career.” Karen Rosby of the NSU E-Learning faculty was named South Dakota World Language Association’s 2013 World Languages Teacher of the Year. Rosby was recognized for her broad and deep understanding of teaching and learning in her discipline. The South Dakota World Languages Association promotes the study of world languages and aims to maintain the professional development of language teachers at all levels of education in South Dakota. Dr. James Smith, president, attended the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration conference, themed “Innovation, Inventiveness and the Imagination: Leading into the Future,” Aug. 6-9 in Meadowlands, N.J. Smith served as a panel member for a session titled “Internationalizing NCPEA.” He discussed all of Northern’s internationalization successes, including the efforts of the Office of International Programs and the dedication of the International Sculpture Garden. northern today 5 spring 2014 facu lt y news
northern today 6 spring 2014 Or, maybe you didn’t – and that’s just fine to Nicole and Joshua John Frachiseur. They would prefer the audience to focus on the production overall, not on their work. “If my job is done right, the show is what impacts the person, and they don’t even think about where it all came from,” Joshua said. “I kind of like it when people don’t think about it,” added Nicole. “Then it’s not distracting.” The Frachiseurs have been creating costumes (Nicole) and sets (Joshua) since their days as students at NSU. Their talents have turned into a suc- cessful career that took them around the U.S. and eventually brought them back to Northern. Natives of Idaho (Nicole is from Boise; Joshua is from nearby Mountain Home), the Frachiseurs met as teens. Together, they traveled to Aberdeen with a Reach Youth Ministries team, and together, they enrolled at Northern State University. Neither came to pursue theater; rather, both were seeking education degrees when they first arrived. But both were approached separately by the same professor, Michael Shiller, about getting involved in theater – though Shiller had no idea they even knew each other. When Nicole took a theater 100 class, she was required to see plays and write papers on them, but missed the opportunity to do so. So Shiller said she could work backstage for a production instead. “The next thing I knew, I was sewing and designing costumes as a student,” said Nicole, whose mom had taught her how to sew. Joshua, who had spent time working as a carpenter building homes to pay for college, was recruited by Shiller to build the set for a show. When Northern State University Theater brought “Les Misèrables” to life on the Johnson Fine Arts Center stage this spring, you may have marveled at the spectacular set and incredible costumes. Couple creates costumes, set for NSU Theater’s production of ‘Les Misèrables’
northern today 7 spring 2014 “I never really left,” he said. By the time they graduated, they had worked on almost every production. Joshua switched to a history major with a theater minor, while Nicole continued as an education major. NSU had not yet added a theater major. When they graduated in 2000, a friend suggested they display their work at a University/Resident Theatre Association showcase event. There, they discov- ered that their extensive experience put them in high demand – most students don’t get to design sets or costumes for entire productions as undergraduates. They had their choice of graduate schools, and selected West Virginia University. After graduating from that univer- sity, the couple moved to New York City. Nicole interned at The Juilliard School and Joshua got a job on the set of the TV soap opera “As the World Turns.” From there, they covered a lot of ground. Joshua was back at WVU working for a few years, then they both took jobs with the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. They worked there in the summer, traveling to Cleveland in the winter to work for the Great Lakes Theater Festival. Returning to NSU wasn’t in the couple’s plans. But in 2011, Joshua received a Facebook message from Northern history professor Art Marmorstein: longtime NSU theater production designer Larry Wild was retiring. Within three weeks of applying, Joshua had the job. They moved to Aberdeen with their daughter, Corina, now 5. Nicole is an adjunct faculty member and Joshua is assistant professor of theater (design, stagecraft). They just completed their third year at NSU. Joshua is designing sets, teaching and directing productions – something that wouldn’t happen at a bigger university, where departments are very specialized. “I’m doing things I would never get to do anywhere else,” he said. Nicole said she likes that in her job, “I’m always learning something.” Research and learning is a big part of both of their jobs – and was a big part of creating the set and costumes for Les Misèrables. Staging such an iconic production comes with its share of challenges. It’s difficult to steer too far away from what people expect. The production is based on historical events, involves dozens of locations and spans 20 years of time. Working with time and budget constraints, they were tasked with taking cool ideas and making them practical. “As a designer, it’s 80 percent problem-solving,” Joshua said. The process involves reading the script and getting the story down, getting to know the characters and scenes, and talking to the director about the feel of the show, Nicole said. They each look at illustrations from the time period. Joshua starts with sketches, then refines his work on a computer drafting program. Nicole pulls costumes from what is already available in the NSU theater department’s collection. She then borrows from Aberdeen Community Theatre and rents from out-of-town theaters such as the Guthrie Theater. She expected to make eight-10 garments for the production, though the number can change based on last-minute needs. With other productions and duties throughout the year, they had about two months to work on the show. There’s a saying in theater, Joshua said: “It’ll get done because it has to.” But, he added, your definition of done might change. Your original vision may not happen, Nicole said. “At a certain point, it’s not just your vision,” she said. “It’s to tell the story.” Student workers help them create the set and costumes. While they said it’s a pretty big jump to be a student at Northern and go into a career in theater, they have seen a few start out on the same path they took. “It’s one of those fields that grows on you,” Joshua said. “It’s a calling.” “If my job is done right, the show is what impacts the person, and they don’t even think about where it all came from.” “At a certain point, it’s not just your vision, It’s to tell the story.”
northern today 8 spring 2014 Below, she answers questions about herself and about working at NSU: Q. What brought you to NSU? A. I worked in public accounting prior to entering academia. When I worked in public accounting, I was involved with the recruiting of new graduates. This allowed me to spend time visiting with graduating students on various campuses. I really enjoyed my interaction with new graduates and the college atmosphere. Also, while in public accounting, I trained and mentored new graduates who came to work for our company. Although training a new graduate in his or her position is a little different from teaching at the college level, it seemed like a great fit. Paul Everson, who is a retired accounting professor from NSU, also was a good friend and great mentor as I began my position at NSU. Q. What is the best part of your job? A. The best part of my job is interacting with the students and watching them as they mature and grow into successful adults. The accounting courses I teach allow me to see the students for the first time as freshmen or sophomores, and then again as juniors and seniors. I get to witness first-hand the increase in the students’ knowledge and confidence as they enter the work force. Part of our mission in the School of Business is to grow students into thoughtful business leaders of the future. This may sound a bit sappy, but, being part of that growth process in people’s lives makes me very happy. Q. What is your favorite class to teach and why? A. My favorite course that I like to teach is advanced accounting. This course is one of the last accounting courses that accounting majors will take before they graduate. By the time students get to this course, I have had them in several classes; therefore, I really have gotten to know the students and understand how they learn. Also, this is a course where the student fully understands the importance of accounting and how the financial statements of a company all fit together. Q. Do you have any family members you want to highlight? A. I am married and have two children. My son is a sophomore at North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., majoring in mechanical engineering; and my daughter is a fourth-grader at Roncalli. Q. Are you involved with any organizations outside of work? A. I serve on some nonprofit boards that assist Native American tribes with becoming more self- sufficient in their accounting departments. One of the biggest issues tribes face is not having qualified accountants who are tribal members, and as a result, they spend millions on outside accountants and consultants. Part of the mission of the nonprofits is to develop tribal resources in order to allow the tribes to self- perform technical jobs such as accounting. Although we are in the initial stages in some of these initiatives, my hope and goal is to develop a pathway of training through Northern State. There is a real need out there and Northern State is extremely well-equipped to be a substantial contributing partner to accomplish some great things. We also have recently developed a partnership with the South Dakota Secretary of State to produce a quarterly economic journal that we are very proud of. Under the umbrella of growing our students into thoughtful future business leaders, our students, in addition to having the appropriate technical skill in their chosen field, will also have to be able to understand complex data sets, the macro and micro political economy and its future impacts to their companies, and interactions with government in order to be successful. We kind of hit three birds with one stone being involved with a project like this, not to mention the networking opportunities it gives our students and graduates. Q. Do you have any hobbies? A. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my children, traveling and gardening. northern news Dr. Sara Schmidt, assistant professor of accounting with the NSU School of Business, is in her sixth year of teaching at Northern. A native of Ray, N.D., Schmidt is a certified public accountant. She earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D., and her doctorate in education from the University of South Dakota. Q&A
northern today 9 spring 2014 The Northern indoor track and field squads had a very solid indoor season in 2014. The Wolves had great showings in all of their meets this season, setting multiple personal records throughout the year. Makenzie Hageman set a new school record in the 60-meter dash and ran a time of 7.82 in the preliminaries of the NSIC Indoor Championships. Andrew Johnson set a school record for the men’s squad in the 200-meter dash. Johnson owns the record with a time of 22.17. Distance runner Brandon Krein took home All-NSIC honors at the NSIC Championships with his third-place finish in the 1,000 meters. Krein ran a careerbest time of 2:32.26 in the event. Hannah Treinen hit a provisional NCAA mark in the pentathlon at the NSIC meet as she finished fifth with 3,278 points. The NSU women’s basketball team finished with 24 regular- season wins and captured the NSIC North Division Title. That accomplishment ended a nine-year drought, marking the first NSU conference championship of any kind in any sport since 2005. In addition, the women’s team received an NCAA regional berth and traveled to Harding University in Searcy, Ark., where they competed as the No. 6 seed against a team from Central Missouri. Head Coach Curt Fredrickson also was named the NSIC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his illustrious career (1991-92, 1996-97 and 2010-11) and has 747 career coaching victories in his 35-year career at Northern. Senior Alison Kusler was named All-NSIC First Team. It was the third all-conference honor for Kusler in her career for the Wolves. Kusler was fourth in the league in scoring with 17.2 points per game during NSIC play. Her 84.4 percent free throw shooting was 13th in the league and she was sixth in the league averaging 34.14 minutes played per contest. Kusler scored in double figures in 23 games this season and had six efforts where she scored 20 points or more. January 4 against Sioux Falls, Kusler scored a game-high 26 points in the win over the Cougars and became the 29th member of the 1,000-point club at NSU. Kusler’s 1,245 career points is 18th all-time at Northern. Rachel Krogman was a second-team selection for the Wolves. Krogman ranked 11th in the league in scoring (15.7 ppg), third in rebounding (10 rpg), 13th in field goal percentage (47.8 percent) and eighth in blocks (1.05 bpg). Krogman recorded nine double-doubles during conference play this season and 12 overall. She also had 15 games this season where she registered 10 or more boards in a game. Megan Mutchler was named to the NSIC All- Defensive Team and Paige Waytashek was named All-Freshman NSIC. The Northern State men finished the season with an 18-11 record and went 13-9 in conference play, finishing fourth in the NSIC North. Sophomore Skye Warwick was named First Team CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-District for District Seven. The Northern three-point specialist is a Health and Physical Education major, carrying a perfect 4.0 GPA. On the mat, the NSU wrestling team showed great promise as the Wolves were led by freshman 197-pounder Joe Gomez who finished the season with a 24-15 record. Gomez competed at the NCAA Super Regional in Edmond, Okla., and fell just shy of making it to the National Tournament as he placed sixth at the regional match. Seniors Anthony Bruno (125), Gavin Larsen (141), Blake Lundgren (165), Ian Muirhead (141) and Beau Voegeli (149) all wrestled for the Wolves for the final time in 2014. indoor track and field wrestling men’s basketball women’s basketball The Northern State winter sports season was a big success for the Wolves, not only on the basketball court, but also on the wrestling mat and on the track. Alison Kusler, senior, Aberdeen Tydan Storrusten, junior, Pelican Rapids, Minn. Beau Voegeli, graduate student, Oakes, N.D. s por t s
northern today 10 spring 2014
Beloved Northern State University coach Don Meyer, one of the nation’s most successful basketball coaches of all time, died the morning of May 18, finally succumbing to cancer after a courageous six-year fight. Meyer was 69. Meyer made college basketball history in 2009, surpassing Bobby Knight as the career victory leader. For two years, from 2009 to 2011, Meyer held the record for most wins for a men’s college basketball coach. Meyer retired from Northern State in 2010 with an overall win-loss record of 923-324. His most-wins record was topped a year later by another basketball great, Duke University coach Mike Krzyzewski. Meyer’s battle with cancer began in September 2008 when doctors treating him for injuries sustained in a life-threatening car crash discovered cancer in his liver and intestines during emergency surgery. Doctors amputated Meyer’s left leg below the knee as a result of injuries he received in the crash. Several days later they operated on the cancer. Despite an eight-week stay in the hospital, Meyer returned to the sidelines for the duration of the 2008-09 season, leading the Wolves to their second straight appearance in the Division II national tournament in March. Meyer’s challenges garnered national media attention throughout the 2008-09 season. He was awarded the Jimmy V. Award for Perseverance at the 2009 ESPY Awards in Los Angeles. He also received the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award, given by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for significant contributions to the sport of basketball. Meyer is also the subject of an extensive biography, “How Lucky You Can Be: The Story of Coach Don Meyer,” written by ESPN baseball analyst Buster Olney. Olney has had a close relationship with Meyer since Olney was assigned to cover baseball in Nashville while Meyer was coaching at Lipscomb University. Early Years A native of Wayne, Neb., Meyer had aspirations as a youngster of one day being a major league baseball player. Not only was he an outstanding baseball player, a tribute to Don Meyer
northern today 12 spring 2014 but he also excelled in the game that would become his life – basketball. Meyer attended the University of Northern Colorado and graduated in 1967. While at UNC, Meyer played baseball and basketball. On the baseball field, he posted a career pitching record of 22-2 and caught the attention of pro scouts. On the basketball court, Meyer led UNC to the 1966 NCAA college division playoffs and was named NCAA All-American. Meyer began his coaching career at Western State (Colo.), where he was an assistant from 1968 to 1970. From there he went to the University of Utah, where he served as an assistant basketball coach from 1970 to 1972 and earned a Ph.D. Meyer received his first head coaching position in 1972 when he was hired by Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn. He spent three seasons there, where he had a record of 37-41. Meyer inherited a program at Hamline that had a 30-177 record its six previous seasons. After a 5-20 record in his first season, Meyer turned things around, recording 16-10 and 16-11 records the next two seasons. Hamline reached the NCAA Division III Elite Eight in Meyer’s final year there. NAIA I David Lipscomb University, Nashville, Tenn., recruited Meyer from Hamline. In the early years at Lipscomb, Meyer leveraged the rules of the game to get the most talent out of his players. Often playing opponents who were bigger, stronger and faster than the Lipscomb athletes, Meyer’s slow-down, fundamental-style won many games. As the game and rules of basketball changed over the years, Meyer changed with the times to develop in his Lipscomb teams the most explosive offense in the nation. Meyer spent 24 years as head coach at Lipscomb. In that time, he reached the 700win plateau faster than any other coach in the history of college basketball. During a 10-year span, Meyer’s Lipscomb Bison teams won more games than any other team in the country, averaging more than 32 wins per season for 10 years before his move to Northern. His 1989-90 team set a college basketball record with 41 wins. Meyer’s Bison teams made 13 national tournament appearances, winning the NAIA National Championship in 1986. Meyer was named NAIA National Coach of the Year in 1989 and 1990, and was selected to the NAIA Hall of Fame at the age of 47. He also assisted coach Mike Krzyzewski with the Olympic Sports Festival South Team in 1983. Relying on a motion offense that he carried with him to Northern, Meyer’s Bison teams led the nation in scoring in 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993 and 1995, averaging more than 100 points per game in each of those seasons. Meyer also coached college basketball’s first and second all-time leading scorers, former Lipscomb Bisons John Pierce and Philip Hutcheson. Other Meyer standouts set national records. Meyer’s son, Jerry, broke college basketball’s career assist record while playing for his father at Lipscomb. Bison Marcus Bodie holds the single-season and career record for steals in college basketball. Bison Andy McQueen holds the career 3-point field- goals-made record. Meyer’s system has produced three National Players of the Year and 22 All-Americans. Two of his Lipscomb players have received the GTE Academic Excellence Award for basketball. At Northern State University, Meyer coached 20 all-conference performers; five all-region performers; three NSIC MVPs (Brad Hansen, Matt Hammer and Kevin Ratzsch); two NSIC Tournament MVPs (Steve Smiley and Matt Hammer); NSIC Defensive Player of the Year (Smiley); and one All-American Honorable Mention selection (Hansen). In his third season at Northern, Meyer guided the Wolves to the 2002 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference co-championship and earned NSIC Coach of the Year honors. In 2004-05, Meyer surpassed 800 career wins and led the Wolves to their second straight NSIC Tournament Championship. His 800th career win came Dec. 11, 2004, when the Wolves defeated Minnesota Duluth 69-50. A crowd of 5,437 attending the game in the Barnett Center that evening witnessed a milestone that has been reached by just a handful of collegiate coaches. Eagles Don’t Fly With Their Legs I’ve hesitated to share my personal Coach Meyer story because I did not want those who did not know him to construe his initial remarks to me as inappropriate or politically incorrect, but here goes. As secretary for the student body at Lipscomb University (David Lipscomb College at the time), I would on occasion make some kind of announcement in our daily Chapel gatherings. I have a form of muscular dystrophy and stairs were a challenge, especially in the days before ADA regulations made for more accessibility. I depended heavily on handrails and would go one step at a time, but always kept going. I had met Coach briefly on occasions, but never had the opportunity to really know him as many did. One particular chapel, I was going up the steps behind the stage. Coach was doing the devo that morning and was waiting behind as I was going up. He asked very candidly as I was managing my choreographed routine to get up the steps, “Hey, I’ve never asked you before…why are you gimpy?” It never bothered me when people would ask. Really, I preferred it instead of them wondering. I spat out my mantra like I had done so many times, “It’s a form of muscular dystrophy. God just made my legs a little weaker than yours.” By then, I was up the last step, laughed while looking at his legs and finished saying, “Well, a lot weaker than yours.” He quickly responded, “Eagles don’t fly with their legs, remember that…I believe you will soar!” It was a moment he probably never thought of again and I will never forget. I was just one blip on his radar screen of constant encouragement and inspiration. He truly was a blessing to so many. Great game, Coach! You played life well! - Ginger Johnson Broslat For more information about memorial gifts, visit Coach MeyerTribute.com Excerpt from Coach MeyerTribute.com
Meyer led the Wolves to the program’s second best record in school history in 2007-08, going 29-4 overall and taking second place in the NSIC with a 16-2 record. The only losses for the Wolves came at the hands of eventual National Champion, Winona State. The 2007-08 season also saw Coach Meyer climb the ranks of the NCAA all-time wins list. On Jan. 19, 2008, an 87-78 win over the University of Mary gave Meyer his 879th victory and put him at second place among the best coaches in basketball history. A thunderous crowd of 5,454 watched Meyer accomplish the feat at Wachs Arena, and even more looked on with the game broadcast on local television throughout the Dakotas. “Successful programs consist of people working hard, working together, while never worrying about who gets the credit.” – Don Meyer Under Meyer’s direction, the Wolves surpassed the 20-win mark for seven straight seasons until reaching just 19 wins in 2008-09. They reached NCAA post-season play five out of six years and appeared in the North Central Region Championship game twice (2006 and 2008). Meyer’s Wolves won four regular season or NSIC Tournament titles and finished among the top three teams in the league for seven consecutive years. Meyer retired from coaching at the end of the 2009-10 season, citing the challenges of battling cancer and the fatigue associated with it. His final record of 923-324 ranks 6th on the all-time NCAA career wins list. Meyer’s name is respected nationally in the college coaching ranks. Well over 10,000 coaches from all over the nation have attended the Don Meyer Coaches Academy. Meyer’s featured speakers read as a who’s who in the coaching ranks. In 2001, he brought the Academy to Aberdeen with Tennessee’s Pat Summitt as keynote speaker. In 2002, John Wooden and Dick Bennett were featured in the academy. Tubby Smith and Jerry Krause spoke at the 2006 Academy. Meyer also produced instructional books and a 30-tape series “Building a Championship Program” that has helped coaches at every level from high school to the NBA. Programs using the tapes include perennial Division I powerhouses Duke, Kansas, Wake Forest and North Carolina; and NBA franchises such as the Utah Jazz and Seattle Supersonics. Meyer’s summer Lipscomb Bison Basketball Camps became known as one of the most successful players’ camp in the country, drawing 4,500 campers annually. Meyer’s coaches’ and players’ camps in Aberdeen have been huge successes as well. Meyer gave countless motivational speeches throughout the country and published numerous articles for many coaching publications. This spring he spoke to the leader- ship of the Atlanta Braves baseball organization. Meyer is survived by his wife, Carmen; son, Jerry; daughters, Brooke Napier and Brittney Touchton; mother, Edna; sisters, Jeanie Shank and Nancy Meyer; brother, Mike; and eight grandchildren. “The key component to leadership is this: Your example is not the main thing in influencing others; it’s the only thing.” – Don Meyer
northern today 14 spring 2014 “Once I visited I couldn’t say no to Northern.” Ethan Brown’s path of success at Northern State University started with a journey from his hometown in Texas to Aberdeen. Brown, a native of Flower Mound, Texas, had a list of 20 schools across the U.S. that were the right size and price, and that had the right study abroad opportunities. He narrowed the list down to five – including Northern – and traveled the country with his parents to visit each campus. NSU’s WolfPACT Scholarship, low tuition and the Center for Excellence in International Business were big draws for him. Once he visited, he said, “I couldn’t say no to Northern.” Brown’s achievements have included winning an elite scholarship to attend a conference in the nation’s capital and winning an elite geography competition right here in South Dakota. It’s been quite a year for Brown: • In November, he was the only student awarded a scholarship from the South Dakota World Affairs Council (SDWAC) to attend the World Affairs Councils of America conference in Washington, D.C. Only 25 students from across the country were selected to attend the confer- ence, which was dedicated to the top six issues facing the national security of the United States, including cybersecurity. • In January, Brown participated in a personal cybersecurity panel at the SDWAC Cybersecurity Symposium on the South Dakota State University campus in Brookings. • In March, he and two other Northern honors students who are geography minors, along with an alum of Northern who is in the master’s program in geography at SDSU, won the Geography Bowl at the 45th annual SDSU Geography Convention. Brown majored in biology and environmental science and minored in chemistry and geography. He started at NSU as an international business major, but he switched when he realized his interests were more in international affairs and less in business. In 2012, he studied abroad in South Korea. Brown’s college experience has also included an internship with the state of South Dakota as a naturalist at Custer State Park; and an internship with Northwoods Wildlife Center, a nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation and conservation organization in Wisconsin. Brown graduated in May and plans to go straight into law school. With a superb LSAT score, he had his choice of law schools – he was accepted at the University of Kansas; the University of South Dakota; University of St. Thomas; University of California, Los Angeles; and Tulane University. Ultimately, he chose the University of Kansas because of that university’s excellent scholarship offerings and its career services, including an active alumni network. Brown said Northern prepared him for his success by helping him realize what he wanted from his future. He went through a lot of different potential career paths – including international business, teaching at a high school or college level, working in the state or federal park system, working as a veterinarian, working as a medical doctor – before deciding to pursue a career in law. “I was able to find ways to gain expe- rience and insight into each of these fields to decide if it was right for me,” he said. “I am confident that no matter which path I chose, I could have been successful because Northern gave me opportunities in each. Once I did focus, Northern was right there with all of the resources and tools I needed to succeed.” An ability to think theoretically and ask pointed questions led NSU senior Katelyn Kippes to survey a sample of Northern State University students and ask: Would you have an abortion if your baby tested positive for Down syndrome? The survey added a twist - respon- dents also were asked whether they knew a person with Down syndrome. Kippes found that respondents’ knowl- edge of people with Down syndrome did not have a significant effect on their likelihood to choose abortion or prenatal testing. “The results didn’t prove what I thought, but it did open my eyes to the fact that people who don’t know someone with Down syndrome can feel the same way as someone who does,” said special education major Kippes, 22, whose oral presentation of her work won top recognition at NSU’s 2014 Undergraduate Research Forum. Kippes surveyed female NSU students ages 18-26 for her project, titled “Down Syndrome: The Effects of Knowing on Prenatal Testing and Abortion Decisions.” Her mentor is Dr. Erin Fouberg, professor of geography. “She has an ability to think theoreti- cally that a lot of my students her age don’t have,” said Fouberg. “She makes connections between ideas that seem disparate.” Kippes appreciates the challenges and opportunities she’s experienced in NSU’s honors program. “Northern is known for its great education programs, and it’s going to get even better,” Kippes said. “But the biggest asset I’ve gotten is being in the honors program – it really pushes you to become a better student.” Soccer and a WolfPACT scholarship brought Kippes to Northern, and the atmosphere made her glad she stayed. “I like the small class sizes, and especially in athletics, it’s a communi- ty-based atmosphere. The girls on the team are my second family,” she said. Kippes switched her major to special education after missing her family and realizing how much they – especially her sister – mean to her. Her sister, 12, has Down syndrome. “I find her incredibly fun,” Kippes said. “I wouldn’t want her any other way; I love the way she is and the impact she’s had on my life and family. “If no one had Down syndrome, no one would understand what it’s like to be different.” Kippes graduated in May and is originally from Somerset, Wis. After graduation she plans to pursue a master’s degree in speech pathology. Kippes appreciates challenges of Northern State University Honors Program “I like the small class sizes, and especially in athletics, it’s a communitybased atmosphere.” Trip from Texas to Aberdeen leads to success students to watch
northern today 15 spring 2014 It isn’t every day that a represen- tative of Disney emails to request a job interview. Mark Sperry of Bath, S.D., was a sophomore at Northern State University when he applied for an internship at Walt Disney World’s Epcot Theme Park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. “I was thoroughly surprised when I received an email to set up a phone interview,” said Sperry. Out of more than 150 applications, the biology major was one of only three candidates selected for an interview. Eventually accepting an offer, Sperry spent June 2013 to January 2014 working at Epcot’s the Land Pavilion, an attrac- tion home to working greenhouses and biotechnology laboratories. Sperry worked both within the flow of park goers and behind the scenes in the laboratories. He acted as a tour guide through “hydroponic greenhous- es about once a day.” It was his responsibility to grow plants in tissue culture as a park merchan- dise item, he explained, adding that he also packaged and sold the Mickey’s Mini Gardens to park guests. “While I may have been heading to work these mornings, I feel as though I never truly worked a day I was there.” The experience ultimately helped him better understand how to conduct lab work and government research. Sperry acknowledges his experience as an NSU biology student as a positive background for Epcot’s laboratory requirements. NSU’s size has allowed him to maintain active involvement in multiple campus organizations, and he has gotten to know professors on a more personal level. The junior plans to continue work on his honors thesis, and will graduate in fall 2014 In Honoribus with a bachelor’s degree in biology and minors in chemistry and mathematics. He hopes to either apply for a Disney Greenhouse Internship or apply to return as the Biotech Lab Intern. Sperry also offered advice to other students who may be considering internships—“apply. The worst thing that can happen is not being chosen.” “The professors are always willing to help or give suggestions.” “I have been beyond satisfied – completely happy with the decision to come to Northern,” Lu Liu is originally from Shanghai, China. Daughter of Xin Hua Liu and Yu Ping Jiang, she was a student of Shanghai University of International Business and Economics. Interested in spending time overseas, she took advantage of the school’s exchange program and came to Northern State University for the fall 2010 semester. Liu was able to take classes she couldn’t have in China, immersing herself among both English speakers and literature. Upon returning to Shanghai and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English translation and interpretation, she chose to continue her education in Aberdeen. “I didn’t feel fulfilled,” said Liu. “I wanted to learn more about English literature and culture.” She returned to NSU and enrolled for the fall 2011 semester, dividing her attention between English classes and required generals before having to take a biology class. “I took biology, and then organic chemistry. I just found more passion for chemistry,” she explained. Liu found such enjoyment in the natural sciences that she decided to double major, adding chemistry to her English background. She began extensive chemistry studies in fall 2012. Heeding the advice from her advisor, Dr. Patrick Whiteley, she was able to find an internship that satisfied both her English and chemistry degrees: working as chemistry literature and review tutor under Dr. George Nora. She was awarded an undergraduate research grant in fall 2013 to assist her study to increase the drought tolerance of plants. Liu appreciates the hands-on laboratory experience that NSU has offered. “The professors are always willing to help or give suggestions,” she said. Liu graduated in May 2014 with both degrees. She was accepted into multiple prestigious graduate programs, such as Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame, and ultimately chose the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She will continue organic chemistry studies there in the fall. Disney grants Northern State student internship The Nsu senior honors student, Mike Newman, 23, hopes to teach college-level history and has been accepted to Binghampton University’s Ph.D. history program. He graduated in May with a history major and geography minor. “NSU’s departments of history and geography push you to exceed your supposed limits. I have been beyond satisfied – completely happy with the decision to come to Northern,” said Newman, a Vermont native. He said many things about Northern make it feel like home, but most valuable has been the opportunity to develop relationships with faculty members. “That’s been a huge inspiration in my own interest in becoming an academic – I’ve seen so closely what it means to be a professor, and I really like it,” Newman said. Newman’s honors thesis involved primary research, partially funded through an NSU undergraduate re- search grant, to trace his grandfather’s fragmented journey across World War II Europe to escape Nazi Germany. He presented the thesis to the public in February at Northern. Newman also presented other research at the recent National Collegiate Honors Conference. Newman’s research, carefully conceived, nurtured and developed at Northern, has been an additional catalyst for growth for Newman and his family. “I always knew I had a Jewish history. On Hanukah, we lit candles and said a prayer. It never really had much meaning for me and most of my family. Now that I have a better understanding of what my grandfather went through because of his Jewish identity…over the past few Hanukahs, we all come together and it just feels more involved, more invested with meaning.” Newman hopes others may discover meaning and answers from his research, if published. “My hope is someone can just read it if they find it interesting,” Newman said. “I hope that without ever having met me, they can find out about my grandfather, or children during the Holocaust, coming to terms with Jewish identity, European history.” For Mike Newman, history isn’t just the past; it’s his future Student finds passion for chemistry “While I may have been heading to work these mornings, I feel as though I never truly worked a day I was there.”
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