Northern State University | Aberdeen, South Dakota | FALL 2014
CONTENTS DESIGNED AND PRODUCED BY NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY RELATIONS FOR THE NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION WRITTEN BY Elissa Dickey EDITOR Greg Smith DESIGN Jennifer Vaughn FOUNDATION PRESIDENT AND CEO Todd Jordre ADDRESS FOR MAGAZINE INQUIRIES: University Relations Northern State University 1200 S. 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 Ms. JoEllen Lindner Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management SUBSCRIBE | GIVE A GIFT CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS CONTACT US TWITTER NorthernStateU FACEBOOK northernstateu EMAIL nsualumni@northern.edu Wolves Sports Update PAGE 9 ON THE COVER Taylor Morsching (2013) had an internship with the U.S. Olympic Committee as the U.S. Paralympic Emerging and Talent Identification intern. FACULTY AND STAFF NEWS...........page 4-5 JOHNSON FINE ARTS CENTER RENOVATION MOVING FORWARD Fundraising continues for renovations to the Johnson Fine Arts Center, with construction beginning in November...........................................page 6 DACOTAH HALL RENOVATIONS INTRODUCED DURING GYPSY DAYS Renovations to Dacotah Hall photo and graphics labs were completed this summer and dedicated during Gypsy Days.................................................... page 7 CAMPUS STATUE HONORS U.S. NAVY HERO Northern alumnus and World War II hero Capt. Cecil E. Harris (deceased) is honored with a new statue in front of Spafford Hall................................................ page 7 Q&A: DR. SARA CHRISTENSEN BLAIR Dr. Sara Christensen Blair, associate professor of art, is in her ninth year of teaching at Northern..... page 8 WOLVES FALL SPORTS UPDATE The Northern State University fall sports teams competed strong in the NSIC ...............................page 9 STUDENT NEWS Menno Schukking and Jordan Abu-Sirriya receive opportunities in national settings................. page 10-11 SERVICE LEARNING TAKES SHAPE AT NORTHERN Student groups are expanding their education and life preparation through service learning trips............................................................... page 11 GAINING FIELD EXPERIENCE Northern State University sport marketing and administration senior Derek Lien interned with the Kansas City Chiefs................................................... page 12 WEBSTER HELD INTERNSHIP WITH NSU COMPLIANCE OFFICE Alex Webster (2014) held an internship in the NSU Compliance Office and learned essential behindthe-scenes roles in managing university athletics programs..................................................................... page 13 NORTHERN GRAD GETS OLYMPIC OPPORTUNITY Taylor Morsching (2013) had an internship with the U.S. Olympic Committee as the U.S. Paralympic Emerging and Talent Identification intern...... page 14 GENGLER WORKS AT VIKINGS TRAINING CAMP NSU senior Kasey Gengler held a summer marketing internship with the Minnesota Vikings............. page 15 2014 GYPSY DAYS The annual homecoming celebration featured class celebrations, Marching Wolves, crowning of royalty, the traditional burning of the N and more................................... page 16 ALUMNI NEWS Class notes, celebrations and memorial updates.............................................. page 18-19 PAGE 6 Gaining field experience Northern State University sport marketing and administration senior Derek Lien interned with the Kansas City Chiefs. PAGE 12
NORTHERN TODAY 3 FALL 2014 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT James M. Smith, President Fall has given way to winter. The beauty of changing leaves and the magnificence of the remaining green grass that would remind almost any visitor of a Norman Rockwell painting, are already past. But, without question, our campus is one of the most beautiful you will find anywhere in the United States! Along with the annual changing of seasons comes activity. Students are energetically engaged in myriad projects and faculty members are working to bring the very best of teaching, research and service to our entire NSU community. As you will see on the faculty and student highlight pages, there is certainly a great deal of positive action and interaction going forward right now. Although many of these deserve special mention, I will call your attention to only a few. First, as you will immediately note, our sport marketing and administration students and recent graduates are doing amazing work in the field of professional and Olympic sport. These students, after working directly with Dr. Tom Orr, have obtained some of the very best internship placements in the country. This placement rate and the successful nature of the placements themselves are true testimonials to Dr. Orr – but also to each of the students who have ventured out to see the world of sport as it unfolds in the high profile and not-so-high-profile elements of everyday activity. Congratulations to all for their great work in representing Northern in such a fabulous way. Additionally, please note that Jordan Abu-Sirriya is participating in the White House Internship Program in Washington, D.C., this semester. Jordan, from Aberdeen, is very busy working with White House staff members responding to candidates for presidential appointments, communicating with departments and agencies on personnel matters and ensuring that personnel priorities of President Obama are being met. Interns also help research potential issues that impact the White House on a daily or weekly basis. As you might expect, this appointment is highly selective and Jordan represents NSU very well at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue! Simply stated, all of these internship profiles demonstrate the ability of NSU students to compete with students from any university at any location on the national or international map. Gypsy Day is also featured prominently in this issue of Northern Today. Without question, the entire day was a terrific success. The parade was outstanding. The bands were loud and demonstrated musical splendor for all who listened. The football contest was won by the Wolves in perfect style. And, old friendships were renewed and a few new ones generated as well. Keep your eyes open for next year, please; in 2015, NSU will celebrate Gypsy Day number 100. This holds special meaning to all – the number 100 is certainly an impressive one when ascribed to any event, but as you think of college/university homecomings, 100 is a very impressive number indeed. Finally, this fall we travelled to Asia. More on that topic will come in the next edition, but to summarize our work in just a few words, the trip continued to reinforce the importance of NSU as a global institution of higher education. With students on our campus now from 35 different nations, we continue to have great acceptance in countries with massive numbers of outbound study abroad students. It was nice to see and hear the importance that NSU holds in the discussion of international education, even 12 time zones away from Aberdeen, South Dakota! Enjoy the magazine and Go Wolves, WELCOME TO THE LATEST ISSUE OF NORTHERN TODAY!
DR. GREGORY FRANCOM, a professor of e-learning, has published the first-ever multiplatform interactive digital textbook on educational technology. His book, “Educational Technology for Teachers,” is designed for undergraduate university classes. It is a handbook for K-12 teachers who want to learn technology tools and follow research-based guidelines for learning in the Information Age. “Educational Technology for Teachers” features over 70 interactive elements, including video, slideshows, visual stories, image tutorials, sample projects and quizzes. DR. GINNY LEWIS, professor of German, has translated Zsigmond Moricz’s Hungarian novel, “Sárarany,” into English for the first time. The translated title, released in July, is “Gold in the Mud: A Hungarian Peasant Novel.” It tells the story of peasant Dani Turi, who longs to rise above his low social status and make money off the land he farms, but is hindered by wealthy landowners. This is the second book Lewis has translated, and she plans to translate another. She has also written a book in German. DR. SARA SCHMIDT and DR. ALLEN BARCLAY, Northern State University School of Business faculty, were both selected for the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) grant. They will participate in a nine-week course focusing on online learning effectiveness and quality delivery methods. This was a competitive grant – two of the five selected to receive it came from the NSU School of Business. ELYCE KASTIGAR coached the Aberdeen Swim Club to its first state championship since 1982. Kastigar, who also coaches the NSU swim team, then cheered her daughter Hannah at Junior Nationals in California. Hannah Kastigar placed fifth in the 400-meter individual medley and appeared on the awards stand. DR. MARCELA FAFLAK presented a workshop about music education in the United States at the J. William Fulbright Commission Center in Prague on July 17. Faflak teaches piano, keyboard literature and piano pedagogy. Her workshop was attended by about 10 music students and professionals interested in American music education. Sarka Stehnova, NSU international student from the Czech Republic, attended and shared her positive personal experience. Richard O’Rourke, NSU international adviser, was available via Skype during a presentation. DR. STEVEN USITALO, associate professor of history, published an article, “Murav’ev and Radiščev: Forging and Encountering the Myth of Lomonosov,” in the journal Russian Literature. In June, Usitalo participated in the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Silberman Seminar. This year’s theme was “Teaching about the Holocaust in the Soviet Union: Perpetrators, Collaborators, Bystanders, and Victims.” In July, Usitalo attended a Russian studies conference in Belgium. He presented his monograph: “The Invention of Mikhail Lomonosov: A Russian National Myth,” and delivered a paper on Russia’s first “museum,” the Kunstkamera. DR. JON SCHAFF, NSU political science professor, offers expertise on many political issues – locally, statewide and even nationally. Over the years, he’s been quoted in national media outlets such as U.S. News; ABC; Roll Call, a Washington, D.C.-based publication; Financial Times; and USA Today. Calls increase during an election year – his opinions were sought regarding South Dakota’s political races this fall. He fields calls on all political topics, but Schaff said his areas of expertise include the presidency, Congress, American political institutions and American political thought. DRS. ALYSSA ANDERSON and JON MITCHELL led NSU biology/environmental science students this summer in an effort to identify and test mosquitoes that can carry West Nile virus. The NSU biology team had mosquito trap stations located at eight sites in Brown County. This is the second year that NSU participated in the statewide mosquito tracking effort. The team helped expand the Brown County test region beyond the city of Aberdeen. DR. CONNIE RUHL-SMITH and RICHARD O’ROURKE represented NSU at a Washington, D.C., forum that focused on internationalizing U.S. college campuses. The EducationUSA Forum, held in June, brought together 550 university representatives with more than 60 EducationUSA regional educational experts and advisers from around the world. They discussed strategies for helping international students to study in the U.S. and promoting U.S. study abroad. Ruhl-Smith is director of international programs/director of special initiatives. O’Rourke is NSU’s international recruiter. NORTHERN TODAY 4 FALL 2014 NORTHERN NEWS FA C U LT Y AND S TA F F N EWS
DR. GREG BLAIR, associate professor of art and director of Northern Galleries, traveled to Rome this summer to present some of his research on a “Perspective of Spaces” panel at the “Ninth International Conference on the Arts in Society” at Sapienza University. Much of the conference was structured around a dialogical approach in which each presenter was able to have a discussion with other scholars about their research. Blair’s topic centered around the use of art to create a sense of responsibility and ethics for specific places. DR. JOHN PETERSON, NSU School of Business faculty member, was a professor at Hanyang International Summer School in Seoul, South Korea, for the third year this summer. There, he taught two courses: macroeconomics and financial management. Seven NSU students also participated in the summer school program this year. The program now has 1,200 students from Europe, the Americas and Asia. DR. ERIN FOUBERG, professor of geography, is one of the editors of the Atlas of the 2012 Elections, an essential political reference that examines numerous aspects of the U.S. elections from two years ago. The atlas, released in October by Rowman and Littlefield, analyzes and maps the presidential election, as well as other races and key state referenda. Contributors are leading political geographers and political scientists, who offer a comprehensive assessment of a wide array of election issues and results. DR. THOMAS ORR shared his expertise on The Huffington Post’s “HuffPost Live” this fall on a segment on violence in the NFL. Orr, assistant professor of sport marketing and administration, has been featured on “HuffPost Live” previously, also discussing violence in athletics. The most recent segment focused on recent alleged violent behavior by football players at the professional and college level. Orr is author of “Sport and Violence,” a critical examination of “sports rage” and aggression in athletics. LIZ HANNUM discussed community asset mapping as a tool for community development at TEDxBrookings on Saturday, Oct. 4. TEDxBrookings, an independently organized TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) event, was held at the Brookings Performing Arts Center. Hannum is NSU’s study abroad coordinator and coordinator for the Center for Excellence in International Business and Entrepreneurship. DR. DAVID GRETTLER, professor of history at NSU, published a book, “Nora Staael Evert: A Life in Motion.” The book details the life of the late Staael Evert, a native of Veblen, S.D., and graduate of Northern Normal and Industrial School. Staael Evert, a past recipient of the NSU Distinguished Alumni Award, was an accomplished dancer and physical therapist, and a highly respected teacher. DR. PETER RAMEY, professor of English, had a scholarly article published in Philological Quarterly. The article, “Writing Speaks: Oral Poetics and Writing Technology in the Exeter Book Riddles,” appeared in the publication’s latest edition, which was released in September. Ramey’s article studies instances in the Exeter Book where inanimate objects are given a voice. The article also examines a similar phenomenon with Old English objects. JOSHUA JOHN FRACHISEUR was involved in a successful production this summer that transferred to New York City’s Off-Broadway venue this fall. Frachiseur did technical work for “Uncanny Valley” by Thomas Gibbons, which had its world premiere at the Contemporary American Theater Festival at Shepherd University. “Uncanny Valley” was then presented Off-Broadway Oct. 2-26. Frachiseur, assistant professor of theater, also directed and designed the NSU Theater fall production, “On the Verge, or the Geography of Yearning.” DR. TIMOTHY HOUGE published “Tutorin’ Tim’s Phonics: Lessons for Reading and Spelling the Sounds of our Language” and its companion book. Houge is an associate professor of elementary and secondary reading and director of the NSU Reading Clinic. The lessons in his book were designed to be used by anyone: teachers, paraprofessionals, parents and tutors. They stem from his experience as a classroom teacher and reading specialist, as well as his research. DR. ALYSSA ANDERSON, assistant professor of biology, received the 2014 Nora Staael Evert Research Award. The award, funded through a Northern State University Foundation grant, provides a summer stipend to support faculty engaged in scholarly research projects. Anderson’s project is “Analysis of Chironomidae (Insecta: Diptera) Diversity and Community Composition in Brown County, S.D.” Chironomidae, also called non-biting midges, are a good indicator of water quality health. These tiny aquatic flies are the focus of much of Anderson’s research. DR. ALAN L. NEVILLE, professor of education, was one of 40 presenters at the 40th annual Great Plains Symposium, “Drought in the Life, Cultures, and Landscapes of the Great Plains,” held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in April. Neville’s paper, “Water Quality Challenges and Initiatives Impacting South Dakota’s Nine Reservations,” examined water quantity and water quality issues facing South Dakota’s American Indian reservations, from a historic and contemporary view. Additionally, his paper documented ongoing issues related to drought and other water quality concerns. NORTHERN TODAY 5 FALL 2014 FA C U LT Y AND S TA F F N EWS
NORTHERN TODAY 6 FALL 2014 Dacotah Bank will provide financial sup- port for NSU to share curriculum and resources in banking and financial services with SDSU. The award will also support SDSU sharing its agricultural economics and agribusiness programs with NSU students. Muehler and Preston, assistant professors of banking and financial services, are the NSU Dacotah Bank Scholars in banking and financial services. Nicole Klein is the SDSU Dacotah Bank Scholar in agribusiness and agricultural economics. Klein is a professor of agricultural marketing and farm and ranch management. Dacotah Bank has made a $240,000 renewable commitment for three years to support the collaboration between the universities. The announcement was made during a ceremony on the NSU campus as part of the recent South Dakota Board of Regents meeting. The Dacotah Bank Scholars are responsible for leading the collaboration and its promotion, student recruitment and advising, engagement with industry, and course and curricula development. This collaboration will allow students to benefit from the curriculum at both institutions. The new offerings will add value to graduates, better preparing them as they enter the workforce. Muehler said he’s honored to be part of this joint venture. “It took a great deal of vision to see this private-public partnership. I would like to see more of this kind of collaboration,” he said. Muehler, who grew up in rural North Dakota, joined NSU in 2013. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and a law degree from the University of North Dakota. Muehler was admitted to the bar in North Dakota and Minnesota. Muehler was a law clerk for the United States District Court in Bismarck, N.D., and then began his 20-year career in the financial services industry, with an emphasis in trust management. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to enhance our ability to collaborate on a needed resource for the community,” said Preston. He has a B.A. in economics and Master of Business Administration from the University of Minnesota, as well as a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minn. Preston began teaching at NSU in 2012. In his career, he has consulted for more than 150 banks and financial institutions in a wide variety of legal, operational and managerial capacities. He has served as a bank examiner, internal auditor, CEO, CFO and COO of several financial organizations. “We are proud of our Dacotah Bank Scholars. They will help make the program a great experience for our students,” said James Smith, NSU President. JFAC RENOVATION MOVING FORWARD Plans to renovate the NSU Johnson Fine Arts Center moved forward this fall with the help of an anonymous donation of $2.5 million. NSU President Dr. James Smith said the generous donation will help fund construction of a black box theater within the JFAC. “We are very pleased to be the recipient of such a generous gift, and thrilled to be able to tell our stu- dents that we will be able to build the quality performance space that allows them to show their amazing talent,” Smith said. “The size and quality of our fine arts program has outgrown our facility,” Dr. Alan LaFave said. “We’re excited to have a modern, state-of- the-art facility to allow us to thrive and continue to attract the best art, music and theater students in the region.” Smith said that even with the large donation, fundraising will continue. “This is a sizable undertaking,” he said. “Now that we know we can build the new facility, we will be working to make sure we can furnish it and include the technical wizardry that a center of this quali- ty requires.” ARCHITECTURAL FIRM CHOSEN FOR NSU GREENHOUSE NORTHERN NEWS An architectural firm has been selected for the greenhouse project at Northern State University. JLG Architects will design the NSU greenhouse. The firm is based in Fargo, N.D., but also has an office in Brookings. The approximately 960-squarefoot greenhouse, which will be located next to the Mewaldt-Jensen Building, will enhance research and teaching capabilities at NSU while also providing educational opportu- nities for area K-12 students. The goal is to have the building designed and bid out in time to start construction by late spring 2015. (Left to right): NSU President Dr. James Smith, Dacotah Banks Inc. Chairman Rodney Fouberg, Dacotah Bank President and CEO Richard Westra, South Dakota State University President Dr. David L. Chicoine. NSU faculty members named Dacotah Bank Scholars “WE ARE PROUD OF OUR DACOTAH BANK SCHOLARS. THEY WILL HELP MAKE THE PROGRAM A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS.” – James Smith, NSU President Northern State University School of Business faculty members Todd Muehler and Robert Preston, along with a South Dakota State University faculty member, have been named Dacotah Bank Scholars.
NORTHERN TODAY 7 FALL 2014 The ceremony was held on Friday, Oct. 3, during the annual Gypsy Days celebration. Construction began in July 2013 on the estimated $1.4 million project. A $200,000 anonymous gift received was earmarked for photography and digital design equipment upgrades. The project was key to maintaining full accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, which Northern earned in October 2013. NSU is the only NASAD-approved college or university in South Dakota with bachelor’s degree programs in art and design. Ribbon-cutting ceremony held for NSU Cancer Awareness Tree NORTHERN NEWS Dacotah Hall dedicated during Gypsy Days The late Capt. Cecil E. Harris, NSU alum, Navy Hellcat pilot and hero of World War II, is honored in a sculpture in front of Spafford Hall on the campus of his alma mater, Northern State University. Harris is memorialized in a 9-foot bronze statue sculpted by former NSU artist in residence Benjamin Victor. During the statue dedication in June, Victor helped unveil it with Harris’ wife, Eva, 93; son, Tom; and daughter, Rebecca. Photograph by Greg Smith, University Relations Photograph by Joshua John Frachiseur, NSU Theater The NSU Department of Art and Theater celebrated the new/renovated photo and graphics labs in Dacotah Hall with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The ceremony took place in front of the tree, which is located on the campus green between Graham and Spafford halls. The creation of the tree was an honors thesis project for NSU Honors Program student Teresa Edelman. Visitors to the tree can tie a ribbon around its branches in honor of those who have fought or are still fighting cancer, and those who have lost their battle. Raising cancer awareness is a personal goal for Edelman, a native of Albertville, Minn. She lost her 6-year-old cousin, Danny, to high-risk acute myeloid leukemia in 2010. Edelman spoke at the Oct. 27 event, along with NSU President Dr. James Smith. Edelman also tied the first ribbon on the tree. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Northern State Cancer Awareness Tree was held on Oct. 27. ‘White Christmas’ comes early to Aberdeen Aberdeen Community Theatre and Northern State University’s theater department collaborated this fall to produce an all-city production of “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas.” Pictured left to right: Eli Corbett and Kati Bachmeyer, Brian T. Schultz and Katie Wegleitner
NORTHERN TODAY 8 FALL 2014 NORTHERN NEWS Q&A Associate Professor of Art (teaches design, graphic design, illustration, mixed media, drawing and art appreciation); NSU 2013-14 Outstanding Faculty Award winner; NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative. Sara Christensen Blair Hometown: I would have to say that Ab- erdeen is my hometown now because it is the place that I have lived the longest, almost one-third of my life. My dad worked for 3M and we moved every four-five years (Brook- ings - Chicago - Aberdeen - Brussels, Belgium). So while I was born in Brookings, I think I’m officially an “Aberdonian.” Family: Husband: Greg Blair, 37, Asso- ciate Professor of Art at NSU, sculpture and art history Son: Liam, 5 Daughter: Stella, 3 Parents: Sandy and Lowell Christensen of Lake Enemy Swim, S.D. Q. How long have you worked at NSU? A. I am in my ninth year at NSU. Q. What brought you to Northern? A. During graduate school I had the opportunity to teach “solo” for 2.5 years and knew when I graduated I would start looking for a faculty job. While working as a graphic designer for two years in addition to oth- er jobs, I was also job-hunting all over the country at colleges and universities. When I saw the opening at NSU for an art professor, I thought it would be fun to apply and see what happens. Q. What is the best part of your job? A. The best part of my job is working with students who are passionate about art and design and eager to learn the techniques, theories and history of art and design. Academia is a strange creature because we get to start fresh every semester with a new group of students in different courses. Each class has its own dynamic and that perpetual cycle keeps things from getting mundane and repetitive. The change in technology also keeps me on my toes and constantly learn- ing alongside the students. I also have wonderful colleagues in the art department, School of Fine Arts and across campus. I even get to work with my husband, as he is also an art professor at NSU. Q. What is your favorite class to teach and why? A. My favorite class to teach is called Mixed Media, and it is a course I developed when I arrived at NSU that includes multiple media, contempo- rary theory and experimental art techniques ranging from embroidery to video. That said, I always love teaching the introductory graphic design class because of my uber-nerdy interest in typography and graphics. Q. What is the best career advice you have ever received? A. “Do what you love and the money will follow.” Su- per-cheesy and ubiquitous, this line of advice has resonated with me for years. I don’t know who said it, where I heard it, and why I remember it, but I thought it was good advice; especially given I was interest- ed in a slightly difficult subject matter to turn into a career, art. The other great snippet of advice I was given by my art professor was, “go to graduate school. You can never have enough degrees and you should teach someday.” I will always be grateful to Professor McClain (Gustavus Adolphus College) for having the confidence in my work to push me into pursu- ing art as a scholarly research activity and career path. What advice would you like to share with students? A. Quit worrying so much about your career, you are only 18! Instead, focus on the privilege of being in school, choosing to learn more about a subject you are passionate about. Don’t do things because you are supposed to live up to some exterior expectations, study what you are interested in and figure out how to make it into a career later. In my sophomore year of college, I bought a lottery ticket. While my mom was driving me back to school after Christmas break, she asked me what I would do if I had all the money I ever needed. I responded, “I’d be an art major.” The next day I went to the registrar and changed all my classes and declared my major as art. Since I was pre-med, my parents were a little disappointed, but they are amazingly supportive. Luckily, it all worked out and I have a job with good benefits that I love. Q. Do you have any hobbies you want to mention? A. I’m an avid want-to-be ath- lete. I love playing basketball, volleyball, golf and racquetball. I ran my first half marathon this past summer and have really come to love pushing myself physically. I also play the violin and used to play in the Aberdeen University/Civic Symphony but since having kids, I’ve taken a long break. I hope to pick up my fiddle again in the next few years. Q. Is there anything else you want to include? A. I am so fortunate to work at NSU because of the students, staff, faculty and administration. It seems like every year the city of Aberdeen and the NSU campus just get better and better! Every job has its quirks, and this one isn’t immune, but working here has given me the freedom to become a better scholar, artist and most importantly, teacher. I sometimes think that I should try to finish another degree here so I can be an alumna. As we say in our family, “we are bleeding maroon and gold.” I’ve even got my kids shouting “go Wolves” whenever we drive by NSU football practice on the way home.
NORTHERN TODAY 9 FALL 2014 The Wolves volleyball team continued to build off its historic 2013 season. Northern was ranked in the AVCA top-25 poll every week at the time of publication. The Wolves climbed to as high as 21st in the poll. All-American Kelsey Chambers (Jordan, Minn.) was named the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year and was leading the Wolves in kills. Middle hitter Cari McGarvie (Lincoln, Neb.) was third in the nation in hitting percentage at .441. As a team, Northern was third in the country, hitting .296 on the season. Setter Drew Smith (Ames, Iowa) was second in the nation in assists per set averaging 13.13. In September, the Wolves won the NSU Dacotah Bank Volleyball Classic by going a perfect 4-0 over the weekend and sweeping all four of its opponents. McGarvie was named the MVP of the classic while Tori Biach (Bradenton, Fla.), Chambers and Smith were named to the all- tournament team. Sasha Hovind (Stirum, N.D.) had a pair of runner- up finishes this season as she placed second at both the Augustana Twilight and Minnesota Roy Griak Invitational meets in September. At the Griak, Hovind ran a time of 22:13.4 and finished over 30 places better than her finish at the 2013 event. Hovind was named the NSIC Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week in September. Clay Danielson (Fergus Falls, Minn.) was the NSU men’s top performer this season. At the Augustana Twilight, Danielson ran an 8K time of 20:51.55. by Kevin DeVries, Director of Athletic Communications and Technology VOLLEYBALL SOCCER FOOTBALL CROSS COUNTRY THE 2014-15 SPORTS SEASON IS IN FULL SWING FOR THE WOLVES AS MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY, FOOTBALL, SOCCER AND VOLLEYBALL ALL HAD SUCCESSFUL FALL SEASONS. Nicholas Truen, freshman, White Bear Lake, Minn. Drew Smith, junior Ames, Iowa Allie Macdonald, junior Hartford, S.D. The Northern soccer team enjoyed the comforts of Jerde Field as nine of its first 12 games were played at home. Anna Bondy (Pierre, S.D.) was leading the Wolves in goals (6), assists (3) and points (15) on the season. Her 15 points were tied for the fourth-most in the league at the time of publication. Goalie Brittany Tietz (Aberdeen, S.D.) was second in the NSIC with 69 saves on the year and had two shutouts for Northern. Kay Hernandez (Round Rock, Texas) and Allie Macdonald (Hartford, S.D.) both had a pair of goals by mid-season. The Northern State football team was 4-2 in the NSIC with wins over Concordia-St. Paul, Southwest Minnesota State, Minot State and MSU Moorhead. The Wolves dominated Minot State 42-14 in the 95th annual Gypsy Day game in October. Quarterback Jared Jacobson (Rapid City, S.D.) threw for a career-best five touchdowns in the win over the Beavers and was named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. Jared Hannigan (Aberdeen, S.D.) caught three touchdowns in the win. Jacobson climbed to fifth all-time on the NSIC career list for total yards in conference games with 7,862 yards. Nicholas Truen (White Bear Lake, Minn.) was ranked eighth in the conference in rushing, averaging 83.6 yards per game. Channing Barber (Dell Rapids, S.D.) was third in the NSIC in interceptions with three at the time of publication and Joe Parsley (Flandreau, S.D.) was sixth with two. Parsley had a game-winning interception return for a touchdown against Concordia and was named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in that game. S P O R T S Photographs by Greg Smith, University Relations
NORTHERN TODAY 10 FALL 2014 STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS SCHUKKING – who is a native of the Netherlands, has studied abroad in South Korea and has traveled extensively – attended the World Affairs Councils of America 2014 National Conference in November. He was one of only 25 students selected nationwide to attend, and the second NSU student in two years to be chosen for the prestigious annual conference. Schukking, a history major with minors in geography and economics, was looking forward to the conference. “I just hope to meet and hear from leaders from across the country and share their experience about how they deal with issues, and what their view is on world affairs,” said Schukking, a senior who will graduate In Honoribus in May. This year’s conference, held Nov. 5-7, was themed “America and the World 2015,” according to the WACA website. Topics included: China, the U.S., and Asia; Russia/Eurasia; Cybersecurity; Future of Education; Youth, Jobs, and Social Unrest; Food and Water; Global Economic Realignment; Future of Energy; Africa; and Climate Change. (For more information, visit www. worldaffairscouncils.org.) Schukking said all of those topics interest him, but the youth and jobs topic is especially important as it relates to college students seeking jobs after graduation. He is also very interested in sustainability issues. The 25 students selected nationwide to attend the World Affairs Councils of America conference are funded through WACA scholarship money. Schukking was chosen by the South Dakota World Affairs Council as the South Dakota student to vie for one of the 25 spots. Jeanne Jones Manzer, SDWAC executive director, said the council was thrilled, but not surprised, that Schukking was selected to receive one of the exclusive scholarships to attend. At NSU, Schukking is actively involved on campus. He is vice president of the Student Association, and is also involved with the Honors Program. He has worked in the International Programs Office and Residence Life, and has participated in an alternative spring break trip. Last year, he won the prestigious Marlin R. Scarborough Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded annually by the South Dakota Board of Regents. Schukking has also taken advantage of study abroad opportunities at NSU, attending Hanyang University International Summer School in Seoul, South Korea, in 2012. This experience, he said, was extremely helpful in preparing him for the world affairs conference. “The Korea experience especially was eye-opening,” he said. “It was amazing there in Seoul.” Schukking, the son of Graham and Truus Schukking, moved to the U.S. with his family in 2007 when he was 14. He graduated from Lake Preston High School in 2011. NSU senior selected to attend conference on world affairs Menno Schukking brought a unique global perspective to Northern State University, and this fall he brought that perspective to a world affairs conference in Washington, D.C. S E RV I C E L E ARN I NG “YOU CAN JUST FOCUS ON CLASSES… BUT YOU SET YOURSELF APART BY WORKING HARD AND MAKING NETWORKING CONNECTIONS THROUGH THESE EXPERIENCES BOTH ON AND OFF CAMPUS.” This spring, Northern State University students will have opportunities to experience service learning in the U.S. and abroad. Two trips are planned for spring 2015: an alternative spring break trip to Orlando, and a trip to Peru in May. Leading the spring break trip in March will be NSU Director of Student Involvement and Leadership Clayton Kolb and Kramer Hall Director Jordan Palmer. The group will work with two nonprofit organizations in the Orlando area. Details are still being finalized, but Kolb said the hope is that students could work on projects they would not experience locally – perhaps dealing with poverty, inner city issues or environmental issues. The team of roughly 10 students was formed this fall. On the 10-day journey to Peru, students will perform service work at an orphanage in Lima. The group, expected to be about 15 students, will also explore sites such as Machu Picchu. Kolb will lead this group as well, along with Study Abroad Coordinator Liz Hannum. NSU alum Brett Newton worked with them to help set up the trip. Information sessions for the Peru trip are being held this fall. Both trips are part of an effort to focus on service learning and community involvement at NSU, helping students become more civic-minded. “I think as professionals in Student Affairs, our goal is to prepare students to be more engaged in their community,” Kolb said. Efforts are also under way to bring back a student-led service group that could lead service projects in northeast South Dakota. TWO SERVICE LEARNING TRIPS OPEN TO NSU STUDENTS continued on page 11
NORTHERN TODAY 11 FALL 2014 STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS The trip was organized and sponsored by Collegians In Christ’s Service (CICS), Lutheran Campus Ministry at NSU. Geist serves as the group’s director. The trip’s main purpose was to lead Vacation Bible School activities at the Bokenkamp Children’s Shelter, including songs and crafts in Spanish, and also to provide support and encouragement to the more than 120 youth at the shelter and its many staff members. The Bokenkamp shelter serves as a temporary home, school and safe haven for migrant children who are being trafficked or cross the border into the United States from Central America to escape extreme poverty and danger in their home countries. Other projects during the week included re-stringing guitars for use at the shelter, sorting 10 pallets of food donations for the Food Bank of South Texas, and packaging 1,050 meals for Kids Against Hunger in Corpus Christi. The week-long trip also included many learning opportunities, which included visits to the Texas State Aquarium; the USS Lexington-Museum on the Bay; the Art Museum of South Texas; the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and Technology; Sea Turtle Inc., a rehabilitation center for sick and injured sea turtles; the Selena Museum; and the Gulf of Mexico. Geist and Cusick both agreed that they were very glad to be a part of this trip. “We were so impressed by the students all week. They pushed through their comfort zones and crossed the barriers of language and culture to connect with and inspire the incredible youth and staff members at the shelter,” Geist said. “It was amazing to see the five students on the trip changing lives and thinking about their own world and future careers as educators in new ways. They represented NSU in the most positive, gracious way, everywhere we went.” Alumni lead service learning trip to Texas with CICS, Lutheran Campus Ministry Ashley Geist-Cusick, class of ’09, and Tony Cusick, class of ’06, led five Northern students on a service learning trip to Corpus Christi, Texas. When deciding on a college, Northern wasn’t originally his top choice – until he visited campus. “It was very personable,” Schukking said. “That’s really what I enjoyed.” Plus, NSU had a wide range of programs to choose from – which was helpful, since he was undecided on a major at that point. The best part of his experience at Northern has been meeting people and forming friendships. “You can make friendships with both professors and a lot of students,” he said. After graduation, Schukking intends to pursue a graduate degree in community and regional planning. His advice to other students seeking opportunities such as the world affairs conference is to pursue similar experiences: seek an internship, study abroad and get involved on campus. “You can just focus on classes… but you set yourself apart by working hard and making networking connections through these experiences both on and off campus,” he said. ABU-SIRRIYA was selected this summer by the internship program, where he is serving in the Office of Presidential Personnel for fall 2014. The Office of Presidential Personnel oversees the selection process for presidential appointments to U.S. departments and agencies. Presidential Personnel interns work with staff members to respond to candidates for presidential appointments, communicate with departments and agencies on personnel matters and ensure that personnel priorities of the president are being met. Interns also help recruit and research potential candidates. According to the White House Internship Program website, the assignments given to an intern can include conducting research, managing incoming inquiries, attending meetings, writing memos and staffing events. The White House Internship Program also provides interns with extensive learning opportunities. All White House interns attend weekly events that include a speaker series with senior staff members, discussions about presidential policies and offsite field trips. Interns also participate in service projects at schools and nonprofit organizations in Washington. “Jordan is a hard worker who is showing the results of taking one’s education seriously,” said Dr. Jon Schaff, professor of political science and AbuSirriya’s advisor. “Jordan is an intellectually curious young man who looks for opportunities to learn and take on new responsibilities. He has set clear goals for himself and is willing to do the hard work necessary to reach those goals. He should be an inspiration to all NSU students.” Abu-Sirriya will return to Northern State University for spring semester and is expected to graduate in May 2016. NSU senior selected to attend conference on world affairs continued from page 10 NSU STUDENT SELECTED FOR PRESTIGIOUS WHITE HOUSE INTERNSHIP Northern State University senior political science and communication studies major Jordan Abu-Sirriya (Aberdeen) is currently participating in the White House Internship Program in Washington, D.C. Submitted by Ashley Geist-Cusick S E RV I C E L E ARN I NG
NORTHERN TODAY 12 FALL 2014 The Northern State University senior is spending fall semester as the event operations intern for the Kansas City Chiefs. Lien, a sport marketing and administration major from Sioux Falls, is planning, coordinating and assisting with corporate and stadium-wide events. He’s also attending meetings with corporate sponsors and reaching out to new clients. It’s an extremely exciting experience, though Lien said he won’t be swaying in loyalty from his favorite NFL team. “My affiliation is still with the Vikings,” he joked. “But it’s just such a cool opportunity, I can’t pass it up.” Lien isn’t the first NSU sport marketing and administration student to land a great internship. Kasey Gengler also loves the Vikings – and he spent his summer working with them. Taylor Morsching, an alum of the NSU program, is working as a U.S. Paralympics Emerging & Talent Identification Intern with the United States Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, Colo. And students don’t have to leave campus to score a solid internship. Recent grad Alex Webster worked in compliance with coach Terri Holmes right here on campus. The fact that students are being selected for these high-profile internship opportunities is a testament to the growth of the program, which is led by Dr. Thomas Orr, assistant professor of sport marketing and administration. The sport marketing and administration program was new when Orr started at Northern four years ago. It has grown to consistently stay at a healthy number of students, roughly 40-60, he said. Hands-on program The sport marketing and administration program is both rigorous and thorough and well prepares NSU students for their internship responsibilities. Field experience and service learning are major components of the program, Orr said. Students work for the Aberdeen Wings hockey team and at NSU games. Many classes require 20 hours in the field. “We put them in tough situations before they get there,” Orr said. It’s a very modern curriculum, he added, with the goal of making students hirable after graduation. “That’s really what everybody wants,” Orr said. Other hands-on applications include mock trials such as the one Orr’s students did this spring involving the national case of Richie Incognito’s alleged bullying of another Miami Dolphins player. Students also create marketing plans, coordinate the kid zone at football games and conduct case studies. For instance, when they work for the Wings, they might examine the parking situation and suggest methods of improvement. Another hands-on example is a recent campus forum that Lien took part in, where students presented plans for building a new stadium on campus. Campus involvement helps Lien, whose parents are Barb Dickson and Kirk Lien of Sioux Falls, has been actively involved at NSU. He works for the NSU Admissions Department and is an orientation leader. He is also involved with the Campus Activities Board and Ambassador Program, and was awarded Student Volunteer of the Year. Those campus involvement opportunities, he said, have helped prepare him for his internship. At other schools, it’s more difficult to join a campus organization because there are so many people. “Here, if you really want to do something on campus, you can do it – you have the opportunity,” he said. Lien, who has minors in business and entrepreneurship, offered advice to other students seeking an internship. STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS Gaining field experience While most of us are watching NFL teams on TV this fall, Derek Lien has a much closer viewpoint. “HERE, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO DO SOMETHING ON CAMPUS, YOU CAN DO IT – YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.” – Derek Lien continued on page 13 NSU senior Derek Lien spent his fall semester as an event operations intern for the Kansas City Chiefs. Photograph by Meg Williams
NORTHERN TODAY 13 FALL 2014 STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS “Just put yourself out there,” he said. “Honestly, if you want big, you dream big. I would have never guessed in a million years that I would have gotten a call back from the Kansas City Chiefs of all places.” Before he left, Lien said he was most looking forward to seeing the inside of an NFL team throughout the season and how it works on a daily basis. His internship began Aug. 18 and ends in early January. The department he is working in, he said, is one of two career paths he intends to pursue post-college. The other is in the department of fan experience, which organizes every aspect of professional sports outside of the actual sport – music, promotions, marketing, etc. Lien said he would be open to working in football or other sports. Many career possibilities Orr said career opportunities post-graduation are vast in the estimated $4 billion to $6 billion industry. A wide range of national and local organizations seek sport marketing staff, which can include serving as chief financial officer or managing player personnel, security, marketing and season ticket sales. Orr pointed out that students who graduate in the program also get a management degree, so they could work for sporting goods stores as well. Orr himself has had extensive experience as a sports player, official, supervisor, coach and sport administrator. He is also author of “Sport and Violence,” a critical examination of “sports rage” and aggression in athletics, and has discussed sports violence issues on the national level on The Huffington Post’s “HuffPostLive.” Now four years at NSU, Orr said the freshmen who started during his first year at NSU are seniors. He’s proud of their hard work and enjoys witnessing their accomplishments. “The more students move on to success, the more our program gets successful,” he said. These duties provided Webster, an athlete, the opportunity to see the other side of sporting events. “I’d been in every sport available to me in high school and was always active in at least one sport in college, so I think it was good to see everything from a different angle,” said Webster, a recent sport marketing and administration graduate. Thanks to the NSU sport marketing and administration program, she said, she had a good idea of what to expect with the internship, which was January-May 2014. The NSU Compliance Office assures that the athletics program is consistent with NCAA and university rules and regulations. Webster worked with Terri Holmes, NSU softball coach and compliance coordinator. She ran errands to the registrar and financial aid office, assisted with letter of intent and scholarship paperwork, and performed the design work. “I also helped out at basketball games and volleyball matches, monitoring hallways and escorting teams and officials to and from their designated locker rooms,” she said. Some people don’t realize all the work that Holmes does in her office, Webster said. She is in charge of making sure the hundreds of athletes at Northern are meeting the numerous rules and requirements related to athletics administration – whether it’s grades, credit hours, etc. Webster said she couldn’t pick one particular highlight of her experience. But, she said, “I really enjoyed being trusted to design the pamphlets, programs and invites for the various banquets that went on throughout the few months of the internship.” Her top piece of advice for other students looking for an internship: Start your search well in advance. “You don’t want to be limited in opportunities because of lack of time,” she said. Trying something new is also a good idea. “Don’t be afraid to look outside of the box,” she said. “Maybe try something that you wouldn’t necessarily think you would want to pursue, a different aspect of the business that you aren’t so familiar with. It is something you’re only going to be a part of for a few short months, so worst case, you can cross off an area of the business you find you don’t want to pursue any further.” Webster, who also had a minor in business, graduated from NSU in May 2014. Webster said she grew up all over “small town North Dakota.” She attended school in Alexander, Tappen and Rolette before eventually graduating from Wing. Webster is the daughter of Brad Webster of Fullerton, N.D.; and Faith Kapp of Tappen, N.D. She has a brother, Nic Webster, also of Tappen. She currently manages men’s sports shoes for Scheels All Sports in Bismarck, N.D. “I think my dream job would be with a major league baseball team,” she said. She wouldn’t rule out a college/university job, though. After working in compliance for her internship, and athletic communications for her practicum, she wouldn’t mind something similar to that. “We’ll see where the road takes me,” she said. Webster held internship with NSU Compliance Office From designing programs to helping out behind the scenes at athletic events, Alex Webster had a host of duties through her internship with the Northern State University Compliance Office. “DON’T BE AFRAID TO LOOK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX,” SHE SAID. “MAYBE TRY SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULDN’T NECESSARILY THINK YOU WOULD WANT TO PURSUE…” Gaining field experience continued from page 12 Through her internship with the NSU Compliance Office, Wolves track athlete Alex Webster got the opportunity to see the other side of sporting events.
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