Alumni - continued from p. 2 What is one of your favorite memories or experiences from your time at Northern? One of my favorite experiences at Northern was being involved in campus and community activities that brought people together. I especially enjoyed being part of groups such as the Culturefest event, one of the biggest events where students from Northern gather all together and share their culture with the community. I absolutely love it. Another group was English Corner, students from different backgrounds could connect, learn, and support one another. Northern gave me a sense of belonging and showed me the power of community, diversity, and personal growth. This is something that allowed me to build meaningful relationships and connect with the community now I call home. Is there anything else you’d like to add? I’m very grateful for my time at Northern State University, because it reinforced my entrepreneurial background and shaped the person and leader I am today. Northern gave me opportunities, friendships, and the confidence to dream bigger, to think out of the box, and to believe in myself. My journey through all these years in Aberdeen has taught me that with smart work, perseverance, and faith, anything is possible. I’m proud to be an NSU wolf and thankful to continue building my future right here in Aberdeen, the place I am proud to call home. Garrison 4 Northern State University partnered with the Huron Community Campus in Huron, S.D., to offer a hands-on workshop on ChatGPT and artificial intelligence tools to community members on April 8 and 15, drawing 43 participants from a wide range of career fields including education, law enforcement, banking and healthcare. The workshop was led by Dr. Amanda Garrison, assistant professor of marketing at Northern State University, and was offered face-to-face on the Huron campus. Participants also gained access to the Practical ChatGPT Prompts and Study Agents Micro-Credential, an online self-paced course that complements the in-person instruction. Upon completing both the workshop and micro-credential, participants earned a digital badge verifying their new AI skills. The badge contains metadata linking to the AI competencies explored and can be shared on professional platforms such as LinkedIn and digital resumes. "The real magic wasn't the technology — it was the conversations that were sparked and seeing community members in the room realizing they could use it in their own work and lives," said Dr. Garrison. The workshop is part of a broader effort by Northern State University to expand workforce-relevant learning opportunities beyond the Aberdeen campus and into communities across the region. The initiative was also a pilot project to explore how NSU's existing micro-credential program could be made accessible to community members outside the university.Empowering Innovators is NSU's approach to preparing learners for what's next. Through industry-aligned digital micro-credentials, the program transforms learning into skills employers can see and trust. Northern State University Brings AI Workshop to Huron Community Designed to be flexible and future-focused, Empowering Innovators helps learners showcase their achievements beyond the transcript, turning academic rigor into verifiable credentials that support career growth and lifelong learning. The program offers more than 35 free micro-credentials covering topics ranging from generative AI and design thinking to adaptive leadership and LinkedIn networking. To date, more than 4,000 badges have been awarded to over 1,900 unique earners.
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