Alumni
March 7, 2025
Mentorship extends beyond DSU classroom
Danielle Kearin graduated from Dakota State University in 2006, but she’s maintained contact with her mentor, Digital Arts Professor Tom Jones, in the decades since.This mentorship has encouraged and inspired Kearin to pursue her own creative endeavors through her senior and sport portrait photography business, Striped Banana. She most recently earned first place in the black-and-white category of the Brookings Art Council’s 46th annual Photography Exhibition.
February 11, 2025
Swenson shares science journey
DSU alumna and Goldwater Scholar Vaille Swenson, who initially studied cybersecurity, followed her passion for biology, graduating in 2019. She thrived in DSU's supportive environment, valuing the small class sizes and research opportunities, including a published paper on Instant Pot autoclaves. Now pursuing a virology Ph.D. at Mayo Clinic, Swenson credits DSU for her success and encourages students to embrace opportunities.
Tags: College of Arts and Sciences Academics All News Alumni
January 21, 2025
DSU again hosts site for annual Global Game Jam
Dakota State’s game design program is hosting a Global Game Jam site the weekend of January 24-26. Global Game Jam (GGJ) is an event designed to bring people together for 48 hours to create a game from start to finish. These can be video games, board games, or card games, as long as they relate to a central theme chosen annually.
Tags: The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences College of Arts and Sciences Student Life All News Stories Alumni
January 15, 2025
DSU health programming benefits from involvement in professional society
Three Dakota State University faculty members are long-time leaders in the Health Information Management and Systems Society (HIMSS) Dakotas Chapter, which is part of the largest healthcare IT group in the world. HIMSS is an international association dedicated to transforming health through technology; they have chapters throughout the United States and the world.
Tags: Research Online @ DSU All News Alumni College of Business and Information Systems
January 10, 2025
DSU alumna crowned Miss Rodeo America
Dakota State alumna Callie Mueller’s 2024 was packed full of travel and accomplishments, serving as Miss Rodeo South Dakota 2024 and publishing her first children’s book “Faith Over Fear.” However, 2025 will be even busier as she takes on her duties as Miss Rodeo America.
Tags: College of Education and Human Performance Alumni All News Stories
January 9, 2025
Daniels gains rural health experience from AmeriCorps
A recent DSU graduate, Brandon Daniels (B.S. ’24), is working alongside Harvard doctors at Harvard’s teaching hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, while serving with the AmeriCorps Rural Health Partnership.
Tags: All News Athletics Alumni College of Arts and Sciences Research Stories
December 30, 2024
Braxton Lacher: Leading, Snapping, and Inspiring at DSU
From leading tours as a Trojan Ambassador to practicing snaps on the football field and conducting research with the TriBeta Club, DSU grad Braxton Lacher was everywhere on campus, making an impact at every turn!
Tags: Academics College of Arts and Sciences All News Alumni Athletics Student Life
December 16, 2024
International competitions hone good cyber skills
Dakota State University students are honing their cybersecurity skills everywhere they can, in class, through campus clubs, and with competitions that take place around the world.
Tags: Student Life The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences Alumni All News Stories College of Business and Information Systems Academics
December 12, 2024
Slattery: DSU was made for me
Angela Slattery, the fall 2024 commencement student speaker, said DSU was made for her, allowing her to develop her identity in the classroom and on the basketball court.
Tags: Student Life Stories Athletics Alumni The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences Academics All News
December 10, 2024
Judy Dittman is DSU’s fall commencement speaker
Dr. Judy Dittman will be the fall 2024 commencement speaker at DSU on Dec. 14. Alumna Tammy Miller will be receiving an honorary degree for public service.
Tags: Academics Athletics College of Business and Information Systems Admissions All News Alumni The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences International Student Life College of Education and Human Performance College of Arts and Sciences Stories
October 31, 2024
Faculty win Hackin’ Fest competition
Four DSU faculty in The Beacom College of Computer & Cyber Sciences won the Capture the Flag competition at the 2024 Wild West Hackin’ Fest in Deadwood.
Tags: Academics The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences Alumni All News Stories
October 23, 2024
DSU alumnus shares lifelong learning message
While on campus, DSU alumnus and NBA referee Tre Maddox, B.S. (’90), spent time with student-athletes, gave a talk sponsored by DSU’s TriBeta Club, visited the new athletics facilities, and reminisced about his time at Dakota State.
Tags: College of Arts and Sciences Alumni All News Athletics College of Business and Information Systems
September 27, 2024
MarketBeat internship provides real-world experience
Brandon Jansen spent the summer as an intern at MarketBeat, a Sioux Falls company that got its start on Dakota State University’s campus.
Tags: Student Life All News Alumni The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences
September 18, 2024
Trojans Give Back to heart of DSU
A total of 953 students, faculty, and staff contributed 2,709 service hours to more than 40 projects in Madison. And over 1,200 Trojan supporters raised over $335,000 for student scholarships, exceeding the goal of $300,000. These are all increases over last year’s totals.
September 16, 2024
DSU HIIM faculty present at virtual conference
DSU faculty Dr. Renae Spohn and Julie Wulf Plimpton shared about health informatics and information management topics at the virtual CAHIIM (Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics & Information Management Education) 2024: Summit on Higher Education.
Tags: All News Research College of Business and Information Systems Alumni
September 10, 2024
CybHER refocuses outreach to K-8
For over 10 years, CybHER® at Dakota State University has offered outreach programs for all ages, with a focus on middle and high school students. Now, expanding on this vision, CybHER is increasing its efforts to reach K-8 students, understanding that impactful early education can significantly shape the next generation of cybersecurity leaders.
Tags: All News Research College of Education and Human Performance The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences Student Life Alumni
September 10, 2024
Big day elevates DSU legacy
The opening of the Beacom PREMIER Complex will create distinctive opportunities that will benefit Dakota State and the surrounding region for years to come.
Tags: Stories College of Business and Information Systems All News The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences College of Arts and Sciences College of Education and Human Performance Alumni International Admissions Athletics Student Life
September 4, 2024
Robert & Karen Hemre named 2024 parade marshals
Robert (’68) and Karen (’68) Hemre are the 2024 Trojan Days parade marshals.
Tags: Alumni All News College of Education and Human Performance
August 23, 2024
Scott & Sara Schlisner and family named Ag Bowl Captains
Longtime Madison area farmers Scott & Sara Schlisner and family are 2024's Ag Bowl Captains. The family will be honored at the DSU game on Thursday, Aug. 29.
Tags: Alumni Athletics College of Business and Information Systems College of Arts and Sciences All News
August 20, 2024
NBA referee Tre Maddox to visit campus
NBA Referee and DSU alumnus Tre Maddox is returning to DSU for a visit.
Tags: Student Life College of Business and Information Systems Alumni Athletics College of Arts and Sciences All News
July 30, 2024
Bravo presents research at national conference
Recent DSU graduate Denyce Bravo successfully shared her research into the antimicrobial properties of alfalfa honey at the American Society of Microbiology (ASM) annual conference in Atlanta.
June 24, 2024
Renewed and rising: SBS CyberSecurity strengthens support for DSU
SBS CyberSecurity has renewed its partnership with Dakota State University and commitment to educational excellence with a $300,000 donation to support CybHER and the SBS Scholarship Endowment.
Tags: College of Business and Information Systems Alumni College of Education and Human Performance All News The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences
June 5, 2024
Data privacy poses challenges to AI in healthcare
Privacy and data access stand head-to-head like combatants, challenging researchers who seek to develop healthcare applications for artificial intelligence.
Tags: Alumni Research The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences All News
May 24, 2024
Mastering a math mindset with gamification
DSU Associate Professor Dr. Kevin Smith and his education students partnered with Madison Elementary’s second-grade classrooms for eight weeks of math activities, which he calls the Chasing Einstein Challenge.
Tags: College of Education and Human Performance Alumni All News
May 3, 2024
Stratton completes NSA Codebreaker Challenge for 4th time
Dakota State University placed 5th nationwide in the National Security Agency’s (NSA) annual 2023 Codebreaker Challenge.
Tags: Research All News Alumni The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences
May 2, 2024
DSU alumnus Matt Paulson is spring commencement speaker
For Dakota State University’s spring graduates, May 4 will be a big day. It will also be a big day for alumnus Matt Paulson, who is returning to his alma mater as commencement speaker. He will also be presented with an honorary degree for public service.
May 1, 2024
DSU graduate named Chester Teacher of the Year
Chester Teacher of the Year Sara Mersch knows the school district well, having graduated from Chester High School in 1996. She walked the same halls her students walk now, ate in the same cafeteria.
Tags: All News College of Education and Human Performance Alumni
May 1, 2024
Dakota State hires new leader for DSU Foundation
The Dakota State University Foundation has a new CEO and Vice President of Institutional Advancement.
January 23, 2024
DSU hosts Global Game Jam site
Dakota State University is hosting a Global Game Jam site at The Beacom Institute of Technology from January 26-28.
Tags: All News College of Arts and Sciences Alumni The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences
January 11, 2024
Professional accountancy career path opens doors
The term “professional accountancy” may invoke images of a future in bookkeeping or doing taxes, but the career paths with a professional accountancy degree are anything but limited. Graduates can find positions as data analysts, project accountants or C-suite administrators.
Tags: All News Alumni Online @ DSU College of Business and Information Systems
January 5, 2024
Generations unite
Stephanie Veltkamp’s grandmother, Arlene Johnson Hoek, graduated from high school in 1953 and went on to earn her teaching certificate from DSU, when it was known as General Beadle State Teachers College. Now, Veltkamp is earning her teaching degree from Dakota State through the Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway (TAP) program.
Tags: College of Education and Human Performance Stories Online @ DSU All News Alumni
January 5, 2024
A legacy of leadership
DSU alumna Dr. Summer Schultz (B.S. ‘98, M.S. ‘03) was inspired to become an educator by many individuals. Most notable among these was her father, a high school principal and athletic director at Colman-Egan.
Tags: College of Education and Human Performance All News Alumni
December 18, 2023
Regents expand continuing ed options for state employees
State employees will have expanded educational opportunities after action from the state Board of Regents (BOR) this week.
Tags: College of Business and Information Systems Academics College of Arts and Sciences All News Alumni The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences College of Education and Human Performance Admissions
December 4, 2023
Charles Luke is Fall Commencement speaker
Charles Luke will be the fall commencement speaker at Dakota State University on December 9.
Tags: Academics Alumni All News Online @ DSU
November 13, 2023
For educators, ongoing learning around technology is vital to their profession
Technology permeates nearly every aspect of our lives, and education is no exception. This makes Dakota State University’s Master of Science in Educational Technology (MSET) program an asset to a career in education.
Tags: All News College of Education and Human Performance Alumni
November 13, 2023
Lights, camera, animation
An internship during graduate school helped DSU alumna Breanne Butters build her career at DreamWorks Animation.
November 8, 2023
Trojan Athletic Club's Annual Wild Game Feed Raises Over $31,000
The Trojan Athletics Club is proud to announce that its 8th Annual Wild Game Feed held on Thursday, November 2 was a huge success. The sold-out event at Dakota State University's Dakota Prairie Playhouse raised over $31,000 to support student-athletes at Dakota State University.
October 5, 2023
Educators Rising Learning Expo at DSU Oct. 11
Dakota State University’s College of Education is excited to host the Educators Rising Learning Expo on Wednesday, Oct. 11.
Tags: Alumni College of Education and Human Performance Student Life All News
September 26, 2023
Day of Giving and Service successful
The Dakota State University Foundation raised over $300,000 for DSU programs and scholarships on September 14, which was Day of Giving 2023. A record-setting number of volunteers also participated in DSU’s annual Day of Service on the same day.
Tags: College of Business and Information Systems College of Education and Human Performance All News Alumni The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences College of Arts and Sciences Student Life
September 14, 2023
Suzy Collignon-Hodgen & Max Hodgen named parade marshals
Dakota State alumni Max Hodgen (B.S. ’97 & ’99, M.S. ’09) and Suzy Collignon-Hodgen (B.S. ’98) are the 2023 Trojan Days Parade Marshals. The couple’s origins began at DSU.
Tags: College of Arts and Sciences College of Education and Human Performance All News Alumni
September 13, 2023
DSU enrollment tops 3500
DSU enrollment tops 3500 for the first time ever. Growth seen in multiple categories.
Tags: Alumni Academics College of Education and Human Performance College of Business and Information Systems International The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences Admissions All News Athletics College of Arts and Sciences Online @ DSU
September 10, 2023
Join DSU for Day of Giving
The Dakota State University Foundation invites the Madison community to RISE UP and help DSU reach the goal of raising $250,000 for Day of Giving on Thursday, Sept. 14. Day of Giving coincides with Dakota State’s homecoming celebration, Trojan Days.
Tags: Athletics College of Education and Human Performance All News College of Business and Information Systems Alumni College of Arts and Sciences The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences
September 6, 2023
Experiences prepared alumna for administrative position
Throughout her career in education, Becky Fjerstad (B.S. ’95) has served in various positions, such as paraprofessional, middle school teacher, and elementary school teacher. She is now beginning her second year as an administrator for the elementary school of her hometown of Wessington Springs.
Tags: Alumni College of Education and Human Performance All News
August 21, 2023
DSU alum moves on to nursing career
DSU alum moves on to nursing career. Life can take unexpected but exciting turns.
Tags: Academics Alumni College of Arts and Sciences All News Stories
August 14, 2023
DSU Track to be named for alumnus Dan Beacom
The new track at Dakota State University in Madison will be named “The Dan Beacom Track Complex” after alumnus Dan Beacom, who passed away on May 24, 2023.
July 28, 2023
DSU inspires through US Cyber Team
Students and alumni from Dakota State University are competing against the world as members of the U.S. Cyber Team.
Tags: Research All News Academics Alumni The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences
July 19, 2023
Rizi awarded amateur radio scholarship
Tony Rizi is passionate about exploring the world of amateur radio and digital communications and inspiring and shaping the future of wireless technology.
Tags: All News College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Academics The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences
July 10, 2023
From science student to Science Steve
Watermelon and toilet paper are just a couple of the props used by Science Steve — technically Steven Rokusek, an education specialist with South Dakota Public Broadcasting — to teach fun and humorous lessons about physics, chemistry, anatomy, and more.
July 6, 2023
Digital Arts & Design grad finds success as entrepreneur
After graduating from DSU in 2013, Martin spent a brief period overseas playing basketball. But he ultimately returned to Atlanta, where he started his own business, EYA Sports, a multi-million-dollar basketball training program.
Tags: Athletics All News College of Arts and Sciences Alumni
June 23, 2023
Alumnus finds success in academia
DSU alumnus Dr. Rajeev Bukralia has developed a variety of programs and organizations related to data science in academia.
Tags: All News College of Business and Information Systems Alumni
June 20, 2023
DSU placement rates at 99.7%
Dakota State University is excited to announce the Class of 2022’s placement rates are at 99.7%.
Tags: College of Arts and Sciences Alumni College of Business and Information Systems College of Education and Human Performance The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences All News
May 19, 2023
DSU students earn accolades at film festival
Dakota State’s Lights Camera Action Club (LCA) earned multiple awards from the 54 Film Festival this spring, for their film Agent 54.
Tags: Student Life College of Arts and Sciences All News Alumni
May 16, 2023
Virtual Teach Camp returns May 30
Dakota State University’s virtual Teach Camp returns on Tuesday, May 30.
Tags: All News College of Education and Human Performance Alumni
May 15, 2023
Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway accepting applications
Today, the South Dakota Department of Education distributed applications to its new Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway program to thousands of para-educators (paras) in all accredited school districts across the state.
Tags: Admissions All News Alumni College of Education and Human Performance
May 8, 2023
Tordsen’s final year of accomplishments
Extended eligibility due to COVID allowed Conner Tordsen (B.S. ’22) to return to DSU for the 2023 spring semester as a student-athlete in track & field and earn a third minor in business.
Tags: Athletics College of Business and Information Systems College of Arts and Sciences All News Alumni
May 4, 2023
DSU diploma is a Ticket to Ride
Dakota State University’s spring graduates will learn how their DSU diploma is a “ticket to ride,” in the commencement address from Dr. David Kenley.
Tags: Academics The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences International College of Business and Information Systems Alumni All News College of Education and Human Performance College of Arts and Sciences
May 3, 2023
The Power of ‘Yet’
Jazlynn Pederson has had an interesting journey in higher education.
Tags: Academics College of Education and Human Performance All News Alumni Student Life
April 24, 2023
DSUnite Shatters Fundraising Record
DSUnite raises over $500,000 for student scholarships at Dakota State University
Tags: Alumni Athletics College of Education and Human Performance College of Business and Information Systems The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences College of Arts and Sciences All News
April 13, 2023
‘Fun’ Codebreaker Challenge
The NSA’s annual Codebreaker Challenge is fun, but also a great way to put students’ skills to the test in a real-world simulation. About 100 DSU students took part in the 2022 event, placing DSU 7th in the national event. Four completed all the challenges.
Tags: The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences All News College of Business and Information Systems Alumni
April 5, 2023
Sterling named to DSU Academic Hall of Fame
Dr. Vicki Sterling has been named to the Dakota State University Hall of Fame for her innovation, research, and creativity in teaching literacy at DSU.
Tags: Alumni Academics College of Education and Human Performance All News
February 28, 2023
Skyforce to host CybHER fundraiser night
Sioux Falls Skyforce, the area’s G-League basketball team, is hosting a CybHER fundraiser night on Friday, March 3.
Tags: Alumni Student Life All News
February 27, 2023
This South Dakota university is cybersecurity’s next powerhouse
With partnerships at the federal, state, and local levels, Dakota State University provides students and faculty "breadth and depth" in research opportunities and potential career paths.
Tags: Academics Alumni Admissions Research All News The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences College of Business and Information Systems
February 10, 2023
Griffiths receives Chief Executive Leadership Award from CASE
Honor recognizes outstanding leadership and service in support of education
Tags: Admissions College of Business and Information Systems Stories College of Education and Human Performance All News Alumni Academics The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences College of Arts and Sciences
January 17, 2023
DSU alumna finds success in California
Lexi Robson has found career success in California, working at Protiviti as an IT Audit Consultant in San Francisco, Calif.
Tags: College of Business and Information Systems All News Alumni