![DSU's annual Entrepreneurs Day will be held in the Beacom PREMIER Complex (pictured here).](_files/2025/02/govcy.jpg)
February 14, 2025
DSU Entrepreneurs Day returns to Madison
Dakota State University’s seventh annual Entrepreneurs Day is returning to Madison on Friday, March 28, in the Beacom PREMIER Complex. The event will be open to the public and livestreamed.
![Irina Pecherskaia](2025/02/irina_1350x900.png)
February 12, 2025
Pecherskaia finds home at DSU
Born in Uzbekistan and growing up in Russia, DSU student Irina Pecherskaia didn’t know she would end up at Dakota State for school, but she did know she was interested in computer science.
![The winning DSU team at the global Collegiate Pen Testing Competition, Merrill Newman, Hunter Wade, Derek Manzella, Gwen Vongkasemsiri, Ryan Kleffman, and Rayn Light.](2025/cptc-global-win2.gif)
January 29, 2025
DSU wins global pentesting competition
Dakota State students reached a milestone achievement this year – taking first place at the global Collegiate Pen Testing Competition (CPTC). They competed against 100 schools from seven global regions.
![Dakota State University is now a Cisco Network Academy certified campus, and students will be able to take advantage of this curriculum when fully operational later this year.](2025/01/cisco-networking-campus.gif)
January 23, 2025
Dakota State joins Cisco Networking Academy
Dakota State University is now a Cisco Network Academy certified campus. When fully operational later this year, this collaboration will provide a huge benefit for faculty and students to draw from Cisco’s resources.
![Assistant Professor Erik Pederson (standing) provides feedback to two students working on a game for Global Game Jam 2024.](_files/2025/01/game-jam-1350x900-2.jpg)
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.
![Noelle Vainikka art exhibition impulse featuring bright signage of pricing and advertisements with bags of garbage displayed in the middle of the floor.](_files/2025/01/noelle-1350x900.jpg)
January 21, 2025
Noelle Vainikka artwork featured at DSU
“Impulse,” an exhibition by Noelle Vainikka, is on display in Dakota State’s First Bank & Trust Gallery now through March 20. Vainikka, an interdisciplinary contemporary artist based in Watertown, South Dakota, explores themes of consumerism, nostalgia, femininity, popular culture, materialism, sustainability, and family.
![DSU students pose for a photo with (back row l-to-r): Assistant Professor Kanthi Narukonda, Dr. Ashley Podhradsky, President Jose-Marie Griffiths, Provost Rebecca Hoey, and Dean Mary Bell.](_files/2025/01/ctf-1350x900.jpg)
January 16, 2025
Competition wins translate to workforce success
DSU teams swept the top four spots at a recent CTF event, demonstrating that competition experience is a way to stand out in the cybersecurity job field.
![Braxton Lacher](_files/2024/12/braxton_1350x900.png)
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!
![Pictured (l-to-r): Student works with Dr. Patti Brooks in the classroom.](_files/2024/12/vipe-1350x900.jpg)
December 18, 2024
Virtual training benefits students and industries
Dakota State University health informatics and information students and other students in healthcare information systems or cybersecurity and faculty have the opportunity to participate in the Virtual Interprofessional Education (VIPE) program training with other universities and organizations throughout the world.
![Students excel at international competitions.](_files/2024/12/international-competitions.gif)
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.
![Angela Slattery, #21, found her place at DSU in the classroom and on the basketball court.](_files/2024/12/slattery2_1350x900.png)
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.
![Pictured (l-to-r): A ledger drawing by Wade Patton featuring colorful clouds, a full moon, and seven tipis; a painting by J.White featuring a pregnant woman laying on the ground; a doll featuring braids and horns.](_files/2024/12/artists.jpg)
December 11, 2024
South Dakota Native American artists visit DSU
For the past 50 years, DSU’s Native American Student Association (NASA) has brought speakers to campus and hosted events to celebrate Indigenous cultures. This month, NASA brought three Native American artists to campus to talk with students about their artistic journeys.
![Commencement at DSU.](_files/2024/12/commencement-banner.gif)
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.
![Nanocon student organizers gain valuable experience in project management, teamwork, and leadership.](2024/Nanocon-2024-games.gif)
December 9, 2024
Nanocon is game changer
Nanocon is a game changer for the student committee members who organize the free gaming convention held at Dakota State University by teaching them project management, organizational skills, and teamwork.
![Garret Leiseth (right) won the Charles Fazzi Delta Mu Delta award.](_files/2024/11/garrett-1350x900.jpg)
November 19, 2024
Delta Mu Delta’s Charles Fazzi Award honors student’s potential
Garret Leiseth won a national Delta Mu Delta scholarship. The Charles Fazzi Award is a $1,000 scholarship that recognizes students with a generosity of spirit, creativity, and resources who are outstanding business students.
![Gwen Vongkasemsiri smiling.](_files/2024/10/gwen-v-1350x900.jpg)
October 9, 2024
Competitions and passions drive Vongkasemsiri
Whether she’s on the volleyball court, participating in an international cybersecurity competition, or running the club she created, Gwen Vongkasemsiri loves competitions. A senior cyber operations and network & security administration double major, Vongkasemsiri chose to attend DSU after analyzing a list of schools across the U.S. that have excellent cybersecurity programs.
![Title card of Beau Headrick's animation DAYTRIP.](_files/2024/10/daytrip-1350x900.jpg)
October 4, 2024
’DAYTRIP‘ selected for multiple festivals
Dakota State senior Beau Headrick’s 2D animation “DAYTRIP” was selected for several film festivals, one of them international. Follow Fuzz on his journey to climb Mount Magoo all by himself, as he realizes along the way that maybe the summit is not the goal, but the company he keeps while on the journey.
![Brandon Jansen at his MarketBeat internship in Sioux Falls, S.D.](_files/2024/09/jansen-brandon-1350x900.jpg)
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.
![DSU senior Madison Miller published her first poetry book recently.](_files/2024/09/madison-miller-1350x900.jpg)
September 25, 2024
Healing through art
Madison Miller published her first poetry book, "He doesn't deserve to know me." The book was a way for her to address her complicated relationship with her father.
![RayLee Wallis holding certificate and coin.](_files/2024/09/raylee-wallis-certificate-banner2.jpg)
September 20, 2024
No goal is too big
RayLee Wallis’s summer internship in the Secretary of the Army Primary Cyber Advisor’s office taught her that she is capable of doing big things. “I can develop the skills necessary for contributing in a fast-paced work environment.”
![DSU volleyball players hold a thank you donor signs during Trojans Give Back 2024.](_files/2024/09/tgb-1350x450.jpg)
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.
![DSU Homecoming Court (pictured l-to-r): Back row: Kodiak McClure, Kaden Krusemark, Braxton Lacher, Cody Farland, and Wael Delessa. Front row: Angela Slattery, Jöelle Malacko, Maya Plummer, Hannah Evans, and Kinjal Basnet.](_files/2024/09/homecoming-1350x450.jpg)
September 11, 2024
Homecoming royalty crowned
Braxton Lacher and Maya Plummer were crowned king and queen at Dakota State’s coronation ceremony.
![Kanthi Narukonda and Mikaila Fluth with one of the Bee-Bots.](_files/2024/09/cybher-1350x900.jpg)
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.
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.
![DSU alumnus Tre Maddox at Trojan Royale in Las Vegas.](_files/2024/08/maddox-tre-1350x900.jpg)
August 20, 2024
NBA referee Tre Maddox to visit campus
NBA Referee and DSU alumnus Tre Maddox is returning to DSU for a visit.
![Madeline Hegg](_files/2024/hegg_1350x900.png)
April 19, 2024
Inspired to Educate
By the third grade, Madeline Hegg already knew what she wanted to be when she grew up. Like many individuals who choose to pursue a career in education, she was inspired by teachers throughout her schooling.
![An image with orange hexagons and dots connecting on a blue background with the words DAD at MAAC 2 A Digital Arts and Design Student Exhibition.](_files/2024/04/dad-1350x900.jpg)
April 10, 2024
DSU art students to exhibit projects
Drawings, digital illustrations and photography, paintings, animations, digital sound projects, and 3D works will fill the BrickHouse this week. These works, created by DSU Digital Art & Design (DAD) students, will be displayed by the Madison Area Arts Council (MAAC) at the BrickHouse on Thursday, April 11 from 7 to 9 p.m.
![Zach Rorhbach in front of a white background.](_files/2024/03/rorhbach_1350x900.jpg)
March 21, 2024
Beyond the bedside
An interest in science, medicine, and health will often conjure images of potential careers as doctors, nurses, dentists, paramedics, and therapists, but there are other avenues for those who would prefer to work with different aspects of patient care. Health informatics and information include all data related to a patient’s medical history, including their symptoms, diagnoses, procedures, and outcomes.
![Justice Forster working at his computer in a library.](_files/2024/03/entrepreneurs-1350x900.jpg)
March 18, 2024
DSU Entrepreneurs Day moves to Sioux Falls
Dakota State University’s fourth annual Entrepreneurs Day will be held in Sioux Falls for the first time, taking place at Startup Sioux Falls on Friday, March 22.
![The CPTC team (top row l-to-r): Gage Schacher and Coach Tyler Flaagan; (bottom row l-to-r): Merrill Newman, Daniel Sobczak, Ryan Kleffman, and Derek Manzella. Not pictured: Austen King.](_files/2024/03/cptc-team-1350x900.jpg)
March 12, 2024
CPTC team wins two awards at globals
Dakota State University’s Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition (CPTC) team competed at globals in Rochester, N.Y., winning two awards. Penetration testing helps companies and organizations know what is and isn’t vulnerable in their network. CPTC allows collegiate cybersecurity students to perform real-world penetration testing with a fictional business.
![Students utilizing flexible seating options in Dr. Scott Klungseth's Exercise Science class.](_files/2024/03/es-flex-1350x900.jpg)
March 12, 2024
Klungseth researching flexible seating in college setting
Pedal. Glide. Stand. Balance. These are a few of the options available in flexible seating classrooms, or classrooms that allow for student movement. While there has been plenty of research on flexible seating in the K-12 education environment, that hasn’t been the case in higher education, so Dr. Scott Klungseth, Associate Professor in Exercise Science at Dakota State University, is looking to change that.
![DSU student David Siemienas pictured with a blue background that has dots connected with lines.](_files/2024/02/david-s-1350x900.jpg)
February 14, 2024
DSU student sees latest tech at trade show
Dakota State University junior Cyber Operations major David Siemienas attended the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), an annual trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association, in January.
![Image of East Hall with bare trees around it and a blue sky.](_files/2024/02/east-hall-1350x900.jpg)
February 9, 2024
Senior FDIC examiner to speak at DSU
Dakota State University’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Club is bringing Andy McQuistan, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Senior Examiner, to campus to speak to students.
![Pictured (L-to-R) Shishir Poudel, Acley Bujune, Tracey Kwarteng, William Osei-Hwere, and Nicole Claussen.](_files/2024/01/second-chance-1350x900.jpg)
January 19, 2024
From setbacks to comebacks
A non-profit organization has helped four international students find their homes at DSU. The four students found their way to Dakota State University this year through Second Chance at Higher Education, an organization dedicated to helping international students in need of financial aid and scholarships attend universities in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
![Justice Forster](_files/2023/12/justice_ws-1350x900-min.jpg)
December 6, 2023
DSU provides graduates with a competitive edge
DSU provides graduates with a competitive edge. Justice Forster to speak at fall commencement.
![Nanocon attendees playing a game. Photo by Andrew Meyerle.](_files/2023/11/nanocon-1350x900.jpg)
November 17, 2023
Record breaking Nanocon brings in over 1100
Nanocon, Dakota State’s annual free gaming convention, broke its attendance record this year, bringing in just over 1,100 people throughout the four-day event.
![Rendering of a potential indoor practice facility dome.](_files/2023/11/practice-facility-rendering-1350x900.jpg)
November 1, 2023
DSU receives lead donation of $7M for indoor practice facility
With a $7M lead donation from Philanthropist T. Denny Sanford, the University will look at a variety of plan options, but the initial consideration is a seasonal dome facility.
![Justice Forster](_files/2023/10/justice-forster-1350.jpg)
October 17, 2023
FDIC internship leads to job offer
DSU student Justice Forster has accepted a permanent position with the Federal Insurance Corporation (FDIC) upon his graduation in December. Forster spent the summer as an intern for the FDIC as part of the Financial Management Scholars Program.
![DSU College of Education students walk out of the Kennedy Center on campus.](_files/2023/10/houston-sadie-kennedy-1350x900.jpg)
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.
![Blue Bytes - Damian Kortus](_files/2023/09/damian_ws-1350x900.jpg)
September 26, 2023
Blue Bytes: Damian Kortus
Blue Bytes: Damian Kortus ‘23 / English for New Media When searching for universities in South Dakota, Dakota State University stood out to Damian Kortus.
![Day of Giving in studio hosts Jarod Keene and Jordan Oberg.](_files/2023/09/rise-up-1350x9001.jpg)
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.
![DSU Homecoming Court - Back row: Santiago Colla, Casey Te Grotenhuis, Tyler Thomas, and Cody Farland; Front row: Alexandra Smith, Casey Olson, Blen Asgedom, and Kalani Mangin.](_files/2023/09/homecoming-court.jpg)
September 13, 2023
King and Queen crowned at DSU
Tyler Thomas and Blen Asgedom were crowned king and queen at Dakota State’s Sept. 11 coronation ceremony.
![National Cyber Scholars](2023/06/ncs_ws-1350x900-min.jpg)
June 28, 2023
DSU students named National Cyber Scholars
In addition to taking their cutting-edge academic courses, many take advantage of DSU’s encouraging environment to build on that foundation and participate in additional learning and scholarship opportunities.
![DSU Newman Club member Kelsey O’Connell accepted the BOR Award for Community Service, along with advisors Heidi Comes (left) and Pam Lewis. BOR Executive Director Nathan Lukkes, BOR President Tim Rave, and DSU President José-Marie Griffiths congratulated the group.](_files/2023/06/bor-newman_ws-1350x900-min.jpg)
June 23, 2023
DSU organizations honored by BOR
The South Dakota Board of Regents (BOR) honored three Dakota State University organizations at the June meeting.
![Screenshot of Agent 54, the film, from the LCA Club. It features a figure in the distance running toward the camera in snowy terrain.](_files/2023/05/agent-54-1350.jpg)
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.
![Image of East Hall on DSU's campus in spring](_files/2023/05/east-hall-1350x900.jpg)
May 5, 2023
FBLA students to compete at nationals
Six DSU students will represent Dakota State University and the state of South Dakota at the national DSU FBLA-Collegiate competition.
![Jazlynn Pederson](_files/2023/05/jazlynn_ws-1350x900-min.jpg)
![Justice Forster headshot](_files/2023/04/justice-1350x900-2.jpg)
April 28, 2023
Forster to intern with FDIC
Justice Forster will spend 10 weeks of summer 2023 as an intern for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as part of the Financial Management Scholars Program.
![lit lightbulb held in a hand atop a desk.](_files/2023/03/entrepreneurs-1350.jpg)
March 27, 2023
Public invited to DSU’s annual Entrepreneurs Day
The public is invited to attend the third annual Dakota State University Entrepreneurs Day on Friday, March 31. The event will take place at Dakota Prairie Playhouse at 11:30 a.m.
![Conner-Starrett_AirForceCadet](_files/2023/03/usaf-ws_1350x900.jpg)
March 13, 2023
Family Ties to Service
DSU student Connor Starrett was one of three area Air Force cadets chosen to attend an Air Force symposium. He is following in his family’s footsteps with a military career, and wants to do all he can to help other people through his service.
![A group photo of the CybHER summer camp attendees from the summer of 2022 sitting on the stairs of The Beacom Institute of Technology.](_files/2023/02/cybher-camp-1350.jpg)
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.
![Boyd-SRI](_files/2023/02/boyd_ws-1350x900.jpg)
February 24, 2023
Practical research leads to professional internship
Joseph Boyd’s research project has led to a summer internship opportunity, and could possibly lead to a career as well. Robert Richardson is Boyd’s faculty mentor for the research.
![Bowman-1](_files/2023/02/bowman1-ws_1350x900.jpg)
February 8, 2023
Bowman refused to be discouraged from cybersecurity field
For those considering a career in cybersecurity, Ben Bowman’s advice is simple: be a little bit stubborn.
![Johanna Coffey is a first-generation college student.](_files/2023/01/coffey-1350x900.jpg)
January 10, 2023
Ask the questions
Johanna Coffey can ask a family member questions about the college process, but the DSU sophomore said any of the friendly people at the university can help.