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The annual South Dakota State University Celebration of Faculty Excellence recognized 30 faculty members, researchers and scientists Tuesday. The event honors faculty members in the university's colleges for outstanding research, teaching and service.

Professional sports, whether it be playing in or working for, is a goal for many high school and college students across the country. Samuel Pichura, a South Dakota State University senior, is no exception. This past summer, he fulfilled his dreams while interning for his one of favorite professional sports teams, the Minnesota Vikings.

After nearly two years of construction, the POET Bioproducts Center has officially opened its doors to the region's leading bioprocessing scientists. The new laboratory, located in the Research Park at South Dakota State University, will bring researchers from SDSU and South Dakota Mines together with industry partners to scale up innovative biotechnologies and varying South Dakota's economy.

Over the past two decades, the United States has been importing more and more avocados each year, underlining a growing obsession with the nutrient-dense fruit. Simultaneously, the U.S. and the rest of the world have been dealing with a growing environmental crisis spurred on by an overreliance on plastic. Could avocados — specifically avocado peels — provide a potential solution?

Deirdre Cross is a Human Biology major at South Dakota State University, also pursuing minors in Chemistry and Health Education. She is on a Pre-Physician’s Assistant track, with plans to become a PA after graduation. In addition to pursuing her major, two minors, and being an Honors student, Cross has also earned a Phlebotomy Certificate.

Started as the Sioux Falls Academy in July 2021, SDSU Connect creates meaningful connections to individuals, organizations and communities in the state’s largest and fastest-growing city. The Sioux Falls Academy began with a 40-member task force that included campus partners for several areas of the university.

The National Institutes of Health will fund work in the newly created Center of Biomedical Research Excellence through a $10.9 million, five-year federal grant. Led by Adam Hoppe, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, the center aims to expand existing partnerships with South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and the Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network at the University of South Dakota.

Bold & Blue is the third and largest comprehensive capital campaign in South Dakota State University’s history with an ambitious goal of $500 million.

Myah Selland and Tori Nelson, both exercise science/community and public health majors, will be part of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍøs women’s basketball lore for years. Careers that included winning conference championships, playing in NCAA tournaments and winning a WNIT championship are only part of their story.

The SDSU Foundation’s public launch of Bold & Blue came in October 2021, and since then the momentum of the campaign has been felt throughout South Dakota and beyond. With a goal of $500 million, the campaign is more than 87% of its way toward reaching its half-billion-dollar mark. Bold & Blue is the third and largest comprehensive campaign in South Dakota State University history, focusing on people, traditions, places and innovations.