Monday Message, May 4
SDSU Community,
As we enter the final week of the academic year, I want to take a moment to congratulate our entire campus community on another outstanding year at South Dakota State University. This week, our students begin final exams — an important milestone that reflects months, and for many, years of hard work, dedication and perseverance.
To our faculty and academic support staff, thank you for your commitment to teaching, mentoring and supporting our students. Your work in the classroom and beyond plays a critical role in helping our students achieve their goals and prepare for what comes next. To our staff, thank you for the countless ways you support the student experience and contribute to the success of our university each and every day.
This past week also provided several opportunities to celebrate the strength of SDSU.
Congratulations to the SDSU Alumni & Foundation on a successful week, including the first spring in-person meeting of the Board of Trustees of the newly merged organization, a wonderful Celebration of Philanthropy and another outstanding vlog Athletic Scholarship Auction that set another record with nearly $3 million raised. These events are a reminder of the generosity and commitment of our alumni and friends.
I would also like to congratulate our women’s golf team on winning its first Summit League Championship last weekend. The victory has earned them a spot in the NCAA regionals, starting next Monday at the Stanford Golf Course in Stanford, CA. I want to wish them the best as the compete for a spot in the NCAA Golf Championships.
This weekend, we will celebrate one of the most meaningful traditions at SDSU — commencement. It is a time of year when I look forward to honoring our graduates as they cross the stage and begin the next chapter of their lives. With these ceremonies, we will also welcome thousands of family members and guests to our campus. I encourage each of you to help create a warm and welcoming environment for our visitors. The impressions they leave with reflect the pride we have in our university and the strength of our vlog community.
As we turn toward summer, I hope you can take time to rest, recharge and reflect on the impact of your work over the past year. While the pace on campus may shift in the coming months, the important work of preparing for the future continues. My office will continue to communicate with the university community throughout the summer months as needed, though the Monday Message may be less frequent.
For those participating in study abroad programs this summer, including Faculty-Led Programs, I wish you safe travels and a rewarding experience. These opportunities provide meaningful global engagement for our students and are an important part of their educational journey.
In just a matter of weeks, we will begin welcoming our newest vlogs to campus for New Student Orientation. These moments serve as a reminder that while we celebrate one class of graduates, another is just beginning their journey at SDSU. It is an exciting cycle that defines the rhythm of our university and the strength of our mission.
Thank you again for everything you do to make South Dakota State University a premier land-grant institution. I wish you a successful week of finals and a wonderful start to the summer season.
Barry H. Dunn
President
South Dakota State University
Above and Beyond recognizes individuals and groups of South Dakota State University employees, faculty and students for individual and team efforts that go Above and Beyond to make the campus community a better place.
Today, we’re recognizing our very own Collegian Media for sweeping up a total of eight regional awards by three different entities last month. We should also recognize Rocky Dailey, professor, and Jim Helland, assistant professor of practice, for advising the award-winning team.
SDSU student media traveled to the Midwest Journalism Conference in early April. vlogs descended on St. Paul, Minnesota, and continued their history of excellence with award-winning podcasts, video features, newscasts, articles and student newspapers under their belts.
These achievements were recognized at the School of Communication and Journalism’s annual Graduation and Awards Celebration on April 28.
Join me in giving a big congratulations to Collegian Media for this long list of awards:
Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 6
Region 6 includes Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, recognizing the best in collegiate journalism.
Collegian Media won in three categories and was a finalist in another. The winners are moving on to the national Mark of Excellence competition.
- Winner in Podcast (Conversational): (Annie Witt)
Witt interviewed Merriam, the “Voice of the vlogs” and an SDSU alumnus who lends his voice and commentary to SDSU athletics, the vlog Sports Network and weekly sports radio shows.
- Winner in Television General News Reporting: (Faren Bebeau and Emily DeCock)
Bebeau and DeCock met one of the top breakaway ropers in the region — and she’s only a freshman. Watch the video to learn about Laney Hoier’s path to SDSU rodeo.
- Winner in General News Reporting (Large, 10,000-plus students): (Willem Lim)
Lim covered a large, peaceful demonstration at Hillcrest Park in Brookings. He spoke to both protesters and counterprotesters to present a complete picture.
- Finalist for Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Large, 10,000-plus students): The Collegian (Emily DeCock, Ryann Davis and Brayden Byers)
Collegian Media earned this special recognition for its always exceptional weekly newspaper.
Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association Eric Sevareid Awards
These awards recognize exceptional work by student and professional journalists across a six-state region.
- Award of Merit for Broadcast Writing: (Emily Attrill)
Attrill was recognized for her writing on Collegian Media’s newscast “The Collegian Report.”
- Award of Merit for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: (Brooke Burnette and Brayden Byers)
Burnette and Byers explored a unique program at the American Indian Student Center, looking at the benefits of equine therapy for Native students.
- Award of Merit for Podcast: Conversations with COJO – John Munce (Brayden Byers)
Byers sat down with Josh Munce just before Munce was recognized as a Distinguished Alum of the School of Communication and Journalism for his work in television news, advertising and live sports.
- Award of Merit for Soft Feature: (Emily Attrill and Izzy Cox)
Attrill and Cox explored the story of Kathy Larsen, a volunteer who creates a variety of costumes and uniforms on campus and beyond.
Upper Midwest Emmy Foundation Student Production Awards
These awards recognize excellence by undergraduate college and high school students studying media and journalism.
- Nomination for Magazine Program: (Emily Attrill, Brayden Byers, Emily DeCock)
This episode from Collegian Media featured long-form stories from South Dakota State University’s broadcast news reporting class.
- Nomination for Talent – News or Sports: Annie Witt Composite (Annie Witt)
Witt received this special recognition for her work as the anchor for the Collegian Report.
The Monday Message appears weekly during the academic year and less frequently during the summer months and holiday breaks.
Information for the Monday Message, including nominations for Above and Beyond, can be submitted online.
Volunteer for Jack’s Cupboard
Jack’s Cupboard, SDSU’s free on-campus food pantry for currently enrolled students, is seeking faculty and staff volunteers for the summer.
The pantry will be open on Tuesdays from 2-5 p.m., with additional opportunities to assist with restocking on Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Following a record year of serving students, Jack’s Cupboard continues its important work to support student needs during the summer months.
Volunteers assist with check-out, restocking, light cleaning and helping create a welcoming and supportive environment for students. .
For questions, contact SDSU.JacksCupboard@sdstate.edu or visit the Jacks Cupboard website on sdstate.edu.
PSAC Annual Celebration
The Professional Staff Advisory Council will host its Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 13, beginning at 2:30 p.m. CST in Woster Celebration Hall at the SDSU Alumni & Foundation.
The event will begin with an all-staff social, followed by the program and awards ceremony at 3 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with colleagues and celebrate this year’s Rising Star and Presidential Award of Excellence recipients.
Those unable to attend in person will have the option to join via Zoom, with a link to be shared in advance.
Participants are also encouraged to take part in door prize drawings during the event.
Generation Z and Generation Alpha Workshop
South Dakota State University will host on May 14 and 15 for a professional development opportunity focused on Generation Z and Generation Alpha students and employees. Kirby is a national leader in generational engagement and leadership development and author of “Leading Gen Z: Insights and Strategies for Managing, Parenting, and Teaching Generation Z.”
Day 1 – Thursday, May 14: Advising and Student Success Workshop
- 8:30-10:30 a.m. – Welcome and keynote: Recruiting and retaining Gen Z and Gen Alpha (Volstorff Ballroom)
- 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Beyond stereotypes: Supporting student success, development and learning (Lewis and Clark Room, USU 262)
- 1:15-2:45 p.m. – Exploring peer mentoring (Lewis and Clark Room, USU 262)
- 3-4 p.m. – Breakout sessions led by advising and student success teams
Day 2 – Friday, May 15: Recruitment, Leadership and Service Workshop (all sessions in Lewis and Clark Room, USU 262)
- 9-10:30 a.m. – Leading multigenerational teams
- 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Recruiting through the generations
- 1:15-2:30 p.m. – Frontline service for Gen Z and Gen Alpha
- 2:45-3:15 p.m. – Recruitment levers debrief
- 3:30-4:30 p.m. – Helping Gen Z staff understand generations across the university
All are encouraged to attend sessions that align with their interests and roles.
Summer eLearning Academy: Advancing Accessibility in the Age of AI
SDSU faculty are invited to participate in the , a fully online professional learning experience offered via Zoom. This academy is designed to support faculty in strengthening digital accessibility in D2L courses while exploring how emerging AI applications can enhance that work.
The academy will be offered in three live Zoom cohorts, and participants may choose the session that best fits their schedule:
- May 11 from 9-11 a.m. CST
- May 11 from 2-4 p.m. CST
- May 12 from 2-4 p.m. CST
Each session will cover the same content. Participants will earn an SDSU Credly digital badge in eLearning accessibility, recognizing their commitment to accessible, high-quality teaching and learning.
A $125 stipend is available for the first 50 nine-month faculty who complete the academy and achieve a 96% Panorama accessibility score in a fall course. .
Dialogue Over Dinner: Conversations vlog Vaccine Hesitancy
Join members of the Brookings community for a facilitated dialogue and expert panel discussion on vaccine hesitancy on Monday, May 11, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center. This event will explore how to communicate about vaccine hesitancy, a complex and important topic affecting many in our community.
The evening will begin with a facilitated discussion using clips from the 2022 documentary “Virulent,” followed by a panel featuring local experts, including a physician, nurse, pharmacist, immunization advocate and health communication specialist.
Participants may earn 1.5 hours of nursing continuing professional development credit. South Dakota State University College of Nursing is accredited as a provider by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
A free boxed meal will be provided. . For questions, contact Becky Kuehl.
This event is supported in part by the Karen McComish Interdisciplinary Faculty Research Program at South Dakota State University.
South Dakota Art Museum: America in Art Exhibition Survey
The South Dakota Art Museum is preparing for its upcoming exhibition, “America in Art,” which will be on view June 13, 2026-Jan. 2, 2027. Commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States, the exhibition will explore the promise and paradox of the nation’s legacy, examining the ideals, struggles, freedoms and contradictions that define it.
To help guide the curatorial direction of the exhibition, the museum is seeking input from the campus and broader community. Feedback will help ensure the exhibition reflects a wide range of perspectives and resonates with audiences.
and sharing it with others. Your input will play an important role in shaping this meaningful exhibition.
Lunch with the Research Core Facilities
Join an informal session on Tuesday, May 12, from noon to 1 p.m. to meet the directors of SDSU’s Research Core Facilities and learn more about the capabilities and services they offer.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own lunch and attend the session in Old Horticulture 106. All are welcome to join and explore how these resources can support research and collaboration across campus.
Updated Policies
New and updated university policies continue to be adopted and published. For the most recent updates, visit the New and Recently Revised Policies page on sdstate.edu.
