Graduate School Newsletter – January 2026
Graduate Student Spotlight: Madison Mitzel
Originally from Hutchinson, Minnesota, Madison Mitzel returned to South Dakota State University for graduate school after a positive undergraduate experience. She earned both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from SDSU in 2022 and is now continuing her journey as a graduate student in the DNP – Family Nurse Practitioner program.
Reflecting on her graduate experience, Mitzel credits the strong support system at SDSU as a key factor in her success. “The DNP-FNP program can get very busy, but the professors and advisors have been amazing, always supportive and always available to answer questions,” she shared.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the program has been the hands-on learning opportunities. From valuable lab experiences to meaningful clinical placements, Mitzel appreciates how the program prepares students for real-world practice.
Her advice for prospective graduate students, “stay organized and go for it! Life gets really busy when you’re juggling school and work, but it’s very doable if you put your mind to it.”
After graduation, Mitzel plans to continue her career in health care as a cardiology nurse practitioner, serving patients in the same clinic where she currently works as a nurse, bringing her SDSU experience full circle.
Graduate School Travel Awards (Deadline: Feb 1, 2026)
The SDSU Graduate School Travel Awards help provide funding for graduate students to present original research and scholarly activity at professional meetings and conferences. These monetary awards subsidize travel costs and serve to encourage scholarship, recognize excellence in research and support opportunities for professional development.
Guidelines:
- Awards will be made for costs to attend meetings and conferences only and will not exceed $500.
- Members of the Graduate Council will select awardees.
- Application deadline will be Feb. 1 annually.
- Applications must be submitted electronically.
- Departments are encouraged to supplement these awards where possible to cover full travel costs.
- Travel awards will not be given to students who have completed degree requirements.
Graduate School Travel Award applications must be submitted electronically.
Three-Minute Thesis Competition (Deadline: Feb. 4, 2026)
South Dakota State University invites you to participate in the Three-Minute Thesis Competition. The 3MT is an academic competition that challenges Ph.D. and master's students to describe their research within three minutes to a general audience. 3MT celebrates the discoveries made by research students and encourages them to communicate the importance of their research to the broader community.
This year’s 3MT competition will be held in the Lewis and Clark Room, University Student Union, on Feb. 10, 2026, at 5 p.m. We encourage all graduate students to participate.
Interested students must register no later than Feb. 4, 2026. More detailed information will be sent out to registered students after that date.
Distinguished Innovation and Creative Work Award (Deadline: March 30, 2026)
The SDSU Graduate School is seeking to recognize outstanding creativity, impact and innovation in all disciplines offered at the university. This award includes original works accepted by the university in lieu of thesis — including nonthesis papers, projects, portfolios, media, computer software, etc. Nominations should be made by the student who is completing either a nonthesis master's or a Doctor of Nursing Practice student.
Submission requirements include:
- Completion of electronic nomination form.
- A nontechnical summary prepared by the nominee (two pages max) describing the research, impact, innovation and/or benefit to the field and its significance.
- A nomination letter from the major adviser and/or faculty member who can speak to the student’s contributions to the discipline.
- An updated résumé or curriculum vita.
Nominations must be submitted electronically via the MyState submission form. Deadline: March 30, 2026.
To , log into MyState and click the Dashboard tab. Under the forms portlet, click the Distinguished Innovation and Creative Work Award link.
- Jan. 12, Monday – Start date/instruction begins
- Jan. 19, Monday – Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday
- Jan. 22, Thursday – Unlocking the Power of AI: Using AI in an Ethical & Effective Way
- Jan. 21, Wednesday – Last day to drop or add and adjust final fees
Unlocking the Power of AI: Using AI in an Ethical & Effective Way
- Thursday, Jan. 22 noon-1 p.m. CST
- Zoom:
Explore practical and responsible ways to use AI in your academic and professional work. We'll start with a brief discussion on ethical AI use, then shift into hands-on time creating prompts and working with Microsoft Copilot.
Participants are encouraged to use a computer to follow along.
Graduate Professionalism Academy
The Graduate Professionalism Academy is an optional, flexible and self-paced program designed to help graduate students build valuable skills while earning badges/certificates along the way. Through the academy, you’ll be able to:
- Boost your resume or CV.
- Build personal and professional skills that last a lifetime.
- Explore current career trends and tools.
- Earn digital badges and certificates to showcase your achievements.
This year, you’ll have the chance to earn credentials from Beyond Graduate School, SDSU Credly and Coursera. Digital badges are verified credentials that recognize your skills, knowledge and accomplishments. They can be shared on LinkedIn, added to your resume and even included in your email signature.
