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Two women's passion for service inspired Larson throughout her nursing career and as a sister. And they continue to guide her in her new national leadership role as the president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. She’ll hold the position for one year and then serve as past president for a year.

Keely Eagleshield was officially appointed to the Larson Family Endowed Director of Wokini and Tribal Relations at South Dakota State University on Dec. 8, 2025.

Fueled by a love for Legos and a fascination for how the body works, Edina, Minnesota, fifth-grader William O’Connell started writing research papers on how the eye functions and what causes an appendicitis. That was 2015. Ten years later, O’Connell is still writing research papers, though the words have gotten bigger and the topic more complex. The South Dakota State University junior has a double major in human biology and mechanical engineering with a biomedical engineering minor with plans to graduate in May 2027. He also is a member of the fourth class of Future Innovators of America, which are chosen by the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering.

Civil engineering senior Alex Foley has put his own spin on the John F. Kennedy quote “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” Foley, who graduates in May, said, “You hear our administration talk about how SDSU can change you. My mindset was how can I leave an impact on the university itself.” In Foley’s 3 ½ years on the South Dakota State University campus, he has certainly done that — and others have taken note. On Dec. 3, he was recognized as the recipient of the Inspirational Student Leadership Award in Civil Engineering, which was created in 2024.

Carie Green, South Dakota State University's Profilet and DeJong Family Endowed Director of Early Childhood Education, designed a project to expand the experiences of early childhood and elementary education teacher candidates.

Nick Erickson, a senior electrical engineering major from Pierce, Nebraska, Erickson is the recipient of the major scholarship — the Center for Power Systems Studies Outstanding Senior Scholarship — a $5,000 award. Also,

Selections for the fourth class of Future Innovators of America Fellowships have been announced by the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering.  The eight recipients and the department which selected them are:  • Maxwell Donelan, mathematics and statistics  • Tennille Eremas and John Akujobi, both computer science • Keaton Ranslem, civil engineering • Connor Matthies and William O’Connell, both mechanical engineering • Eli Otten and Gabrielle Robbins, both construction and concrete industry management.

Alysha Kientopf, who received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural education from South Dakota State University, has received the Region III Outstanding Agricultural Education Teacher Award from the National Association of Agricultural Educators.

Working alongside college classmates isn’t a common experience, but for three South Dakota State University music education graduates, it’s become their everyday reality.

Turner Marr, a mechanical engineering senior from Buffalo, Minnesota, wanted to become a doctor when he enrolled at South Dakota State University in fall 2022. That lasted all of one semester. The switch from biochemistry premed to mechanical engineering had nothing to do with the sight of blood or the thought of working on a cadaver. He simply wanted a major that required more math while allowing hands-on learning. He found that in mechanical engineering and in December 2024 was selected by the college as a Future Innovator of America.