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Long-standing partnerships between South Dakota State University and Black Hills State University have supported the health care needs of West River South Dakota since 1992. Now, increases to available student seats have allowed the programs to serve more students and prepare more nurses to enter the field. 

At the 2024 National Alaska Native American Indian Nurses Association conference, the life and legacy of Beverly Stabber Warne was honored. Warne, who died on April 14 at the age of 85, will be remembered for the many lives she touched and the impact she had on Native Americans, including through her work at South Dakota State University. 

As the grants program specialist for the College of Nursing at South Dakota State University, Marie Schmit works to secure funding for training and research opportunities. In May, she was recognized with the Presidential Award of Excellence, alongside six others at the SDSU Professional Staff Advisory Council annual meeting. 

Erica DeBoer’s journey didn’t start at South Dakota State University, but her decision to transfer to State is one that she says set her up for success. She was recognized during Hobo Week with the SDSU Alumni Association’s Legends and Leaders Award, giving DeBoer the status of being a distinguished alumnus of SDSU. 

The Mellon Foundation has awarded South Dakota State University a grant to help SDSU provide a pathway to higher education for previously incarcerated individuals looking for a better future. The SDSU Post-Carceral Education Opportunity Program is now accepting applicants for the spring 2025 semester.

Amy Verhelst, a 2013 early childhood education graduate from South Dakota State University and current Sioux Valley Elementary kindergarten teacher in Volga, was recognized as the 2025 South Dakota Teacher of the Year in September.

Since her sophomore year, Sydnee Hubner has been an ambassador for the Raven Precision Agriculture Center. She could also be the poster child for hard work and achievement. The senior agriculture and biosystems engineering major from Pipestone, Minnesota, came to South Dakota State University with a distinguished resume and has only built upon that in her four years here. The most recent entry is receipt of a national scholarship through the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Hubner received the $2,000 Adams Scholarship, making her one of two students from the department to earn a national ASABE award this year.

Patience is a virtue, but when it comes to working in a production lab, speed and precision rate pretty high too. Thanks to an anonymous gift, Lohr College of Engineering has been able to buy six new CNC (computer numerical control) machines valued at $120,000. The machines arrived and were installed in the production lab of the Chicoine Architecture, Mathematics and Engineering Hall in September.

For the fourth year in a row, the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) chapter at South Dakota State University returned from its national conference with a national award. This year the chapter received the Impact to AISES Mission Award, which considers four areas — community engagement, cultural integration, professional development and advocacy and awareness.

Two retired South Dakota State University nursing professors were honored by their college for lifetime achievements at a scholarship celebration on campus Oct. 25. Carol J. Peterson, 85, of Brookings, was the inaugural recipient of the College of Nursing's Living Legacy Award. She served as the dean of the SDSU College of Nursing from 1977 to 1987, when she became the vice president for academic affairs, a position she held for 22 years. Lois Tschetter, 72, of Brookings, was honored with the College of Nursing’s annual Distinguished Service Award. Tschetter retired in 2019 after a 36-year career at SDSU.