NEWS

ABERDEEN, S.D.?– Northern State University and the Aberdeen University-Civic Symphony Advisory Board are launching the?Battle for the Baton, a friendly fundraising competition where community donations count as votes and help determine who will take the podium as guest conductor during the Symphony’s 7:30 p.m. concert on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in the Jewett Theater inside Northern State University’s Johnson Fine Arts Center.

This year’s contestants are Aberdeen Mayor Travis Schaunaman and community champion Dan Cleberg. Supporters can make a donation…

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Three Northern State University alumni were recently recognized by the South Dakota Music Education Association, with major statewide awards honoring their impact on music education.

SDMEA presented the Distinguished Service to Music Education Award to Sheri Holt, the Distinguished Administrator Award to Kent Knudson and the Outstanding Young Music Educator Award to Taylor Schweitzer.

“These prestigious awards are indicative of the excellence and creativity demonstrated by our music education graduates throughout the state,…

ABERDEEN, S.D.?– Morgan Haselhorst, a member of the Northern State University Honors Program, has been accepted into the Honors Law Opportunity Program (HLOP) at the University of South Dakota (USD) Knudson School of Law.

Through the HLOP, Haselhorst is guaranteed admission to the USD Knudson School of Law, regardless of LSAT score, and will receive a $2,500 scholarship for her first year of law school if she earns an LSAT score of 150 or higher and graduates in Honoribus from NSU.

“Being accepted into the HLOP is an incredible honor and a significant…

ABERDEEN, S.D. –?Dr. Eman Momeni, assistant professor of accounting at Northern State University, has coauthored a research article titled “A study of modular contents and related teaching techniques in fraud & forensic accounting education from North American academicians’ perspective,” published in the peer-reviewed?Journal of Accounting Education.

“I am pleased to share that my latest research paper has been accepted and published online in the Journal of Accounting Education,” Momeni said. “This publication is the outcome of a…

ABERDEEN, S.D.?–?The Northern State University Speech and Debate team braved winter weather and the Big Apple to compete in the 2025 Off-Broadway Speech and Debate Tournament at Hofstra University in New York.

Over Dec. 6-7, the team competed in multiple speech and debate events. Neither the snow nor 19 other schools could keep Northern State University from returning to campus as champions in public forum debate.

The team of Hannah Smith and Liv Ashley won first place in public forum debate and placed as the second- and third-place overall speakers,…

ABERDEEN, S.D.?– Shelby Boettner, assistant professor of nursing at Northern State University, has been named a Prairie Business 40 Under 40 honoree. The annual recognition highlights professionals who are making a difference in their workplace and community.

Prairie Business, a Forum Communications publication, covers business and community leadership across North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota.

At Northern State University, Boettner teaches and mentors future nurses and has supported the development of the university’s new nursing program,…

ABERDEEN, S.D.?–?The South Dakota Board of Regents this week approved several items that expand academic opportunities at Northern State University, including a new graduate certificate, expanded online program delivery, an articulation agreement with Dakota State University and the initial steps toward a new bachelor’s degree.

The Board approved Northern’s new graduate certificate in visual impairment, designed to help licensed, in-service teachers meet South Dakota Department of Education endorsement requirements for teaching students who are blind or visually…

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University will celebrate the accomplishments of its graduates at Winter Commencement, set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, in the Johnson Fine Arts Center.

The ceremony is open to the public, and no tickets are required. Doors will open at least one hour before the event. The ceremony is expected to last about 90 minutes. Guests are encouraged to stay through the end to honor all graduates.

For those unable to attend in person, the event will be streamed live via multiple platforms. The ceremony will be livestreamed…

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University has announced soprano Ember Geist and clarinetist Alexander Trujillo as winners of the 2025-26 Concerto-Aria Competition, following an evening of outstanding performances by student musicians. 

Geist, a member of the class of 2027 from Roscoe, South Dakota, is a student of Dr. Darci Bultema. She earned top honors with her performance of “Il bacio” by Luigi Adritti. 

Trujillo, a member of the class of 2028 from Rapid City, South Dakota, studies clarinet with Dr. Audrey Miller. He was recognized…

ABERDEEN, S.D.?– The Northern State University Art Gallery is pleased to present “birdhaus,” a collaborative student exhibition now on view in Gallery X in the Johnson Fine Arts Center.

“birdhaus” focuses on bird species native to northeastern South Dakota. As a collaboration between sculpture and graphic design students, participants were paired together and challenged to create a birdhouse, an informational poster and a tangible item representative of a single bird species. The project was conceptualized by Assistant Professor of 3D Media and Art Galleries…