Dakota State University Archives

Two Local Students at DSU Get Teaching Assignments

August 30, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Cassandra Geraets – Photo submitted by DSU

Two Dakota State University students from Dell Rapids have recently been given teaching assignments for the year. Most student teachers are place in districts within a 60-mile radius of Madison, SD.

Cassandra Geraets is student teaching second grade for the fall 2021 semester at Crow Creek Tribal Schools. Geraets is an early childhoold/elementary education majors. Megan Griebel is student teaching second grade and special education for the fall 2021 semester in the Brandon Valley School District. Griebel is an elementary education and special education major.

Megan Griebel – Photo submitted by DSU

To be accepted into the teacher education program, students must maintain a 2.6 cumulative grade point average and a 2.7 in their major. They must successfully pass the Praxis Pre-Professional Skills Test and the Praxis content exam in their area of preparation, and successfully complete all coursework and field experiences. Candidates work in multi-cultural settings, special education classrooms, regular education classrooms, and volunteer settings with K-12 children prior to acceptance into student teaching.

3D Art Students Create Pelican Project

November 27, 2019 by Submitted

3D art students are currently displaying their wire and paper mâché pelicans at the Fish and Wildlife Service Visitor Center off of Highway 19 South.

MADISON, S.D., November 22, 2019 – Dakota State 3D art students created wire and paper mâché pelicans that are currently on display at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Visitors Center through Friday, Dec. 6.

The students created the pelicans by referencing two taxidermy pelicans borrowed from the Biology Department.

The project was inspired by Angela Behrends, assistant art professor, spending time walking around Lake Herman State Park this summer.

“I’ve always really liked pelicans,” she said. “They’re so big and strange.”

Behrends collaborated with the Biology Department at Dakota State to bring in two taxidermy pelicans – one feature a throat pouch expanded and one with a long skinny beak. “So, the students got to work from life,” she explained.

Behrends then contacted Kyle Kelsey at U.S. Fish and Wildlife and asked if they could collaborate by allowing the students to display their pelicans in the Visitor Center.

Keegan Miller, a computer graphics major from Dell Rapids, S.D., painted his pelican blue. “The Sonic the Hedgehog trailer came out, so I thought I’d paint it like that,” he said.

Miller enjoyed seeing the project come together.

Dale Thorpe, a senior game design student found the project enjoyable.

“The paper I used was from a book about unemployment,” he said. “It didn’t match the pelican, but it left a whole lot of white space.”

To make the pelican his own he added googly eyes, “just because googly eyes are awesome,” Thorpe said.

The public is invited to visit the display through Friday, Dec. 6 at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Visitor Center on Highway 19 South weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays. There is no charge to visit the display.

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Caption: 3D art students are currently displaying their wire and paper mâché pelicans at the Fish and Wildlife Service Visitor Center off of Highway 19 South.

Dakota State University (DSU) is located in Madison, S.D. Founded in 1881, DSU offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs through its colleges of arts and sciences, business and information systems, computer and cyber sciences, and education. DSU has a special focus on the development, application, implications, and impacts of computing, information technologies and cyber security in all areas of human endeavor. DSU has received multiple Center of Excellence designations in education, research and regional resource development from the U.S. National Security Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. DSU is home to the Madison Cyber Labs (MadLabs), a cyber R&D hub with labs and institutes that explore and advance technology application, workforce development, business expansion, economic growth, and policy improvement across multiple disciplines and fields. For more information, contact mediarelations@dsu.edu, 605-270-3816, or visit the DSU website at dsu.edu.

Fletcher Signs with DSU

September 6, 2018 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Dell Rapids Quarrier senior volleyball player Hannah Fletcher signed her letter of intent to play volleyball with the Dakota State University Trojans on Wednesday, September 5th. Fletcher was joined by her family, Quarrier head coach Jessica Ahlers, DSU head coach Amy Veenhoff, and DSU assistant coach Ceanna Larson for the signing.

Fletcher’s first year as a varsity setter was last year (2017). She had a very successful year with a hitting percentage of 94% (194-206), three kills per set average, .8 aces per set average, 11.4 digs per set average, .4 blocks per set average, and 22 assists per set average. Fletcher was also a Dak-12 All-Conference team member and named Dell Rapids Most Valuable Front Row Player in 2017. Fletcher is on the verge of reaching 1,000 career set assists this season. Currently she had 838 career sets and has been averaging close to 30 sets per match, which puts the milestone in reach this season. She was also ranked as one of the top five setters in all of South Dakota by Adrenaline Volleyball this season.

Coach Ahlers had this to say about Fletcher, “Hannah has been an amazing athlete to watch grow over the past four years and is very deserving of this accomplishment. She truly loves the game of volleyball and is constantly trying to perfect her skill. Her leadership abilities not only make her a great setter, but a captain for the whole team to look up to. I am certain it will be a smooth transition into the collegiate playing level for Hannah, and Dakota State University is very lucky to have such a great setter headed their way.”

Veenhoff said that she is very excited to have Fletcher join the Trojan volleyball team next fall. “She’s going to be a great addition to the team. She’s a great person and student, and she has a passion for volleyball! She’s exactly what every coach wants on their team! She has some good experience being a team leader out on the court and does a good job of running the offense for Dell Rapids. We are very happy she has decided to continue her volleyball career here at Dakota State!” Veenhoff said.

Abbott Awarded DSU Champion Scholarship

May 10, 2018 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Joseph Abbott pictured with Bob Preloger, interim vice president of Institutional Advancement at DSU. Photo courtesy of DSU.

MADISON, S.D. – Joseph Abbott, a student at Dell Rapids High School, was recently awarded the DSU Champion Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to high achieving students based on ACT scores and high school GPA.

Abbott will be attending Dakota State University in Madison, S.D. in the fall, majoring in production animation.

In 2017, DSU awarded over $1,284,764 in academic, athletic and other scholarships.

Geurts Awarded DSU Champion Scholarship

May 1, 2018 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Photo provided by Dakota State University: Guerts with Bob Preloger, interim vice president for Institutional Advancement at DSU

Photo provided by Dakota State University: Geurts with Bob Preloger, interim vice president for Institutional Advancement at DSU

MADISON, S.D., May 1, 2018 – Andrew Geurts of Dell Rapids, S.D. was recently awarded the DSU Champion Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to high achieving students based on ACT scores and high school GPA.

Geurts will be attending Dakota State University in Madison, S.D. in the fall, majoring in cyber operations.

In 2017, DSU awarded over $1,284,764 in academic, athletic and other scholarships.

Lealand Randel Signs with DSU

February 19, 2018 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Photo courtesy of Lealand Randel

Another Dell Rapids senior has signed a letter of intent to play collegiate sports next year. Dell Rapids senior Lealand Randel signed a letter of intent to play baseball with the Dakota State University Trojans. The right-handed pitcher has played for the Dell Rapids High School club baseball team and the Dell Rapids legion team.

Lealand will join his brother Trey at Dakota State who is currently a pitcher for the Trojans.

DRMS Students Have GenCyber Day with DSU

January 22, 2018 by Submitted

Each grade level from the Dell Rapids Middle School was able to participate in the GenCyber Day for 35 minutes each on Friday, January 19. Students had the opportunity to work with littleBits, Dash robots, Ozobots, or the BB-8 robots. littleBits offered students the chance to build items that moved, made noise, or had lights blink. The Dash and BB-8 robots allowed students to code the robots using a mobile device to move or perform tasks. Students using the Ozobots (a robot the size of a bouncy ball) used blank sheets of paper to draw pathways with markers for the Ozobots to follow. Students were also able to use a particular scene to change the direction or speed of the Ozobots.

Dr. Ashley Podhradsky, an associate professor from Dakota State University in Madison, led of a group of undergraduate and graduate students that helped students with each station.

“While all of the connected toys are fun to play with, they all teach important fundamentals of computer science. The kids learn linear logic they can apply as they advance their skills. We know kids won’t be experts in a day, but if we can get them interested in cyber that is a big win,” commented Dr. Podhradsky.

Scott Headrick, one of the K-12 Technology Integrationists for the Dell Rapids School District, thought the event went well. “We have great kids in Dell Rapids. It was wonderful to have students get an opportunity to learn problem solving skills and computer science! It was great to have Dr. Podhradsky and the DSU students lead us in such fun, learning activities!”

Submitted by Scott Headrick

Carson Rentz Signs with DSU

November 16, 2017 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Dell Rapids senior Carson Rentz signed his letter of intent to play basketball for the Dakota State University Trojans basketball team in Madison. Rentz held his signing on Wednesday, November 15th, at Dell Rapids High School.

Rentz finished his junior season shooting 30% from the field, 27% from three-point area, and 75% from the free-throw line. He was named the MVP at the DWU Classic and played for BBA this past summer. In three seasons on the Quarrier basketball team, Rentz has a total of 184 points, 50 rebounds, 82 assists and 17 steals. He has shot 34% from the field, 33% from three point area, and 78% from the free-throw line in his career.

Rentz was also the quarterback of the Quarrier football team this past season.

Jacob Habeger Signs Letter of Intent with Dakota State

December 29, 2013 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Dell Rapids Quarrier Jacob Habeger has signed a letter of intent to play football for Dakota State University in Madison, SD. Those in attendance of his signing were Dakota State head coach Josh Anderson, coach Craig Jorgensen, the Dell Rapids high school wrestling team, and Habeger’s family. Habeger plans to major in elementary education. Habeger is the son of Ray and Sue Habeger of Dell Rapids.

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