ABERDEEN, S.D. ¨C?Northern State University¡¯s TRIO McNair Program hosted its first-ever Fall Symposium on Dec. 11 in the Centennial Room of the NSU Student Union, where five McNair Scholars presented their research to an engaged audience of faculty, staff, and peers.

Each scholar delivered a 15-minute presentation supported by PowerPoint, followed by a question-and-answer session. The event showcased the breadth of research interests among the scholars, covering topics in history, biochemistry, and education.

The presentations included:

Cole Holmes: A¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D. ¨C Northern State University is proud to announce the publication of Ethical Boundaries Reimagined: A Feminist Approach to Gatekeeping, a transformative exploration of ethical practice in counselor education. Authored by esteemed faculty members and an undergraduate student, this work redefines traditional approaches to gatekeeping by integrating feminist theory, providing an innovative lens for navigating complex ethical challenges in the field.

This publication stems from years of dedicated research, teaching and¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D. ¨C Northern State University's School of Business is excited to announce two new programs, approved Thursday, Dec. 12, by the South Dakota Board of Regents: a bachelor's degree in agricultural business and a co-admission partnership with Southeast Technical College.

The agricultural business program, starting in fall 2025, will address workforce demands in Aberdeen and northeastern South Dakota. Brown County, which ranks second in South Dakota for agricultural jobs and economic output, generates $2.77 billion annually.

"The ag¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D. ¨C Northern State University will celebrate the accomplishments of its graduates at Winter Commencement, set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, 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.

The event will also be available via livestream on the NSU Facebook page and the Graduation and Commencement webpage. Local viewers¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D.?¨C

Bea Smith, who leads the Northern Innovation and Startup Center at Northern State University, is among this year¡¯s Prairie Business 40 Under 40 honorees. The award highlights professionals making notable contributions to their organizations and communities.

Published monthly by Forum Communications' Grand Forks Herald, Prairie Business Magazine highlights business leaders and organizations across North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota, covering industries such as finance, healthcare, energy, agribusiness, education, and more.¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D. ¨C Students in Dr. Sal Villegas¡¯ Business Policy and Strategy class at Northern State University have earned global recognition, tying for ninth place in the GLO-BUS business strategy simulation during the week of Nov. 25¨CDec. 1. Competing against 1,417 teams worldwide, the group showed impressive leadership and decision-making skills. It¡¯s the second time in two years that Northern students have placed in the top 10 globally in this competition.

The team, known as Flair Technologies (Company F), performed strongly in several areas:

ABERDEEN, S.D. ¨C Northern State University students and best friends Abiah George and Kayla Waltman have been accepted into the Honors Law Opportunity Program (HLOP). Both students were approved by the NSU review committee and the USD Knudson School of Law Committee.

The program, a partnership between Northern State University and the University of South 

Dakota, helps increase the number of talented and committed lawyers in northeast South Dakota. Each year, up to five students in the Northern Honors Program are guaranteed admission into the¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D. ¨C?Dr. Dan Shannahan, assistant professor of management at Northern State University, has co-authored an article in the December issue of Small Group Research. The article, titled "When Power and Expertise Collide, How Do Groups Decide?", examines how teams handle decision-making when authority and expertise conflict.

The article looks at how teams make decisions when authority and expertise are at odds. Drawing on four separate studies, the research highlights the ways groups handle these conflicts and what it means for collaboration and leadership.¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D.?¨C Northern State University¡¯s first-year student retention has climbed to 77%, well above the national average for public universities of 72%.

Britt Lorenz, executive director of Student Success indicated retention is influenced by a number of factors. ¡°From personalized academic resources to scholarship offerings, students at NSU are well-supported. The Northern experience is marked with numerous opportunities to engage with faculty, peers, and the entire campus community, helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.¡±

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ABERDEEN, S.D.?¨C Northern State University has released the results of this year¡¯s Concerto-Aria Competition. The event highlighted the hard work and talent of students who performed a variety of impressive pieces.

The winners are:

Emily Palmer (soprano), Class of 2025, Langford, SD
Antonio Vivaldi: ¡°Sposa son disprezzata¡± from Bajazet
Student of Dr. Darci Bultema

Angel Olivo Porcayo (tuba), Class of 2027, Huron, SD
Bruce Broughton: Sonata (Concerto) for Tuba
Student of Dr. Travis Netzer

Honorable mentions were awarded to Jaron¡­