NEWS

ABERDEEN, S.D. — Northern State University has received an estate gift from the late Robert Wehde, establishing a permanent endowment in support of special education within the Millicent Atkins School of Education.

The gift creates the Robert and Marian Wehde Scholarships, which will support NSU students majoring in special education and help train teachers dedicated to serving learners with diverse needs. Wehde established a Charitable Remainder Trust years ago with the sole purpose of supporting educators who work with students with different needs.

ABERDEEN, S.D. — Three Northern State University students completed an undergraduate research project analyzing judging data from the 2025 BIG Idea Competition, delivering their findings and recommendations directly to the BIG Idea Working Committee.

Emma Beavers, Louise Meyer and Natalia Szybinska each contributed to different aspects of the project under the guidance of Dr. Aaron Scholl, assistant professor of economics and department chair of accounting, agricultural business, banking and finance. The research examined scoring patterns from student business…

At 83 years old, Ronald Meland finally walked across the commencement stage at Northern State University — more than six decades after first attending the institution then known as Northern State Teachers College.

Meland received a Bachelor of Science in mathematics during Northern’s May 9, 2026 commencement ceremony, closing a chapter that began in the early 1960s when he left college to enlist in the U.S. Navy.

What began as a simple request from his daughter, Karleen McLain, for an honorary diploma or yearbook recognizing his time at Northern as a surprise Father’s…

ABERDEEN, S.D. — As the South Dakota Freedom Scholarship program celebrates 300 graduates statewide this spring, Northern State University is proud to share its own milestone — more than $1.4 million in scholarships has been disbursed to NSU students since the program launched in fall 2022.

Since its inception, 287 NSU students have received Freedom Scholarship funding. During the 2025-26 academic year alone, 99 students at Northern received funds through the program.

The South Dakota Freedom Scholarship is the largest public-private, need-based…

ABERDEEN, S.D. — Northern State University sophomore Maggie Kruger has become the first student in Northern's Filmmaking, Broadcasting and Interactive Media Production program to earn international film festival recognition, with her short documentary "The Story Behind the 3 Crosses" selected for the 3rd ½ Bernardsville Film Festival. Kruger is a student in Northern's Filmmaking, Broadcasting and Interactive Media Production program, known as the FBI emphasis, which is part of the Digital Media degree within the School of Fine Arts.

Kruger, a digital media major…

NSU Counseling Students Present Research at State Conference

ABERDEEN, S.D. — Six graduate students from Northern State University's counseling programs presented research at the 2026 South Dakota Counseling Association Conference, held April 23-25 in Rapid City.

Students from Northern's Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling programs shared research addressing timely issues in counseling and mental health practice, supported by faculty advisers Dr. Brown, Dr. Jia and Dr. Mathew. Presentation topics included non-…