ABERDEEN, S.D. – The first five Northern State University Honors Program students have been accepted to law school through the new Honors Law Opportunity Program.
The program, a collaboration between Northern and the University of South Dakota, guarantees admission for five NSU Honors Program students into the USD Knudson School of Law. Those five students are:
- Jakob Lund
- Kahden Mooney
- Mayson Sheldon
- Darius Swanson
- Kylee Van Egdom
These students will be granted automatic acceptance into the Knudson School of Law, regardless of LSAT score, and will receive a $2,500 scholarship for their first year of law school.
Lund, from Caseyville, Ill., and Kansas City, Mo., is majoring in sociology with minors in legal studies and criminal justice.
“In the classroom, the Honors Program begins with Dr. Bockorny providing us with high-level courses that teach us to critically think and apply our ideas about the world around us. We also explore and apply concepts that teach us about determination, persistence, or ‘grit,’ to set proactive goals for ourselves, and how to take the steps to achieve those goals,” Lund said. “Overall, Honors has taught me how to take charge in my education, and has provided me with the resources to reach my higher education goals of law school.”
Mooney, from Watertown, S.D., is majoring in history with minors in government and legal studies.
“The Honors Program has helped me immensely in my endeavors,” Mooney said. “The support that Drs. Bockorny and Fouberg have shown has proven to be instrumental to my success, both in academia and the real world.”
Sheldon, from Mandan, N.D., is majoring in criminal justice with minors in legal studies and psychology.
“The NSU Honors Program has helped me succeed and achieve my goals of getting into law school through its supportive group of students and faculty members and the incredible opportunities that I have been given to expand my education,” Sheldon said.
Swanson, from Lake City, S.D., is majoring in political science (government) with minors in legal studies, communication studies and criminal justice.
“The Northern State Honors Program has helped me so much with my time here,” Swanson said. “The people that I have met through this program are the same people who drive me to always do my best no matter what. The friends that I have made and the professors that I have met here have helped me every step of the way.”
Van Egdom, from Sioux Falls, S.D., is majoring in political science and criminal justice with a minor in legal studies.
“I strongly believe that the Honors Program here at Northern put me in a position to achieve my goals and has set me up for success from the very beginning,” Van Egdom said. “Having the opportunity to take Honors classes allowed me to meet incredible people within the program as well as form close bonds with professors. The relationships that I have gained through the Honors Program have given me the foundation I need to complete my short-term goals and accomplish my long-term goals as well.”
About the Honors Law Opportunity Program
The Honors Law Opportunity Program aims to help grow the number of committed, talented lawyers in northeast South Dakota. To qualify, Northern students must: be admitted into the Honors Program; have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 and ACT score in the 80th percentile (26 or above on the ACT or SAT equivalent); and demonstrate strong academic achievement and a personal commitment to building South Dakota communities.
NSU Honors Program Director Dr. Kristi Bockorny said the Honors Law Opportunity Program (HLOP) is an incredible opportunity for Honors students who are interested in attending law school.
“I could not be prouder of these five students who are representing NSU’s inaugural cohort,” Bockorny said. “Their academic caliber is undeniable, and I look forward to seeing what each of them accomplishes.”
For more information about the HLOP, contact Bockorny at Kristi.Bockorny@northern.edu.
About the NSU Honors Program
The NSU Honors Program began in 1983 and has risen to national recognition. To graduate In Honoribus, students are required to complete an original Honors thesis and pass an oral defense in front of faculty. Northern Honors students have had success presenting that thesis research nationally, with students placing at the National Collegiate Honors Conference four times in recent years. To learn more, visit NSU Honors Program.
About Northern State University
Northern State University is a student-centered institution that provides an outstanding educational experience, preparing students through the liberal arts and professional education for their future endeavors. A regional university, Northern offers rigorous academics; diverse civic, social and cultural opportunities; and a commitment to building an inclusive environment for all points of view. Northern also offers a broad-based athletics program, sponsoring 15 NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports that compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC). The university strives to enrich the community through partnerships such as its Educational Impact Campaign, which opened a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; new athletic and recreation fields; and an on-campus regional sports complex. With the $55 million campaign, NSU has been the recipient of more than $150 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.