Editorial: USD is innovating for a brighter future

The best time to be a Coyote is right now.

No, there isn’t ever really a bad time to be a Coyote, but this year is an exciting year to say the very least. With a new president and a slew of new ideas to match as well as an ever-innovative medical program – there’s really no telling just how great it is to be a part of USD.

President Gestring recently delivered her State of the University address and touched on the importance of receiving a liberal arts education, driving home the fact that USD is South Dakota’s only public liberal arts university – which is why being a Coyote right now is so important.

Gestring is also a president who understands that the art programs USD offers are just as important and valid as any of the other programs at the university. She prioritizes the necessity for a new Fine Arts building as well as improving things within the health sciences building in Julian Hall.

We are the future and with a president that believes in the importance of future generations receiving the brand of education that USD is delivering helps extend a feeling of pride in not only our educations but ourselves.

And with Coyote Pride like this, is it any wonder that so many educational strides are being made?

The USD Law school had been making great strides in terms of LSAT scores recently, resulting in the average score being raised to their highest since 2010. The clinical biopharmaceutical company and one of the USD Discovery District anchor tenants were recognized in a study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, which discusses the 100 percent protection treatment against Ebola.

The theme for this years’ Dakota Days is “Innovating for tomorrow” and it couldn’t be more appropriate. USD is growing, creating and discovering new things together – making the community stronger than ever.

USD is in an innovative state right now. There are more reasons now to be proud to be a Coyote than there ever have been before.

As President Gestring prompted us to ask ourselves in her address: how can we use our gifts to make a positive contribution to our families and our communities?

Only time can tell, but with the skills we are learning here both professionally and personally, it seems like the possibilities for greatness are endless.