Feature
Pageant titleholders balance spotlight and school responsibilities
From the flashing lights of pageant stages to studying in the I.D. Weeks Library, former Miss South Dakota Tessa Dee has undergone the transition of beauty queen to study queen for the second time. After a year of traveling around the state promoting her title as Miss South Dakota, Dee has returned to the University of […]
Acapella group experiences first year as student organization
Instead of a piece of playground equipment, Swing Set at the University of South Dakota means the collection of 10 students majoring in everything from music to medical biology coming together to form the university’s student-run acapella group. Hannah Lambertz, a junior vocal performance major and co-director of the group, said this was Swing Set’s first year […]
Pageant contestants prepare for Miss South Dakota
Some University of South Dakota students are tackling homework, preparing for finals and juggling the responsibilities of a beauty pageant crown. As the current Miss Siouxland, part of the Miss America program, junior Autumn Simunek has dedicated herself to training for Miss South Dakota and promoting her platform, Five Stars for Serving Those Who Served, […]
Wonnenberg Princeton bound
It not only takes the academic merits, but the characteristics of someone who has the ambition to succeed to get into an Ivy League school. Isaiah Wonnenberg, a junior from Gregory has displayed both these qualities in his three years at the University of South Dakota, so it was no surprise to his family, friends […]
Mock trial team sees success, law student awarded
Prior to law school, third-year law student Swapna Kilani was shy and reserved. Now that she is involved in the graduate student mock trial team, she has finally found her confidence. “I felt like my voice didn’t matter that much,” Kilani said. “My persona is more confident now, because you have to take control of […]
Musicians struggle with performance injuries
Partway through playing a three-hour piano accompaniment for the University of South Dakota’s production of “Les Miserables”, graduate student Chris Larson knew something was wrong. “It was a stabbing pain,” Larson said. Last semester, Larson had an MRI on his arm which revealed a genetic and benign tumor. Now the tumor is large enough for […]
Students see practicality, danger in social apps
Students are using apps not only to chart their schedules and play games, but meet new people as well. Social apps such as Tinder are rising in popularity, and students are taking advantage. Tinder uses Facebook information to match individuals, and users are able to chat with each other after expressing mutual interest in one another. […]
Local entrepreneurs develop video games
Students and faculty at the University of South Dakota aren’t just playing video games anymore — they are developing their own. Collin Hover, an assistant professor who teaches graphic design courses at USD, has been developing a video game to teach elementary students biology. Hover received a $20,000 interdisciplinary grant to work on the project, which […]
USD faculty offer tips for de-stressing during finals
With finals week officially starting Thursday, University of South Dakota faculty are encouraging students to take time for themselves throughout the week. Lauren Schuur, coordinator of prevention services at the USD Student Counseling Center, said she encourages students to take part in the finals week activities held throughout the week in the Muenster University Center. […]
Students celebrate the holidays away from home
Whether spending the holiday break in the United States or in a different country, University of South Dakota study abroad and international students spend the time off in their own way when they cannot be home with their families. Graduate student Jean Paul Akuma’s parents are still in Cameroon, located in west central Africa. He […]