A powerful new wolf sculpture, created by Northern State University alumnus John Lopez, now sits proudly above the bar in the Teal Room. More than just a representation of Northern¡¯s mascot, the piece captures the deep pride and spirit of the campus community.

The Story Behind the Sculpture

Lopez didn¡¯t just want to create a standard mascot figure. He aimed to capture something larger¡ªthe essence of Northern. ¡°I¡¯m always drawn to movement in my work,¡± Lopez said. ¡°A wolf howling at the moon just felt right for this piece. It¡¯s such¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D.?¨C Six finalists will compete for cash prizes as they pitch their business ideas Shark Tank-style at Northern State University¡¯s annual Idea Pitch competition on Thursday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. in the Jewett Regional Science Center lobby.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will showcase innovative ideas from Northern students and provide an opportunity for the audience to help decide the winners of three People¡¯s Choice awards.

The finalists and their ideas are:

• Abiah George
• Noah Behrends
¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D. ¨C Northern State University¡¯s annual Gypsy Day Parade took place on Saturday, Oct. 5, drawing students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to downtown Aberdeen, despite the chilly, windy weather.

The parade, which started at 9 a.m., featured an impressive lineup of floats and bands. Participants showcased their creativity with vibrant, candy-themed entries in line with this year¡¯s homecoming theme, "Wolves in Candyland."

Float Winners:

• First Place: Crafted Interiors (#50)¨C $1,¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D.¡ª The Northern Academy Early College Program offers high school juniors and seniors a valuable opportunity to get a head start on their college journey at Northern State University. Funded by a grant from the South Dakota Education Access Foundation (SDEAF), the program serves students from northeastern South Dakota-area high schools who take college courses on campus in Aberdeen.

The Northern Academy helps area high school students transition to college while still in high school by providing an on-campus college experience including full wrap-around student¡­

Aberdeen, S.D. ¨C Dr. Anna Schwan, dean of the Millicent Atkins School of Education at Northern State University, has been honored by the Valley City State University Alumni Association with the Certificate of Merit award. The award recognizes alumni for their accomplishments, service, and other noteworthy contributions.

Dr. Schwan, a Valley City State University alumna, was one of five individuals recognized on Sept. 21. She was identified for her significant career in education, which includes more than 16 years in public K-12 education as a high school¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D. ¨C On Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, at 7 p.m., Northern State University will sponsor a discussion titled ¡°Ballot Breakdown: Get the Facts, Make an Impact.¡± The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place in the Centennial Rooms of the NSU Student Center.

Political Science Professor Jon D. Schaff will provide a brief overview of all ballot measures appearing on South Dakota¡¯s ballot for the Nov. 5, 2024, election. A question-and-answer session will follow the discussion. The League of Women Voters will also be present to assist individuals with voter¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D. ¨C Northern State University is ranked 25th in U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Colleges Rankings among public universities in the Midwest including the states of South Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

"Northern has been a transformative experience for me and many others. The close-knit classes and personalized engagement with professors have not only shaped my academic growth but also strengthened my personal development as a student of life. I've¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D. ¨C Northern State University¡¯s annual homecoming week will be capped off with the 108th Gypsy Day Parade and homecoming football game on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. This year¡¯s homecoming theme, ¡°Wolves in Candy Land,¡± promises a tasteful celebration as the Northern and Aberdeen communities come together for this time-honored tradition.

The parade will begin at 9 a.m. on Main Street, with a wide variety of creative floats, marching bands, and community entries expected to participate. Parade-goers are encouraged to bring chairs and bags for¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D. ¨C Northern State University's Art Galleries are excited to present Separations, a new exhibition featuring artworks and installations by visiting artists Eli Show and Angela Zonunpari. The exhibition will run from Sept. 20 to Nov. 15, 2024, with an artist talk scheduled for this Friday, Sept. 20, at 12:00 p.m. in the Johnson Fine Arts Center's Red Room.

Separations explores themes of space, art, and life, drawing on the concept of "liminal spaces" as seen in traditional torii gates in Japan, which mark transitions between the mundane and the¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D. ¨C The TRIO McNair Scholars Program at Northern State University will host the inaugural NSU McNair Forum on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. The event, held in the Centennial Room of the Avera Student Center, will feature three distinguished scholars who are either alumni of Northern State or have previously served as faculty. The forum is designed to provide insights into the journey from undergraduate education to the attainment of a doctorate.

Event details:
Date: Friday, Sept. 27, 2024
Time:¡­