Support and enhance the arts at NSU and enjoy exclusive benefits and privileges by becoming a Donor, Friend, Patron or Benefactor.
As we enter the 2025-26 academic year, I want to thank you so much for your support of our program. Northern State University’s School of Fine Arts enjoys a much-deserved reputation as the premier arts destination in our region. This is reflected in the community’s deep sense of pride in our accomplishments, as well as a tradition of achievement from our faculty and students. Additionally, we embrace the arts as a source of resilience, expression, and revitalization.
Over the past several years of the Friends of the Arts/NSU donor program, we have directed increasing amounts of support towards Fine Arts student success initiatives. We have also cultivated exciting new performance experiences and opportunities for our students, some of which will entail partnerships with local and regional community organizations. One of the most anticipated events of this kind is our collaboration with Aberdeen Community Theatre to produce Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s beloved The Sound of Music, planned for October 15-19 in NSU’s Johnson Fine Arts Center Jewett Theater! This timeless American classic will captivate audiences of all ages, and showcase the stunning talent of our students, faculty, and community members.
I am proud of NSU’s commitment to providing a superior education in the visual and performing arts, where students develop their talents, refine their passions, and ultimately become leaders in their chosen fields. Now more than ever, we have created an academic environment that encourages students to explore a multitude of artistic opportunities, wherever their talents lead them. Truly, our students do it all!
As you peruse this booklet, I hope you enjoy the chance to review the past year in photos, preview the exciting 2025-26 season, and consider contributing to the School of Fine Arts’ growing base of support. As always, I look forward to sharing and celebrating our bright future with you.
Warm regards,
Dr. Kenneth O. Boulton
Dean, School of Fine Arts
Friends of the Arts/NSU Members
We are grateful for the following supporters of the Friends of the Arts/NSU membership group. Their generosity benefits the educational and programmatic resources available to the entire NSU School of Fine Arts.
Sponsor Level
Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Aberdeen Hotel Alliance
The Aberdeen Insider
Kenneth Boulton and JoAnne Barry
Dacotah Bank
Wesley and Arlene Elliott
Connie Eitzen
Zach and Amy Flakus
Howard Memorial Fund
Harvey and Cynthia Jewett
J.R. and Lola Klein
Grant and Marcia Manhart
Troy McQuillen
Pizza Ranch, Aberdeen
Sheila Richards
Arthur and Maggie Russo
Neal and Teresa Schnoor
Thatzza Pizza!
Robert Webb
Elena Wilson and Christopher Stanichar
Benefactor Level
Aberdeen Area Community Foundation
Gina Arp
Annalee Boulton
Darci Bultema and Michael Skyles
Skip and Betty Clay
Blake Day
Jean and Paul Dutt
Wayne Fischer
Robert and Erin Fouberg
Clayton and Dawn Geist
Carolyn and Don Lang
Brenda and Alan Lanphere
Audrey Miller and Ryan Clay
Montgomery Furniture
Novel Ideas
Red Rooster Coffee House
Brian and Gretchen Sharp
Skateaway
Gerald and Kathleen Skyles
Michael and Martha Wanous
James and Katie Washnok
Wells Fargo Foundation
Curt and Susan Wischmeier
William and Mary Ann Wieland
Karen Youngman
Eileen and James Zimmerman
Patron Level
Francis Aldinger
Stacy and Cary Bauer
Cara Bohling
Rosemary Des Camps
Donald and Linda Erlenbusch
James and Kay Fischer
Linda and John Fritz
Donald Hess
Barbara Knowles
Kathy Knowles
Kenneth Knowles
Jim and Vicki Lust
Roger and Nila Novotny
Janis Pearson
Cheryl and Neil Schaar
Joshua and Kaylee Van Laecken
Friend Level
Marjorie Arp
Fallout Creative Community
Scott Freeman
Kevin Glover
Keith and Cindy Jackson
Diane Hoines
Amy Johnson
Alan and Kari LaFave
Carmen Meyer
Anita Miller
Roger and Nila Novotny
Carl and Sheryl Perry
Jennifer and Dave Ring
Aimee and John Roy
Carla Sims
Manjeet Singh
Roger and Joyce Torgerson
Timothy and Amy Woods
Donor Level
Dennis Adams
April Ahlers
Carol Anderson
Darin Angerhofer
Alicia Anhalt
Susan and Jim Appl
Shirley Bahde
Jason Barkmeier
Alex Bartlett
Amy and Paul Beaner
Terry and Susan Beckler
Rory Behrens
Chad and Shannon Bergan
Christopher and Sarah Billings
Amanda Bisbee
Dianne Bisbee
Tony Bisbee
Samuel Blackett
Kristi and Michael Bockorny
Jan and Paul Bohling
Ruby Bosanko
Kristi and Brent Brandt
Dennis and Catherine Bresee
Susan Burgard
Rhonda and Troy Carda
Laura Clark
Jen Daggett
Susan Dalager
Jason Davidson
Kristi and Dave Davis
Naomi Davis
Brent and Shannan Dodds
Heather Dohman
Gary Dubridge
John and Ann Dvorak
Leroy Farmen
Dennis and Noreen Feterl
Jaden Feterl
Cynthia and Thomas Finn
Marla Fogderud
Anika Fredrick
Kyle French
Jean Furman
Lee Furman
Matthew Gasperich
Sina Glover
Therese Haberman
Angela Hageman
Sharleen and Lynn Harnisch
Mary Harshberger
Jason Harwood
Michelle Haselhorst
Robert Heier and Mary McGregor Heier
Duane and Annette Helgelien
Heidi Hepola
Stacy and Larry Hepola
Gwen Heyd
Bruce Holida and Danielle Holmquist-Holida
Chip Holmes
Hillarie Jackson
James Jacobs
Corinne A. Jameson
Kayla Jensen
Lynn Jensen
Reid and Nicole Johnson
Susan Johnston
Maurice Jones
Nancy and Justin Kelm
Diana and Richard Kieffer
Karen and Keith Kinder
Patty Kirkpatrick
Matthew and Lynn Klundt
Cory Knedler
Epiphany Knedler
Gregory Knigge
Laurie Knigge
Lisa Knigge
Brandi Knippling
Jason Knowles
Jeffrey and Sandra Kolbo
Shirley Lacher
Carolyn and Don Lang
Joyce and Merwyn Larson
Marnell Lavaley
Morgan and Lucas Lorenz
Jay and Dawn Maas
Become a member of the Friends of the Arts/NSU!
Support and enhance the arts at NSU and enjoy exclusive benefits and privileges by becoming a Sponsor, Benefactor, Patron, Friend, or Donor.
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
- Special Friends of the Arts/NSU Season Kick-Off in the Johnson Fine Arts Center
- Special Friends of the Arts/NSU invitation to the 2026 NSU Juried Student Art Show and Award Ceremony
- Hors d’oeuvres socials for selected School of Fine Arts 2025-26 events
- Recognition in performance programs and on the NSU School of Fine Arts website
SPONSOR
$2,500 (individual); $5,000 (couple)
- Membership benefits
- Plus!
- The option to designate a portion of your gift ($1,500 minimum) to establishing a new named scholarship and determining the criteria for the award OR
- The option to designate a portion of your gift ($1,500 minimum) to sponsoring one of the School of Fine Arts 2025-26 season events
- Plus! Exclusive invitation to a Friends of the Arts/NSU holiday gathering at the President’s residence
- Plus! Exclusive invitation to a special pre-performance social for the NSU School of Fine Arts and Aberdeen Community Theatre production of The Sound of Music
- Plus! Invitation to a special holiday hors d’oeuvres vocal-theatre presentation by Darci Bultema and Michael Skyles
- Plus! Invitation to a special pre-performance social for the NSU Opera-Theatre spring productions of Kurt Weill’s Down in the Valley and Mark Bucci’s Sweet Betsy from Pike
- Plus! Complimentary tickets to all ten School of Fine Arts 2025-26 season events, including The Sound of Music, October 15-19, 2025
BENEFACTOR
$500 (individual); $1,000 (couple)
- Membership benefits
- Plus! Exclusive invitation to a Friends of the Arts/NSU holiday gathering at the President’s residence
- Plus! Exclusive invitation to a special pre-performance social for the NSU School of Fine Arts and Aberdeen Community Theatre production of The Sound of Music
- Plus! Invitation to a special holiday hors d’oeuvres vocal-theatre presentation by Darci Bultema and Michael Skyles
- Plus! Invitation to a special pre-performance social for the NSU Opera-Theatre spring productions of Kurt Weill’s Down in the Valley and Mark Bucci’s Sweet Betsy from Pike
- Plus! Complimentary tickets to all ten School of Fine Arts 2025-26 season events, including The Sound of Music, October 15-19, 2025
PATRON
$250 (individual); $500 (couple)
- Membership benefits
- Plus! Invitation to a special holiday hors d’oeuvres vocal-theatre presentation by Darci Bultema and Michael Skyles
- Plus! Invitation to a special pre-performance social for the NSU Opera-Theatre spring productions of Kurt Weill’s Down in the Valley and Mark Bucci’s Sweet Betsy from Pike
- Plus! Complimentary tickets to your choice of seven School of Fine Arts 2025-26 season events
FRIEND
$150 (individual); $300 (couple)
- Membership benefits
- Plus! Invitation to a special holiday hors d’oeuvres vocal-theatre presentation by Darci Bultema and Michael Skyles
- Plus! Invitation to a special pre-performance social for the NSU Opera-Theatre spring productions of Kurt Weill’s Down in the Valley and Mark Bucci’s Sweet Betsy from Pike
- Plus! Complimentary tickets to your choice of five School of Fine Arts 2025-26 season events
DONOR
$50 (individual); $100 (couple)
- Membership benefits