ABERDEEN, S.D. — Northern State University sophomore Maggie Kruger has become the first student in Northern's Filmmaking, Broadcasting and Interactive Media Production program to earn international film festival recognition, with her short documentary "The Story Behind the 3 Crosses" selected for the 3rd ½ Bernardsville Film Festival. Kruger is a student in Northern's Filmmaking, Broadcasting and Interactive Media Production program, known as the FBI emphasis, which is part of the Digital Media degree within the School of Fine Arts.

Kruger, a digital media major from Milbank, S.D., created the documentary as part of her work in the FBI emphasis, a three-year-old program that has already begun making a name for itself regionally and nationally.

"To be selected for a film festival of this importance so early in my career is very surreal," said Kruger. "When I got the news that I was accepted, I was at track practice. I didn't get to celebrate right away and it hasn't really hit me until now, after my season has completed, that it actually happened. I didn't know that I was the first FBI student to be accepted to an international film festival until recently. It is truly an honor to positively represent this program, this place and all the people that I work with on such a big stage."

"I am incredibly proud of Maggie — she is the very first student in our FBI program to achieve international film festival recognition," said Jason Knowles, assistant professor of art and digital media at Northern State University. "She is only a sophomore but has already proven herself as a true student leader through her quality productions, positive work ethic and reliable collaborations."

Beyond the documentary, Kruger hosts Behind the Pack, an hour-long weekly podcast showcasing Northern student athletes, available on Spotify. The show acquired its first sponsor earlier this academic year. She was also part of the crew on Northern's inaugural South Dakota Film Project and the 2025 Spook-Spectacular Radio Show.

"Maggie and several of her classmates were recently featured in the March/April issue of Aberdeen Magazine, which also highlighted our growing FBI program," Knowles said. "It has been a great year for our students and for the program."

Students interested in creating their own podcasts, TV shows and films are encouraged to explore two courses offered in fall 2026 — ARTD 337 Podcasting and the ARTD video production course sequence. For more information, contact assistant professor Jason Knowles at jason.knowles@northern.edu.