Pictured, left to right: Jon Mitchell, Kennedy Davis and Dave Welling

 

ABERDEEN, S.D. – A partnership between Northern State University and Aberdeen’s One-Legged Pheasant has resulted in a new brew that is raising scholarship funds for NSU students.

 

But the creation of Alpha Lager has also provided an experiential learning opportunity for Northern’s science students.

 

That includes NSU senior Kennedy Davis of Fairfax, Va., who is interning at One-Legged Pheasant.

 

“It’s a very rewarding experience,” said Davis, a biochemistry and German major. “It’s not something you really get in the classroom or in the lab. It’s really hands-on.”

 

This unique student learning experience is one of the best parts of the partnership, said Northern’s Dr. Jon Mitchell.

 

“It offers the students hands-on opportunities to spend time in a real-world setting to learn about fermentation,” said Mitchell, professor of biochemistry and biotechnology at NSU.

 

Educators strive to provide students with experiences that can give them an edge on their resumes, Mitchell said.

 

“This is something that can differentiate them,” he said.

 

Conversations led to Opportunity

 

The partnership started as an idea between Dr. Alyssa Kiesow, NSU College of Arts and Sciences Dean, and Dave Welling, co-owner of One-Legged Pheasant, about creating a Northern-specific brew, with proceeds going to scholarships.

 

“As anything, conversations and relationships are how anything starts, as the foundation that builds into potential opportunities for something cool and new,” she said.

 

Brewing began over the summer, with sales of Alpha Lager starting at NSU home football games this fall. Fifteen percent of sales goes toward College of Arts and Sciences student scholarships, Kiesow said.

 

Partnership is a ‘Win-Win Situation’

 

Alpha Lager is also available at One-Legged Pheasant, 721 S. Main St., and it could soon be available in other local businesses, Welling said.

 

Welling said he enjoys working with Mitchell, Davis, and other NSU students.

 

“It’s definitely a good partnership for both of us,” he said. “It’s a win-win situation.”

 

For more information about Alpha Lager, visit oneleggedpheasant.com. To learn more about science education at Northern, visit NSU College of Arts and Sciences.

 

Watch a video interview here.

 

About Northern State University  

Northern State University is a student-centered institution that provides an outstanding educational experience, preparing students through the liberal arts and professional education for their future endeavors. A regional university, Northern offers rigorous academics; diverse civic, social and cultural opportunities; and a commitment to building an inclusive environment for all points of view. Northern also offers a broad-based athletics program, sponsoring 15 NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports that compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC). The university strives to enrich the community through partnerships such as its Educational Impact Campaign, which opened a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; new athletic and recreation fields; and an on-campus regional sports complex. With the $55 million campaign, NSU has been the recipient of more than $150 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.