ABERDEEN, S.D. — Two Northern State University criminal justice graduates have earned competitive scholarships to nationally ranked graduate programs, marking a milestone for Northern's growing Criminology and Criminal Justice program.

Abiah George of Aberdeen, a double major in Criminal Justice and Psychology graduating In Honoribus, has earned the Justice Public Service Scholarship to Drake University Law School. Drake awards the full-tuition scholarship to no more than two entering law students per year nationally, making it one of the most competitive public interest awards in legal education. Drake Law School ranks among the top 12 in the nation for human rights law according to preLaw magazine. As a Cole Scholar, Abiah will work with an attorney mentor in public service and complete internships with public interest organizations.

MacKenzie Turner of Belgrade, Mont., a criminal justice major with minors in psychology and Spanish, earned a merit scholarship and acceptance to the Master of Science in Terrorism and Homeland Security Policy at American University's School of Public Affairs. U.S. News & World Report ranks American University's School of Public Affairs ninth in the nation and first among public affairs schools in Washington, D.C.

Both students built strong records at Northern that reached well beyond the classroom. George anchors Northern's Speech and Debate team and delivered a TEDxSiouxFalls talk on navigating the U.S. immigration system that the national TED organization selected for broader distribution. She also completed an honors thesis examining how media language shapes public perception of domestic extremism. Turner played women's soccer, served as chief communications officer in Student Government and completed an internship with the Aberdeen Police Department. She was among the first students to complete Northern's newer course offerings in American Extremism and Domestic Terrorism and Crime and Emergent Technologies.

"The moment I recognized the power of advocacy and conversation, I knew I wanted a career where my words could drive change," George said. "Courses like Criminalization of Mental Illness and Crimmigration clarified that meaningful change begins with storytelling, challenging narratives and humanizing issues too often reduced to politics."

“During my time at Northern I have grown exponentially as a student, and as a person,” Turner said. “Some of my favorite classes like Extremism/Terrorism, the Criminalization of Mental Illness, and Crimmigration have equipped me with valuable real-world knowledge and the ability to constructively converse with others, while learning from my fellow classmates. I am blessed to have been supported by such amazing faculty, with Dr. Wiscons encouraging me to apply for graduate schools and writing me a letter of recommendation that aided my acceptance. I have met such amazing friends and formed lasting relationships that I will treasure forever, and I am so thankful for everything Northern has provided me!”

Dr. Justin "Gus" Foote, George's speech and debate coach and assistant professor of communication studies, said: "Abiah's academic abilities are abundantly clear. What separates Abiah is the care she continuously offers others. She has left the Speech and Debate team, Northern State University and the Aberdeen area better. I am proud of the work she has done and the person she has become. I have no doubt she will continue her success at Drake."

Dr. Lucas Wiscons, assistant professor of criminology and criminal justice, advised both students across multiple courses in the program. "I couldn't be happier for Abiah and MacKenzie. They are proof that Northern's investment in the Criminology and Criminal Justice program is paying off for the university and for the state of South Dakota. We expect many more students to follow the trails they are blazing."

For more information, contact Chad Hatzenbuhler, director of communications and marketing, at chad.hatzenbuhler@northern.edu or 605-626-2046.