NEWS

ABERDEEN, S.D. — Northern State University Opera & Theatre will present “Lovestruck & Saddle Sore: Tall Tales in Song” on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18, 2026. Both performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theater of the Johnson Fine Arts Center on the Northern State University campus.

The production will take audiences on a musical journey through the American frontier, blending humor, heart and a little theatrical adventure along the way. The evening will feature selections from well-known musicals with western themes, including…

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University will host the 43rd Annual Northern South Dakota Science and Mathematics Fair on Thursday, March 26, welcoming students in grades 6-12 from nine area schools for a day of competition and discovery.

The fair will be held in the Jewett Regional Science Education Center. Student projects will be open for public viewing from 1 to 7 p.m., and the event is free and open to the public.

Junior and senior high Science Bowl competitions, held in conjunction with the fair, will begin at 2 p.m. in the science building.…

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University is proud to announce that a multidisciplinary team of faculty and staff is participating in the American Association of Colleges and Universities’ 2025-26 Institute on AI, Pedagogy and the Curriculum, a national program designed to help institutions engage thoughtfully with the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence in higher education.

The institute brings together teams from colleges and universities across the country to explore how artificial intelligence can be integrated into teaching,…

ABERDEEN, SD – Northern State University is pleased to announce the incoming freshmen who have been selected to receive the Dacotah Bank 4-year scholarship for Fall 2026.

The Dacotah Bank scholarship supports students pursuing programs within Northern State University’s School of Business. According to Recipients must be full-time students majoring in a School of Business program, and the scholarship is renewable for up to eight semesters if students continue to meet eligibility requirements, including maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. 

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University has announced the award recipients for the 2026 McQuillen Creative Group Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition, an annual showcase celebrating student creativity and achievement in the visual arts.

Presented by Northern State University’s Art Department and Art Galleries, the exhibition is held each year in Gallery X in the Johnson Fine Arts Center and highlights the work of student artists from across campus. In addition to showcasing student artwork, the exhibition recognizes outstanding pieces through a juried awards…

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Bethlehem Lutheran Church and the Northern State University Music Department will present the 16th Annual Bach’s Lunch at 12 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the sanctuary at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

The annual concert honors the 341st birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach and will feature keyboard, instrumental and choral works by the renowned composer. Following the concert, attendees are invited to stay for a fellowship lunch. There is no cost to attend.

The program will feature the Northern State University Chamber Singers,…

ABERDEEN, SD – Northern State University graduate student Renea Taylor has been named the 2026 graduate recipient of the Outstanding Student Award from the Council for Exceptional Children. The national organization recognizes one undergraduate student and one graduate student each year for outstanding service to the organization and to children with exceptionalities. 

Taylor is pursuing a master’s degree in special education at Northern State University. She has been involved with her school’s student chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children for three…

ABERDEEN, SD — Northern State University will begin its ninth cohort at the Huron Community Campus in Huron, South Dakota, offering a Master of Science in Teaching and Learning beginning in August 2026.

Designed for working educators, the program focuses on strengthening practice, supporting professional growth, and preparing teachers for expanded leadership opportunities while they continue working in their classrooms.

The cohort model allows participants to progress through the program together, creating a collaborative learning environment that…

ABERDEEN, SD – Dr. Christian Pirlet, assistant professor of educational technology at Northern State University, presented at the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) annual conference in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5.

Pirlet’s presentation, “Building Economic Citizens: Critical Thinking and Decision-Making for Stronger Democracy,” focused on using reality television to teach economic decision making. Session participants received examples of how classroom teachers can use reality television to demonstrate the decision making and critical thinking as an…

ABERDEEN, SD — Northern State University Dean of Students Sean Blackburn has been selected to serve as the 2026 board president for United Way of Northeastern South Dakota.

United Way of Northeastern South Dakota announced Blackburn’s selection, citing his community-centered leadership and experience working with partners across the private, public and nonprofit sectors.

“It is an honor to step into this role alongside such a committed group of board members, staff, and community partners,” Blackburn said. “Together, we will continue building on the…