ABERDEEN, S.D.?¨C Excitement is building as the Aberdeen Business Pitch Competition today announced the five finalists selected to present their innovative business ideas at the upcoming 2025 event. This competition is hosted by the Northern Innovation and Startup Center and the Aberdeen Development Corporation. This year¡¯s competition saw a remarkable turnout, with 32 applications submitted from entrepreneurs across Aberdeen and the wider region.

The high caliber of submissions presented a challenging task for the Round 1 judges. After careful deliberation, five¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D. ¨C Get ready to journey through the ages as Northern State University announces that registration for the 2025 Gypsy Day Parade is officially open! This year's much-anticipated homecoming theme, "Wolves Through Time," invites participants to showcase their creativity and school spirit. The parade will cap off the 2025 Gypsy Days Homecoming Week, set for September 15-21.

Parade entries are encouraged to draw inspiration from historical eras, futuristic visions, or pivotal moments in Northern's own history. Participants can sign up their floats¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D.?¨C South Dakota¡¯s public universities are coming together for the inaugural 605 Day: Funding Futures with Scholarships, a statewide campaign held annually on June 5, celebrating South Dakota pride while raising critical support for student scholarships.

This collaborative initiative highlights the shared commitment of South Dakota¡¯s public higher education institutions to make college more accessible and affordable. The campaign leverages the symbolic date ¡ª 6/05, representing the state's area code ¡ª to unite alumni, donors, and supporters across¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D.?¨C Northern State University is proud to share that alumna Sierra Sweeney has been awarded the highly competitive Canada Graduate Scholarships ¨C Master¡¯s (CGS M) award. Valued at $27,000 CAD, the scholarship will support Sweeney¡¯s graduate studies and research in Canada through funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

A standout student in Northern¡¯s Human Performance program, Sweeney was also a member of the university¡¯s Honors Program and competed as a student-athlete on the track and field team.

The CGS M program¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D.?¨C Northern State University is proud to recognize alumnus Tanner White on his appointment as CEO of the future Altru Hospital in Devils Lake, North Dakota.

White, a 2015 graduate of Northern State University with a Bachelor of Science in human performance and fitness, has built a career rooted in strong relationships, strategic leadership and a passion for community-centered care. A former student-athlete on the Wolves football team, White credits his time at Northern for laying the groundwork for a life of continuous learning and service.¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D. ¨C?Northern State University will host its annual Involvement Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the campus green.

Held during the second week of classes, the event invites students to explore campus organizations, community services, volunteer opportunities, and part-time jobs in a welcoming and engaging environment.

The Involvement Fair is a great way for new and returning students to connect with the campus community and discover ways to get involved in Aberdeen.

Registration is now open for campus¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D. ¨C Northern State University proudly announces the recipients of its 2025 outstanding faculty awards, recognizing two exceptional faculty members at Northern for their dedication to teaching, research and service. Dr. Amy Dolan, associate professor of biology and STEM outreach coordinator, has been awarded the NSU Foundation Faculty Excellence Award. Dr. Salvador Villegas, assistant professor of management, has received the NSU Outstanding Early Career Faculty Award.

The awards were announced at Northern¡¯s spring¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D. ¨C Northern Fort Playhouse will showcase its talents at historic Fort Sisseton for an exciting 19th season.

Northern Fort Playhouse will kick off its performances on July 11 with "Vanities... A New Musical" and "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." The performance schedule is as follows:

• Friday, July 11: "Vanities... A New Musical" at 7:30 p.m. 
• Saturday, July 12: "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" at 7:30 p.m. 
• Sunday, July 13: "Vanities... A New Musical" at 2 p.m. 
• Friday, July 18¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D. ¨C Three Northern State University School of Business faculty members have published a collaborative case study in the Journal of Case Studies.

Drs. Kristi Bockorny, Salvador Villegas and Daniel Shannahan authored ¡°Modes of Entry: The Best Choice for a Boutique Owner,¡± which appears in the Fall 2024 issue (Vol. 42, Issue 3). The decision-based case study focuses on evaluating different market entry strategies for small businesses. Students are challenged to assess local competition and opportunity as they learn¡­

ABERDEEN, S.D. ¨C?Morgan Stadler, assistant director of financial aid at Northern State University, has been awarded the Douglas Steckler Professional Development Award by the South Dakota Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (SDASFAA).

The award, presented annually at the SDASFAA conference, honors one member for outstanding service to the association. Stadler has been an active member of SDASFAA since 2019, serving on numerous committees, including the Spring Conference, Fall Training, and Membership and Records committees. She has also served on¡­