A Champion’s Inspiration: DSU’s Rodeo Facility for Future Legends
Dickinson State University’s campus echoes with the memories of many champions, few more inspiring than Brad Gjermundson.
Gjermundson, a North Dakota and national rodeo legend, grew up in tiny Marshall, North Dakota, where his mother was the postmaster, and his father is currently the sole resident. He and his siblings spent their childhood riding horses. “As kids, we played rodeo all the time.”
Gjermundson recalls. “My brothers and I spent hours pretending to be the rodeo legends we admired, like Larry Mahan and Jim Shoulders.”
Continuing the Tradition: The Pat Fisher Memorial
Pat Fisher (1948-2015) loved golf, Dickinson, The Rock, and his family. Not necessarily in that order.
Before Pat passed away in 2015, after a two-year battle with cancer, he forged a bond between all that he loved – bonds that continue to do great things for the Dickinson community.
Pat’s son, Todd, carries on the annual Pat Fisher Memorial Endowed Golf Scholarship at Dickinson State University, an event that provides between $6,000 and $8,000 to the athletic program, with much of that benefiting both male and female golfers.
“We (The Rock) had done a golf scramble for 16 years before Pat passed and when he passed, we decided to turn it into a memorial and donate the proceeds to a charity,” says Todd, who golfed at DSU from 1997-2000. “The first year, we donated to the cancer treatment center in Tulsa where he doctored. The next year, we supported the hospice care center in Dickinson.”
100 YEARS OF FOOTBALL
Welcome to our "Meet Our Team" section, where you can get to know the talented professionals who make the DSU Heritage Foundation successful. To make things a bit more fun, we came up with some unique questions to ask each team member, giving you a glimpse into their personalities. Kierra Mathern, Alumni Relations & Events Coordinator for the DSU Heritage Foundation, is our team spotlight this month.
If your DSUHF experience was a playlist, what would the top song(s) be?
Made for More (Live) [feat. Jenn Johnson] by Josh Baldwin. This song is a reminder to me that the goal of my work is so much bigger than anything I can do alone.
What’s your favorite spot on campus and why?
I LOVE the walk from May Hall down the sidewalk path through King's Pavillion to the DSU Heritage Foundation. It is so peaceful and beautiful in every season.
If you could invite any person to speak at DSU, who would it be and why?
It would include time travel, but Theodore Roosevelt. His message would mean so much to so many people in our community (and nation).
What’s your favorite campus tradition or event to attend?
This one is tough to single out so I will pick two. DSU Give Day is my favorite because the energy around the day is filled with excitement, and it is a reminder of how many people support Dickinson State University. The first home football game of the season is my favorite because DSU home football games hold a special place in my heart, and I love seeing Alumni and Friends on campus to support the Blue Hawks.
What’s one thing that always brightens your day at work?
I love working with our students, they are hardworking and bring such positive energy to the office. I also love when our Alumni and Friends stop in to say hello, to look through yearbooks, and bring treats—they are the best! Our DSU HF team is filled with motivation and positivity, each of them brightens my day as well.
AG RENOVATION PROJECT
The DSU Heritage Foundation is raising funds to support the Ag Building Renovations. Stay tuned for more information!
Year-End Highlights from DSU Heritage Foundation
As 2024 comes to an end, the DSU Heritage Foundation (DSU HF) reflects on a year of achievements and milestones.
* A New Era for Agriculture and Rodeo
* 2024 Alumni Honorees and Award Recipients
* Remembering Pete Fredericks
* STEM World Peace Camp
* Celebrating Excellence in Education
* Reaching the $60 Million Mark
* Leadership Transitions
* The Rough Rider Cross Country Meet
* Edmund and Sylvia Morris Collection Arrives
* Moose on the Loose
From Dickinson State to the Global Stage: The Story of Major
General Giselle (Gigi) Wilz
Major General Gigi Wilz (’89)’s journey from Dickinson State University graduate to breaking glass ceilings in the National Guard is a testament to the power of dreaming big.
The Richardton native’s military career began in 1983 when she enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard as a senior in high school, inspired by her father, a National Guard colonel, and her brothers’ service.
Randy and Karla Peters on Building a Lasting Partnership
Roses are red, violets are blue,I am the boss, and so are you.
According to Inc. Magazine, there are at least a quarter of a million "copreneurs" in the United States. Copreneurs are husband-and-wife teams who run businesses together. To some, this may sound romantic: twenty-four hours a day with the person you love. To others, it may sound like a life sentence without parole: twenty-four hours a day with the person you love.
Balancing Business and Family Life
Randy ’75 and Karla ’76 Peters, copreneurs who owned Four Seasons Trophies in Dickinson from 1977 to 2020, know from years of experience that working with one’s spouse offers both benefits and drawbacks.
DSU Heritage Foundation Teams Up with Coca-Cola
for ABC Children's Book
Get ready, Blue Hawk Nation – something exciting is coming for the youngest fans of Dickinson State University football! The DSU Heritage Foundation is delighted to announce the upcoming release of An Alphabet Book for Little Blue Hawks, a companion children’s book to the highly anticipated adult book: 100 Years of DSU Football.
Illustrated by acclaimed local artist Sara Worner, this charming ABC book is more than just a way to teach the alphabet. Packed with fascinating Blue Hawk and football facts, it’s a playful and educational journey into the world of DSU athletics. Vibrant illustrations promise to make this book as stunning as it is educational.
Dickinson State Begins Presidential Search
The North Dakota University System announced that Dickinson State University (DSU) has opened the search for its next president and is now accepting applications and nominations for the position.
The new DSU president will succeed Stephen Easton, who departed the university mid-July 2024.
Co-chairing the DSU Presidential Search Committee are State Board of Higher Education Vice Chair Danita Bye, and Ty Orton, acting president of DSU.
In November, eleven listening sessions were scheduled involving various DSU stakeholders, including community, staff, students, and faculty. Following the meetings with DSU constituents, Bye said, “The DSU community expects leadership that will respect and promote its core values: integrity, accessibility, excellence, and inquiry and innovation. The new president must have a students-first attitude addressing academic programs, athletics, health and welfare and campus stewardship, while supporting an inclusive culture for the DSU community.”
Williston State College Partners with Dickinson State and Mayville State to Offer Four-Year Degrees On-Site
Williston State College (WSC) is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Dickinson State University (DSU) and Mayville State University (MaSU) to bring four-year bachelor’s degree programs directly to WSC’s campus. The partnership, formalized through recently signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), opens new pathways for students to earn bachelor’s degrees while remaining in Williston.
Through this collaboration, WSC students can seamlessly transition into bachelor’s degree programs without the need to relocate. Programs include secondary education, business, social sciences, and other high-demand fields, addressing workforce needs in western North Dakota and providing affordable, local access to higher education.
DSU Students Reenact Infamous Swanson Motel
Murders in Mock Trial
Dickinson State University’s (DSU) Criminal Justice 330 course, Courts and Procedures, taught by Professor Michael Jennings, recently conducted a compelling mock trial of the infamous 1981 Dickinson double homicide, widely known as the Swanson Motel Murders. This real-life case, which was never tried in court due to the unexpected death of the primary suspect in custody, provided students with a challenging and realistic legal scenario to reenact
Blue Hawks Upset Rocky Mountain in Billings
Dickinson State earned a hard-fought 61-55 upset victory over Rocky Mountain College on Sunday at the Fortin Education Center to close out the Hampton Inn Green and Gold Classic.
Dickinson State (5-7, 0-1) started strong, outscoring the Battlin' Bears 18-12 in the first quarter. Anhelica Shanrock led the charge early, scoring seven of her game-high 23 points in the opening frame. The Blue Hawks shot 50% from the field in the first quarter and displayed balanced contributions on both ends of the court.
The defensive battle intensified in the second quarter, with both teams struggling offensively. The Blue Hawks managed to outscore Rocky Mountain 9-5, holding the Bears to just 15.4% shooting in the period. Kayden Steele and Samantha Oase combined for key baskets to give Dickinson State a 27-17 lead at halftime.
Blue Hawks Turn in Strong Performances at Dakota
Alumni Classic in Fargo
Dickinson State indoor track and field competed at the Dakota Alumni Classic by North Dakota State last weekend. The field consisted mainly of programs at the NCAA Division I and II levels.
On the women's side, Kaitlyn McColly secured a strong performance in the pentathlon, finishing 5th overall with 3,538 points. Her score is currently the top ranked NAIA score in the nation. Adarra Haglund leaped to a 4th place finish in the high jump, clearing 1.67 meters. Jewel Olson ran a 59.75 in the 400m, claiming 6th place. Her time comes in at #12 nationally in the NAIA.
Blue Hawks Kick Off NSAA Play With Huge OT Win at UJ
Dickinson State picked up a huge 81-77 overtime North Star Athletic Association victory over the University of Jamestown Harold Newman Arena on Friday night.
"Very gutsy performance by our team tonight," said head coach Derek Selvig. "Jamestown is a really good basketball team and so well coached. To go into their gym and pull out an overtime win speaks volumes about our group. Very proud of their effort and how together they are playing."
The Blue Hawks, now 5-5 overall and 1-0 in conference play, were led by Kose Egbule, who recorded a double-double with 11 points and 18 rebounds. Cordell Stinson was crucial in overtime, scoring six points, while Trey Stevens contributed 15 points, all from three-point range.
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DSU Heritage Foundation
230 8th Ave W Dickinson, ND 58601
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