Chris Daugaard CLASS OF '09
Senior
Hometown: Dell Rapids, SD
Major: Political Science
Here’s the run-down: Chris has played on the drumline for the Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band, competed in intramural basketball and football, and worked as a commercialization analyst at the Enterprise Institute. He has also presented at national and regional conferences. (One, in Philadelphia, was about how to develop a class on global climate change; another, in Minnesota, was about his independent study of leadership.)
But he’s found his work as senator, executive board member and president of the Students’ Association to be most inspiring. “As a group we’ve had tremendous input into regional and state issues,” he says. “That’s been an amazing experience, especially since I’ll probably want to get into business and public service eventually after I graduate.”
If you’re getting the impression that Chris is all work and no play, think again. He recently competed in SDSU’s version of Dancing with the Stars—and won. “For the 90s competition, my partner and I went into my iTunes and looked for the most ridiculous songs from middle school and high school. It was crazy, and so much fun. By the end of that month, was I tired.”
Tired as he may be, Chris’ hectic pace shows no signs of slowing. He plans to start the summer with six weeks of urban planning and language study in Germany. Then he’ll tour parts of Europe before returning home to work on his father’s political campaign and start graduate school. “My dream right now is to start a local business someday. I’d love to do that.”