News at SDState

June 28 and 29, 2026 — the days I will never forget. I got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), affectionately known as "Mighty IKE,” a living engineering marvel and a remarkable testament to American engineering innovation and ingenuity.

Jason Sternhagen, a 16-year veteran of the McComish Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, begins his 17th year as the first appointee to the Metzger Educator in Power System Engineering. Sternhagen, who had been a lecturer and research associate III in the electrical engineering department, carries the new title of Metzger Endowed Professor of Practice.

Aidan Ferens’ early years may have been spent in Washington, D.C., but the roots of this South Dakota State University incoming sophomore are deeply entrenched in the Dakota prairie. Ferens’ parents moved to the Highmore ranch where his mother grew up when Ferens was 6 years old. He was one of 13 students in the Highmore High School Class of 2025. Four of them continued their education at SDSU. One other also are enrolled in the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering, but Ferens is the only one to major in healthcare systems engineering, a program which the college started one year ago. Like the move to the Haiwick ranch 4 miles east and 2 miles south of Highmore, the transition to college and a brand-new major has been a smooth one.

The Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering hosted three outreach camps for high school students this summer with the 55 students coming from as far away as Dubai (their parents are SDSU graduates who were here during camp week). The breakdown, in order of occurrence, shows 12 for Youth Engineering Camp, 26 for Precision Ag Camp and 17 for Data Science Camp. A short summary of each camp follows.

This spring’s American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting in Los Angeles may have been Aubrey Kooima’s last as a student pharmacist, but it was also a culminating moment for this notable leader.

Thanks to the generosity of Paul and Maria Wintrode, South Dakota State University and the Sioux Falls School District are partnering to improve autism-specific education for both young adults and teachers who support them.

South Dakota State University moved another step closer to Research 1 status following the South Dakota Board of Regents July meeting in Spearfish.

The South Dakota Board of Regents approved a request by South Dakota State University on Thursday to offer a new program in engineering.

Three graduates from the 1970s, two graduates from the 1980s and a nontraditional graduate from the 1990s comprise the six Jackrabbits who have risen to the top of their fields and have been selected for the 2026 Class of Distinguished Alumni by the SDSU Alumni & Foundation. They are: • Keith Bartels, Classes of ’67 and ’74, Brookings • Kevin Haarberg, Class of ’79, Woodland, California • Doug Hofer, Class of ’72, Pierre • Joan Hogan, Class of ’94/M.S. ’99, Brookings • Mike Huether, Class of ’84, Sioux Falls • Debra Muller, Class of ’83, Sioux Falls

When Susan Immanuel talks about her research, one theme is clear. “I like solving puzzles,” she said. At South Dakota State University’s College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, Immanuel is applying that mindset to pancreatic cancer, exploring new ways to deliver effective cancer drugs more precisely and effectively to tumors.