News at SDState

President Donald Trump signed the 2020 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, Dec. 20, with a historic provision that will provide full funding to support American Indian students seeking the benefits of higher education at land-grant universities, which include tribal colleges. The bill passed both the House and the Senate prior to Trump signing.

S.D. Nelson and Gregory Bryan, the men behind two South Dakota Art Museum exhibits of American Indian story illustrations, will speak on Sept. 12 at 5:45 p.m. during the 5-7 p.m. closing reception for S.D. Nelson: Sharing My Vision and A Life’s Work: Paul Goble Illustrations of American Indian Stories.

Theater students can put on a first-class/world-class production thanks to the recent addition to the Performing Arts Center. After the addition was completed, it was renamed to the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center. Students now perform in the new, state-of-the-art proscenium theater, which seats about 850 people.

South Dakota State University faculty and staff will develop a series of professional development opportunities to gain a broader understanding of American Indian history, culture and current issues. As part of the university’s Wokini Initiative, the professional development series will help foster a culturally responsive and supportive campus environment for American Indian students to support the goal of their increasing retention and graduation rates.

Avera Health and South Dakota State University are partnering on a scholarship program for undergraduate American Indian students at SDSU. The Avera Wokini Scholarship is part of a broader Wokini Initiative at the university that offers programming and support to enrolled members of the nine tribal nations in South Dakota interested in gaining access to educational and advancement opportunities.