Student News

Briar Cliff University Spring 2025 Dean’s List

Sioux City — Briar Cliff University celebrates the academic accomplishments of the 293 students named to the Dean’s list for the Spring semester of the 2024-2025 academic year, including 87 students who achieved a perfect GPA of 4.0.

Full-time students who have a semester GPA of 3.5 or greater and part-time students who complete six or more credits in a semester with a GPA of at least 3.5 are eligible for the Dean’s List.

Student names are compiled alphabetically according to their countries, states/provinces, and hometowns. An asterisk following a student’s name denotes a 4.0 GPA.

Cherokee – William Lugar, Kenna Mongan, Teagan Slaughter

Iowa State honors spring graduates

Ames — Nearly 4,600 graduates received degrees from Iowa State University this spring. Graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremonies were held May 15-17. Larry Bussand John “J.R.” Robinson received honorary degrees during  spring ceremonies.

Area graduates were:

• Elizabeth Mae Kaskey, Alta, Bachelor of Science, Horticulture
• Rebecca Joyce Cowan, Cherokee, Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Studies
• James Creel, Cherokee, Bachelor of Science, Microbiology
• Anna Paulsrud, Cherokee, Bachelor of Science, Animal Science
• Taylor Madison Erlandson, Correctionville, Bachelor of Science, Animal Science
• Beau Joseph D Blackmore, Holstein, Bachelor of Science, Management Information Systems
• Danielle McKenna Hoyle, Holstein, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Magna Cum Laude
• Jadyn Marie Schmidt, Holstein, Bachelor of Science, Marketing
• Kaitlyn Elizabeth Goth, Marcus, Bachelor of Architecture, Architecture, Magna Cum Laude
• Kristina Nicole Goth, Marcus, Bachelor of Science, Accounting, Summa Cum Laude; and Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Business, Summa Cum Laude
• Lydia Hustedt, Sutherland, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Interior Design

South Dakota State Spring 2025 Dean’s List

Brookings S.D. — More than 3,800 students were recognized for their outstanding academic performance over the spring 2025 semester at South Dakota State University by being named to the dean’s list.

To earn dean’s list distinctions in SDSU’s colleges, students must have completed a minimum of 12 credits and must have earned at least a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Overall, 3,820 students from 37 states and 33 foreign nations are on the list. Congratulations to these distinguished scholars on earning this academic achievement.

Cherokee: Aurora Christensen, Allison Gunn, Logan Thorson, Jack Waldner

Cleghorn: Elsie Hogg

Paullina: Samuel Daniels, Eric Mars, Edie Oliver

Pierson: Elle Ploeger

Sutherland: Shelby Davis, Jack Farquhar, Payton Farquhar

Bainbridge graduates from Wartburg College

Waverly — Wartburg College awarded diplomas to 318 students during its Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 24.

Rylie Bainbridge, of Cherokee, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music Education in music education.

Wartburg College, a four-year liberal arts college internationally recognized for community engagement, enrolls about 1,500 students. A college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Wartburg is dedicated to challenging and nurturing students for lives of leadership and service as a spirited expression of their faith and learning. The college is characterized by vigorous academic expectations and community engagement within an environment of strong personal support.