Alumni Connections

Isabella Erickson Named 2021 Outstanding Senior

Isabella Erickson was named the SMSU Class of 2021 Outstanding Senior. President Kumara Jayasuriya, along with Alumni Association Board President Neil Kruse and Provost Ross Wastvedt, surprised her with the award just prior to Commencement on May 8.

Erickson graduated with degrees in History and Political Science. She was an Honors Program participant and carried a 4.0 grade-pointaverage during her academic career. The Salem, S.D. native was one of two Campus Election Engagement Project Student Fellows last fall during the election season, where she engaged students in federal, state and local elections. She helped students register to vote, volunteer for campaigns and educated others on candidates and issues. It was a nonpartisan position, with a goal of engaging SMSU students in the election process.

She received no less than six nominations for the award, and was highly recommended to the selection committee for her academic accomplishments, her sense of civic responsibility, and her intellectual curiosity. Many adjectives were used to describe Erickson, including focused, mature, friendly, self-motivated, reliable, timely, analytical, wellread, and enthusiastic.

One of her nominators said, “I have taught over 2,100 different students in my time at SMSU. Academically, I would put her in the top .5 percent of all the students I have taught.”

She has a real passion for learning and helping others, and will pursue her law degree at the University of South Dakota this fall.

She was active with extracurricular activities within her majors, and really enjoyed her Drama Club experiences.

Alumni Association Board President Neil Kruse, President Kumara Jayasuriya, Isabella Erickson, and Provost Ross Wastvedt.

View the announcement video: bit.ly/outstandingsenior2021

Homecoming Weekend of Oct. 8-10

Each year the SMSU Alumni Association recognizes alumni and friends who have made significant contributions of time, talent or financial resources to help advance and bring positive recognition to Southwest Minnesota State University. This year’s award recipients will be honored during Homecoming at the awards luncheon on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021. Recipients of this year’s Alumni Achievement, Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) awards as well as the Honorary Lifetime Membership recipients will be announced this summer. To celebrate, join us for the 2021 Alumni Awards Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 8 at noon in the SMSU Conference Center. Tickets will be available online later this summer. Reservations are required to attend.

To read about past award winners or reserve tickets, visit www.SMSUAlumni.com/AlumniAwards.