DECADE OF DEDICATION: 11 YEARS AT USF
A NEW PERSPECTIVE
EARLY BIRDS OF ACHIEVEMENT: DECEMBER 2023 GRADUATES
CAMPUS SAFETY
MATTHEW STERUD
ALL CONFERENCE TEAM 2023
Rae Voss
Tessa Haag
Connor Aldrich
Lydia Kline
Aidan DeBoer
Teeba Rauuf
Professor Lorri Halverson, a dedicated educator here at USF, recently celebrated her 11th year of full-time teaching at the university. In an exclusive interview, she shared insights into her journey, the changing landscape at USF, and the driving force behind her passion for teaching.
When asked about her tenure at USF, Professor Halverson revealed, “This is my 11th year teaching full-time at USF. I was also an adjunct faculty member the year before I joined the faculty full-time.” Over the years, she has become a fixture in the Economics Department, teaching courses that form the core of her curriculum: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Consumer Behavior, and International Business. Additionally, she imparts knowledge in upper-level economics classes, with favorites such as Labor Economics and Environmental Economics.
Reflecting on the changes at USF since she started, Professor Halverson highlighted
the evolution of online classes. “One of the biggest changes I have seen is around online classes.” Traditionally, undergraduate students rarely took online classes, but now, students have more control over their learning experiences. Professor Halverson observed a shift towards customization, with students blending online and on-ground classes to meet their individual needs.
Delving into her motivation for becoming a professor, Professor Halverson shared, “At my core, I am a problem solver.” Her early love for mathematics and economics
stemmed from the joy of navigating through challenges. Today, she strives to ignite curiosity and a love for problemsolving in her students. She emphasized the importance of connecting economic concepts with real-world events, recounting moments like discussing the fall of Silicon Valley Bank and the grounding of the Ever Given in the Suez Canal with her students.
Halverson finds fulfillment in those “aha” moments, recalling a student who struggled but persevered. “A few years back, I had a student who sat in the middle of the room. He was struggling with the content, but he kept showing up. He kept doing the work. He kept trying. And then one day after our third exam, as I was pulling concepts we had just been covering and trying to connect them to new material, it clicked for him. I could see it
on his face, but the best part was that he exclaimed loudly for the whole class to hear, ‘Oh! Now I get it!’ I don’t need students to shout out loud when things start to connect for them... but when I see it happening... those are the moments that keep me going.”
As Professor Halverson marks her 11th year at USF, her commitment to fostering a love for learning and problem-solving in her students remains unwavering.
Sometimes in life it takes somewhat of a falling down to fall up into where we are meant to be. Ryan Otto, a December graduate at the University of Sioux Falls, experienced this. Ryan attended USF majoring in psychology. However, he dropped out and he thought he would never go back again.
His falling down occurred about two years later when he was diagnosed with vasculitis. “I almost died. After you go through something like that you don’t look at everything the same as you did before,” said Otto. Once he recovered, he was working at outpatient therapy when he realized he wanted to do something else with his life. “I was seeing everyone else around me talking about how they wished they would have gone back to college and gotten a degree. It was a motivating factor for me,” said Otto. He made the decision to go back to college
and started pursuing a degree in Business Administration. He soon realized business classes weren’t for him; he wanted to do something more creative, so he switched to Media Studies. “Now I get to do all the fun stuff,” said Otto. He enjoys videography and photography. After college he is looking forward to finding a job that he enjoys and possibly moving somewhere tropical in the future.
A lot has changed for Ryan Otto and his outlook on life. “You take things a little less for granted and not much bothers me anymore. It’s all about what you have for your perspective in life,” said Otto. After having gone through all he did, going back to college allowed him to be more focused on his studies and getting good grades. “Now I cared more and wanted to do better and apply myself.”
Otto’s difficult experiences all led him to where he is today. He is earning a degree in a field where he has fun and is creating and editing with a newfound enthusiasm for life.
You have often heard the phrase, “Time flies” and in this case it did. 2020 pandemic high school graduates are getting ready to graduate from college, more specifically, the University of Sioux Falls. There are a few students who finished their courses in advance and will be done a semester earlier. In December, Myah Roggenbuck and Madison Dennistoun are two of many students who will have finished their academic race at a faster pace. “It feels so relieving to be graduating a semester early! I have worked really hard to stay ahead in my credits by taking college level courses in high school and taking a few summer courses at USF. It’s a nice feeling knowing that I will have plenty of time to figure out my future career plans after receiving my degree”, Roggenbuck said. Dennistoun said, “It feels like a relief to be done in December, even though I’m graduating early it has felt like a long three and a half years.”
Being at the University of Sioux Falls is like being a part of a close community, creating a lifetime full of memories. “My favorite memory about being a student at USF is being a part of the track and field team. I have gained so many new friendships and met people who valued and supported me throughout my entire college experience,” Roggenbuck said. Dennistoun said, “My best memories about being a student at USF was being able to make friends that I hope to continue being friends with for life.” The University of Sioux Falls has been known to create long lasting bonds and cherished moments.
Both Myah Roggenbuck and Madison Dennistoun plan to begin the start of their careers once they graduate. Roggenbuck, who is graduating with an Elementary Education degree, is hoping to
apply for her teaching certificate, and teach lower elementary. Once she gets more experience in her field, she is hoping to go back to school for her Masters Degree. Dennistoun, who will be graduating with a Criminal Justice Degree and a minor in Social Science, is hoping to work with children who need guidance.
Closing the undergrad chapter can be an emotional rollercoaster, but these two, as well as all the graduates in December, and this spring, have been prepared by University of Sioux Falls’ faculty, students, and team, to open the next chapter without hesitation.
Even in the safest neighborhoods, theft can happen. If we forget to hit the lock button in our car, it can be an easy way for thieves to look in the windows and make off with valuables. Campus Security officer Ralph Lott provided some helpful information in order to help keep students and their belongings safe and secure.
In order to ensure that a car is less likely to be broken into, make sure that anything and everything of value is out of sight. The reason for this is that if there doesn’t look like there is anything of value, then the car will attract less attention. Thieves are not afraid of breaking
windows to get to anything that they think may be valuable. Parking in the lots on campus is a good way of having a car in proper lighting in case the car is broken into. Along with good lighting, the campus has a number of security cameras to watch over campus, with some new ones that were just added recently. Students can always reach out to Campus Security at any time of the day and someone will be able to be able to assist.
Campus Security also has a Safe Walk program for students who may feel uncomfortable going out on campus at night. The campus has added a number of additional locked doors around campus to help increase the safety of students
and to prevent people from getting into places they don’t belong. Students can help out other students by communicating what they see to one another and by walking in groups. If you see something suspicious, report it. Campus Security is here to help students and it helps the campus to be proactive. Lott said it best by saying, “It could be nothing, but it is better to call campus security and have them check.” If a student finds that their car was broken into then the student should make a police report and call Campus Security as well. They may have seen the incident on video and are better equipped to assist the police.
Matthew Sterud is graduating in December 2023 with a major in Media Studies and a concentration in multimedia production. He has spent his time at USF in the theater department where he enjoys the behind-thescenes work and the technical side of making the art. Sterud has also been a member of the Coo Cinema Club since the Fall of 2021, when he was involved in the making of “The Haunted Mask” and was hooked
immediately. Within the club, members learn about the process of making a film by screenwriting, filming, and editing a 10-15 minute original film.
If Sterud had one piece of advice for USF students, whether they’re a freshman or a senior, it would have to be, “I’ve always found myself having the most amount of fun when I’m most involved.” He says his first year at USF, his primary focus was going to class and “getting your friends to talk you into things (within reason) because the most fun I’ve had on campus were events that I had to get talked into.” He was talked into joining the film club, and it was one of his favorite things that he did during his time at USF.
Post-graduation, he has a few exciting internships lined up, including one where he will apprentice for a lighting designer for most of the Sioux Falls stages. Looking forward to next summer, he is going to contract work for a live event company which he cannot yet name but will send him around the U.S. and even around the world. As for a longterm career goal, Sterud says, “I’d really like to be in the process of making movies. That’s what I want to do when I grow up.”
The 2023 University of Sioux Falls Cougars football team didn’t necessarily have the year they anticipated, but some players still managed to receive first and second team all-conference. Players such as Carter Slykhuis, Amaurii Grosskopf, and Matt Goehring just to name a few. Slykhuis, who received first team all conference, describes his year receiving the accolade. He elaborated, “Feels good to get some recognition … I am very appreciative of this, it has come with a lot of work and dedication. All to the help of my teammates as well. On a stronger note though, winning the conference title is all I am worried about right now.” Slykhuis is determined to come back in the 2024 season with a vengeance and chip on his shoulder.
Redshirt Freshman Matt Goehring received second team all-conference for the first time. He was very excited to say, “Being named 2nd team NSIC all-conference is an honor that
represents all the hard work and dedication that was put into my athletics. It couldn’t have happened without my teammates challenging me everyday. I feel blessed to be able to accomplish this, but more importantly I want to use this as a way to unite our team so we can have a successful next season.” Goehring, only a freshman at the time, has become one of the top linebackers throughout the NSIC and will be looking to make an impact on his teammates and other teams as well.
Graduate student Amaurii Grosskopf has been with the University of Sioux Falls Cougars for six years! His commitment to getting better with this team and community has portrayed nothing but greatness and leadership in his name. Grosskopf explains, “Achieving three time all-conference honors is incredibly rewarding, as it reflects consistent excellence and recognition from my peers. It brings a sense of accomplishment and validates the hard work and dedication put into the sport. Being recognized three times underscores not individual skills but sustained high performance within the conference.” Grosskopf was a powerhouse for the Coo and will certainly be missed. He left a tradition and impact on many of his younger teammates that will carry on with them for the rest of their careers.
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