UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS STUDENT MEDIA
WRITERS
Em Mercer
Emma Thomas
Toby Knutson
Perla Perez Silva
Kylee Miller
Dom Avant
BY: PERLA PEREZ SILVA
LETTING CREATIVITY FLOW IN PAINTING 1
Inside the Jeschke building on the main floor lies a room where creativity fills the space in strokes of paint brushes and vibrant colors. Room 149 is where Ceca Cooper, the Art professor at the University of Sioux Falls, spends her early afternoon teaching students the basics of color and composition in her Painting 1 class.
Students can take Painting 1 as part of their Creative Arts core courses among many other creative art classes available at USF. Cooper says that she encourages students to take Painting 1. “I encourage people to take Painting because most of the people who are in there have never taken painting before and you’re at a Liberal Arts college,” Cooper said. “We encourage you to do something different that you’ve never done.”
Cooper talks about how the class is open to everyone and that most of her classes are not limited to just Art majors. She likes the fact that her Painting 1 class is not all Art majors though she does have Art majors in her class. She says it’s really fun to see her students open up their creative side and do things they’ve never done before such as play with colors, textures and composition. In fact, she often has a lot of Business and Science Majors in her classes. “What they find is that it kind of opens up a whole new window for them to get excited about,” Cooper says, “Most people really enjoy it because they’ve never done it before.” Although the students with little to no experience seem terrified at first, the more they get comfortable with the paints they realize painting is rather fun and enjoyable.
Cooper’s hope for students who take this class is for them to get a better appreciation of painting. She says, “Once you’ve created your own painting then you’re much better at looking and observing paintings in general. You understand the challenges that any painter faces and you kind of look at art in a whole different way,” which is one of the objectives of the course. Painting 1 classes are offered every semester Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
MEGAN OUTLAND’S PAINTING OF THE EGG STILL-LIFE PROJECT
THURSDAY NIGHT WORSHIP
BY: KYLEE MILLER
Walking into Cooper’s Cafe, visitors will see all the tables and chairs moved back. A band is set up in the corner with string lights around them. The room is filled with voices all chatting to one another. People rushing to be right in front of the band to worship. Others all gather around and fill in the spaces. Soon a student walks up to one of the microphones set up and starts to talk. She explains that usually during The University of Sioux Falls worship night they sing, then a student talks, then they close with a song. However, they changed the set up this particular Thursday and had the student talk first, then sing the rest of the time. The student began talking and everyone sat down to listen. There were no distractions, and everyone just sat and listened. Vivian Hughes said she attends worship night because it is a beautiful place to meet with God. She has been attending worship nights since she was a freshman. Hughes also states that worship night is important because, “Worship night gives USF students the opportunity to come to a space where the distractions of life are paused, and they can commune with God and community. Worship nights also allow for Believers to have a place to use their gift of musical worship for God and allows Believers to share what God has been teaching them or what He has done and what He is doing in their lives. Worship night also gives students a place to receive
prayer and have conversations about God,” said Hughes.
Another familiar face you will see at Thursday night worship is Matt Styles. Styles is the campus pastor. Thursday night worship is just one of the many things that campus ministries do on campus. Styles said, “My hope is that students who engage in Campus Ministries see and trust in the healing love, truth, goodness, and beauty of the God that is revealed in Jesus Christ. My hope is that when students get a glimpse of this Jesus, that they will realize that he is worth following with everything they have: heart, soul, strength, and mind.”
Thursday night worship is every Thursday from nine to ten. It is open and everyone is welcome. It is held in Coops right on campus. Campus ministries and attendees want you to come out and see what it is like. “No words can describe what a USF Worship night is without someone coming to see what it is like themselves. Worship night is a beautiful place to encounter God and be in community. If you are not sure about the whole God thing, Worship night is also a place where you can come with your doubts and your questions. Our God isn’t scared of the hard things, and there are people at Worship night like our prayer team who would love to answer any of your questions,” said Hughes. So, if you’re free Thursday nights they would love to have you come worship and praise God.
CONCERT CHORALE’S RAPID CITY ROAD TRIP
BY: EM MERCER
CONCERT CHORALE IN RAPID CITY SPRING 2025
Ten hours on a bus may seem exhausting to some, but for USF’s Concert Chorale, it’s a recipe for a fantastic weekend.
January 17, 60 student vocalists made the long trek to Rapid City, South Dakota, to represent the University of Sioux Falls at the state music convention. This convention, hosted by the South Dakota chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), provides excellent opportunities for choral directors across the state to develop their craft. These conventions include several informational keynotes, workshops, and performances. This year, the University of Sioux Falls Concert Chorale was honored with the opportunity to perform at the convention, which was held at First United Methodist in Rapid City.
The Concert Chorale performed six songs, with selections varying from a German church cantata to a rousing gospel spiritual.
Dr. David DeHoogh-Kliewer, USF’s resident choral director, found the experience to be particularly rewarding from his position at the head of the Chorale. “It was one of the best performances I’ve experienced with the USF Concert Chorale over the last 19 years.” He adds, “The students ‘ate.’”
Of course, the Concert Chorale had plenty of fun outside of their performance. When they weren’t in their concert robes, the Chorale enjoyed a pit stop at Mount Rushmore, meals at local eateries, and plenty of time for camaraderie on the tenhour bus ride. “We not only get to perform, we get to spend time together traveling, eating, sleeping, and experiencing worship,” says DeHoogh-Kliewer. “These opportunities result in a closely-knit ensemble of friends, one which appreciates engagement and investing in artistic endeavors together.”
And, indeed, endeavors like the Rapid City trip have brought the Chorale very close together. Toby Knutson, a baritone voice in the Chorale, says his favorite part of the trip was “the bus ride there, just having a good ol’ time making new memories.”
Abigael Olson, a soprano, agrees. “I really enjoyed traveling with the choir! It was like having one big sleepover with some of my closest friends.” With so much fun packed into the Rapid City trip, a ten-hour bus ride felt very short indeed to this dedicated community of musicians.
For all the fun they had, though, the Chorale was ultimately honored to represent USF with their voices. DeHoogh-Kliewer says, “Our student-musicians are some of the very best ambassadors for this university. As such, our singers appreciated the opportunity as a way to not only demonstrate skill and dedication to this art form, but as an opportunity to spread our musical ministry. This is a high calling and one which our students take very seriously.” Grateful for the opportunity that was the Rapid City trip, DeHooghKliewer reflects on the community that is USF’s Concert Chorale. “I love every one of our trips across the state, the country, or the globe, because students grow and mature as musicians, as friends, and as servant leaders with a message of faith in Christ.”
And Rapid City is just the beginning of the Concert Chorale’s Spring ‘25 adventures. This February 28 through March 8, the Chorale will be hitting the road for their Spring Break Domestic Tour, during which they’ll perform in many schools, churches, community centers across the Midwest. The tour will finish with a Saturday concert at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Sioux Falls, where the Chorale will be performing for the Sacred Arts Series on March 8, 7:30 p.m. Once they’ve finished this week-long tour, they’ll have a month to prepare for their Spring Choral Concert, which is scheduled for Sunday, April 13 at 4:00 p.m., in USF’s Meredith Auditorium.
The Concert Chorale’s experience at the state music convention was a rewarding one, and this choir is ready for their next big adventure. Don’t miss the USF Concert Chorale’s upcoming performances this Spring 2025.
It’s not everyday you are given an offer to perform for a prestigious conference. Our fellow Cougars in the USF Wind Ensemble were lucky enough to receive that exact offer.
The South Dakota Bandmasters Association is a professional organization comprising band directors from across South Dakota, representing all academic levels, from elementary school bands to college wind ensembles. Its annual conference features concerts, presentations, meetings, and professional development opportunities for band directors statewide. Collegiate performances at the Bandmasters Conference were traditionally limited to wind bands from South Dakota’s larger music programs, including SDSU, USD, and Northern State. Recently, however, the conference has broadened its scope, welcoming a wider variety of instrumental ensembles, such as jazz bands and chamber groups from colleges and universities of all sizes. This year, it was USF’s turn to showcase their skills.
Jonathan Neiderhiser, the Instrumental Director at USF, cannot wait to show off the hard work the Wind Ensemble has put in. “I’m most excited for the chance to introduce the USF Wind Ensemble to audience members who have not heard us perform before,” says Neiderhiser.
On Feb. 14, the Wind Ensemble performed in the Oscar Larson
USF WIND ENSEMBLE OPPORTUNITY
BY: TOBY
GIVEN THE OF A LIFETIME
Performance Center at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. They showcased pieces from composers such as Adrian B. Sims to James Swearingen. Neiderhiser hopes the Wind Ensemble will recognize the hard work they’ve invested and the skills they’ve developed in overcoming the challenges of this concert. “This is a different type of concert and audience than we usually perform for, and we are stretching ourselves in terms of the difficulty of the literature we’re playing and the overall level of the performance. I’ve introduced a couple of new pieces that definitely push the boundaries of what we typically play, and the students have really stepped up to the challenge,” says Neiderhiser. The opportunity to perform at the Bandmasters Conference is both an honor and a challenge, and the USF Wind Ensemble has risen to the occasion. With months of preparation and dedication, they were able to showcase their talents on a distinguished stage. As they took the spotlight at the Oscar Larson Performance Center, they not only represented USF, but also demonstrated the passion and excellence that define their ensemble. This performance is a milestone for the Wind Ensemble, marking a moment of growth, achievement, and well-earned recognition. cognition.
JONATHAN NEIDERHISER PRESENTING THE USF WIND ENSEMBLE
THE TRANSFER PORTAL HAS CHANGED THE DYNAMIC OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS
BY: DOM AVANT
The transfer portal has become a free agency goldmine. The transfer portal allows athletes to signal their intention to leave their current college and explore the possibility of transferring to another school. It allows them to be contacted by coaches from other programs and to potentially find a new institution where they believe they will have more playing time, a better fit for their academic needs, or a more competitive program depending on their goals.
As the University of Sioux Falls college football regular season wrapped up in late November, the Fall transfer portal window opened from December 9 to December 28, 2024 (and reopens April 16 to April 25, 2025), with some USF athletes seeking new opportunities. With the Spring college semester underway and teams eyeing the 2025 football season, a lot can still play
out to cause volatility in the college football ecosystem. Depending on graduate transfers, roster construction, additional high school prospects signing with colleges on February 5, 2025, on National Signing Day, and of course Name, Image, and Likeness (“NIL”) deals, more players may enter their name in the April transfer portal window. One USF football player who has made the decision to transfer from the USF Football Athletic Program is Senior, Isaac Benoit. Benoit has been in the USF football program since his freshman year in 2021 and has played with the team all four years.
He will be a graduate transfer after the Spring semester finishing up his Bachelor’s degree in Media Studies.
I talked to Benoit about the transfer portal and his hopes for the future.
Dom Avant: “How has the transfer portal been for you so far? Any thoughts on the experience?”
Isaac Benoit: “It has been a learning experience because the last time I was in this recruiting stage was during COVID-19, so a lot has changed. For instance, if you are not verified on X, then you can’t communicate with coaches.”
Dom Avant: “Why did you want to go into the transfer portal with one year left?”
Isaac Benoit: “Although I enjoyed my experience at USF, I thought it was time to make a change. I felt it was an opportunity to get closer to home after being away for four years.”
Dom Avant: “What are you hoping to gain from this transfer and what school would you ultimately like to go to?”
Isaac Benoit: “To be honest, I don’t have a certain school that I would like to land at, at this moment, but I hope I get the opportunity to just play and end my college career the way I envisioned it.”
ISAAC BENOIT ON THE FIELD WITH COO FOOTBALL
USF TRACK AND FIELD COMPETES AT MANKATO
BY: EMMA THOMAS
The University of Sioux Falls track and field team had a strong performance at the Mark Schuck Open & Multi on January 31 through February 1 at Myers Field House in Mankato, having multiple top finishes both on the track and in-field events.
Men’s Results
Tyler Hiatt highlighted the meet for the Cougars, taking first place in the shot put with a throw of 18.05 meters. Hiatt said, “Starting off with a 15.55m throw and then ending off at 18.05m was definitely a roller coaster. It was a great lesson to me to not get stuck in a single throw because there are more throws to come.” Johnny Cheney also reached the podium, finishing third in the heptathlon with 4,693 points.
Brandon Stark put up an impressive performance in the 600 meters, securing third place with a time of 1:22.96, while Kade Bullion finished fourth in the 5,000-meter run at 15:40.94.
In the hurdles, Ben Mandel ran 8.48 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles, earning an eighth-place finish. Miles Olofson ran the 800-meter run, securing sixth place with a time of 2:01.29. In the jumps, Jay Rhodes landed a ninth-place finish in the long jump, leaping 6.62 meters. Meanwhile, Karek Khan cleared 4.33 meters in the pole vault, placing seventh in a highly competitive field.
The Cougars also had strong showings in the throwing events. Andrew Edwards placed fifth in the weight throw, reaching a distance of 16.95 meters.
Women’s Results
Kamry Lindsey led the way for the women’s team, winning the weight throw with an impressive mark of 18.21 meters. Lindsey said, “The vibes at a Mankato meet are always electric, especially for the throws area
And something about that kind of atmosphere makes it fun to compete and throw big and be able to push myself to match the energy in the air In the shot put.”
In the shot put, Kayla Van Osdel secured second place, throwing 13.05 meters to finish just behind the event leader.
Tamia Horton had a strong performance on the track, finishing fourth in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.69. Kendell Anderson also performed well in the hurdles, placing sixth in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.85 seconds.
Morgan Gehl had a strong performance in the middle-distance events, clocking 2:18.14 in the 800-meter run to earn a fourth-place finish. In the 400-meter dash, Mackenzie Everson crossed the line in 1:01.29 to place eighth. Maddie Swanson kept up the team’s success in distance events, finishing fourth in the mile with a time of 5:10.32. Meanwhile, Emily Swanson reached 5.52 meters in the long jump, earning ninth place.
In the high jump, Abbi Webb cleared 1.61 meters to secure a fifth-place finish. McKenna Comstock put together a strong performance in the pole vault, reaching 3.61 meters to place fifth. Kendra King rounded out the Cougars’ top performances with a seventh-place finish in the triple jump, recording a mark of 11.14 meters.
Assistant Coach and Throws and Recruiting Coordinator Alissa Rausch said, “Tyler and Kamry’s success is a testament to the hours of practice, dedication, and focus put in behind the scenes. I’m proud of the throwers’ hard work and the confidence they bring to compete at such a high level.”
With several standout performances, the Cougars will look to build on this success as they prepare for their future competitions.
KAMRY LINDSEY PHOTO BY: JOSHUA KLEMME
TYLER HIATT
PHOTO BY: COLTER ELKIN
