USF Vessel March 2020

MARCH 2020

Volume 7 Issue 3

university of sioux falls student media

TABLE OF CONTENTS T h e Ve s s e l / S p r i n g 2 0 2 0 / M a r c h

Meet the Writers .........................4 Cartagena, Colombia....................6

STAFF

Kenya............................................ 7

Editors in Chief

Art, Culture and Travel ..................8 European Choir Tour .....................9 Hawaii........................................10 Israel ..........................................11 Kenya ........................................12 Grief ..........................................13 Student & Staff Spotlight ...........14 Lost and Found ..........................16 Streaming Spotlight..... ................17 Making Waves ...........................18 USF vs. Augie Basketball ...........20 Love Your Melon .......................22 Caramel Macchiato ....................23

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Sammi Peterson Greta Smith

Writers Morgan Holien Noah Tyson Vanessa Juarez Mataya Lines Mercede Odegaard Jayda Verhey Ceveja Rice Cordell Wright Adam Sheffield Jane Martin

ADMINISTRATION Advisors

Nancy Sutton Nick Poppens

from the Editors hello hello hello!

Greta and I are so excited to be your editors this semester!

We are extremely excited to be a part of the Vessel team and even more stoked to bring the students on campus some new, fresh, feel good stories to read. This year we are focused on giving exposure to cool people, clubs, and campus experiences as well as some never before seen (or read) content.

We’re always searching for new creative, story ideas so if you have one in mind send it our way!

Sammi & Greta

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meet the writers MORGAN HOLIEN senior | communication studies & theatre with a media minor

MARIAH BLEEKER

sophomore | media studies

NOAH TYSON

junior | media studies & sports management

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MATAYA LINES

sophomore | media studies with art minor

BAILEY VIS

sophomore | media studies

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VANESSA JUAREZ sophomore | english & media studies

CEVEJA RICE

CORDELL WRIGHT senior | business administration & media studies

senior | education

JAYDA VERHEY

freshman | media studies

MERCEDE ODEGAARD sophomore | media studies and social media marketing

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Cartagena Colombia story by Mariah Bleeker Nine University of Sioux Falls nursing students immersed themselves in the city of Cartagena, Colombia over interim. They chose to serve in Colombia for nine days due to the ongoing Venezuelan refugee crisis.

Carley Poppenga, USF nursing senior, said as she prayed over patients during the trip to Colombia she was reminded of God’s powerful grace and love. “Many come to Colombia without insurance, papers, and a stable place to stay,” said Poppenga. The refugees likely never received healthcare due to the unstable Venezuelan government. For this medical mission trip, the nursing students partnered with Bridges of Hope International. Poppenga said that the organization has “a focus to address the needs of those who live in poverty, both spiritually and physically.” The nine nursing students were on a medical team with two dentists, two registered nurses, and two emergency room doctors.

The nursing students spent their first couple of days immersed in Spanish classes at the University of Cartagena. During that time Poppenga said that they learned words and phrases that would help them work in the clinics. A professor also led a guided tour of Cartagena teaching the nursing students about the history of the city. The tour also allowed them to interact more with the locals and practice their Spanish. Following their time at the University of Cartagena, the nursing students spent four days serving the city while working in clinics. Poppenga said, “We set up camp in different neighborhoods and saw patients. Over those four days, we saw about 3,140 patients in total.”

senior Carley Poppenga with a patient.

left to right: (back) Elizabeth Ferdinand Mckayla Phillippi, Sara Hess, Regan Ahler, Carley Poppenga, (front) Lily Mckown, Andy Shumake, Kaitlyn Nelson, and Hannah Curry.

When the nursing students worked in triage an interpreter helped them gain an understanding of the medical problem they were facing as well as communicating any information regarding medical history. The nursing students worked to serve the people by taking vitals and determining the urgency of the case. “I learned so much more about God and my faith in those four days than I ever had before,” Poppenga said.

Poppenga also noted that their time in the clinics was emotionally draining. “A diagnosis of diabetes here can be manageable with making healthier lifestyle choices and possible use of medication/insulin. However, a diagnosis there is a slow and unnerving death sentence as proper health care is hard to come by,” said Poppenga.

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This trip provided more than credits towards the nursing program.

Poppenga said it was eye-opening as a nursing student.

“Stuff we take for granted here is a true blessing there in healthcare"

senior Hannah Curry takes the pulse of a Colombian girl.

KENYA

providing health care services and spreading God’s love story by Jayda Verhey From January 2-16, students from the School of Nursing and the School of Business traveled to Africa. USF partnered with the Simba Educational Ministry, a nonprofit founded by a USF alum, Chase Ward. USF students Meghan Bratland and Mya Hanisch made their way through Kenya. “While in Kenya, we visited the school that Simba Ministries partners with, Iten Campground, a local Rescue Center and Special Needs Home, a Mango farm, Coffee farm, and had the opportunity to go on an African Safari,” said Bratland.

the USF nursing team in Kenya

The trip was an opportunity to provide care to the community of Kenya by assisting in local clinics. The team consisted of the School of Business, the School of Nursing and various health occupation workers throughout the villages of Kenya. "The duty of serving a multitude of people seemed nearly impossible, but then God provided a GOLDEN team. A team that was once strangers and now best friends," said Hanisch. “Our team was able to host four clinics in various locations and we helped to provide care to nearly 2,000 patients. In addition to medical care, spreading the love of Jesus Christ through prayer and Christ-like teamwork were our top priorities,” said Bratland and Hanisch. While in Kenya, the students visited Eldoret, a city in the Rift Valley region of Kenya, and the capital, Nairobi, where students were able to experience a safari trip.

Hanisch thoroughly enjoyed her experience. "This was a once in a lifetime opportunity that gave us a deeper understanding of different cultures and a greater worldview."Along with a newfound, deeper understanding of the culture in Kenya, the students learned some valuable life lessons. "We learned that personal circumstances do not define one’s happiness. Jesus is the provider of all our needs, and it is important to continuously put our faith in Him. The people of Kenya gave whole-heartedly and inspired us to always be thankful, not only for what we have, but for our faith and community," said Bratland. An opportunity like this is one that these students will never forget.

Simba Educational Ministries is a nonprofit organization, whose main focus is to spread the word and love of Jesus Christ. Based in Garretson, South Dakota, Simba Educational Ministries offer partner service trip opportunities for people to travel to Kenya to spread the word of Jesus Christ. Their goal is to "...Serve hand in hand with Kenyans to share in the intimacy of Jesus." left to right: Kailey Eskam, Laura Hansen, Mya Hanisch, Meghan Bratland, Brooklynn McCaulley, Alex Opsahl, Kristin Twedt, Liz Tramp, Jill Pitz, and Megan Burbach.

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Art, Culture & Travel story and photos courtesy of Mataya Lines The University of Sioux Falls has an interim break every The University of Sioux Falls has an interim break every year during the month of January. During this time, students have the opportunity to take a class, travel, or simply spend some extra time at home. Being a Christian Liberal Arts university, USF believes in the power of experiencing other cultures. Because of this, one of the requirements to graduate is to take a class that fulfills the “inter cultural awareness” credit. One of the more fun ways to fulfill this credit is to immerse yourself into a real-life experience while traveling to a different, or, in this case, many different countries. One of the travel opportunities that was offered this past January was a 10-day trip touring London, Paris, Berlin, and Prague with the Media and Visual Arts department.

While traveling through Europe, students got the chance to learn about different cultures, architecture, and art history.

Some of the most spectacular sights from the trip include the Seine River cruise in Paris where the Media and Visual Arts students experienced the Eiffel Tower’s beauty at night. Along with the Seine River, another eye-catching sight was the 516- meter Charles Bridge in Prague which crosses the Vltava River. “The castle in Prague was extraordinary. The views were breathtaking and when crossing the bridge, the people were so fun and welcoming,” says junior Noah Rothman. The Charles Bridge gave students a true feel of the people of Prague. Junior Kylin McKean explained that along with the bridge and the river cruise, she enjoyed getting to see so much art and took joy in seeing Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings in real life. Media studies professor Nick Poppens says that he recommends one of these trips to everyone.

“These trips are a life-changing experience and they really open your eyes to other cultures.”

LONDON, PARIS, BERLIN & PRAGUE

(left to right): Kylin McKean, Hannah Wold, Everett Moran, Freddy Rolland, Samantha Peterson, Bo Gjerness, and Megan Christiansen at Buckingham Palace

Clara Leverich and Greta Smith in Prague

“

Leaving on January 6, I was close with a couple of people, but coming back on January 16, I made so many friendships that I’ll cherish forever. There’s nothing like being in a foreign country with other students that forces you to become friends.

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(left to right): Noah Rothman, Sammi Peterson, Bo Gjerness, Kylin McKean, Everett Moran, and Hannah Wold at The Albert Memorial.

junior Noah Rothman

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European Choir Tour Prague | Cesky Krumlov | Vienna | Steyr | Salzburg | Munich USF Concert Chorale embarked on its European choir tour on December 26 and returned January 5 with some great experiences and memories. The choir visisted six cities in total in several countries, including The Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany.

Concert Chorale's first stop in Austria was right after Christmas, when the famous Christmas Markets in Austria were still up and running for the holiday season. Other highlights included the beautiful city of Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic, St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, Schonbrunn Palace and Mozart's house in Vienna, and a visit to the Nazi concentration camp at Dachau. Yet the trip was about much more than sight-seeing. Concert Chorale brought their talents with them to every city they visited in order to share their repertoire. The choir performed over 8 times in various locations.

A favorite for many choir members was a concert at the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. Senior Julie Spawn recalls "feeling moved nearly to tears as a crowd gathered to watch us sing." Spawn says, "the thing that brought me the most joy was knowing that each of those people in our audience, who might have come from all around the world, got to hear the message of a loving and merciful God through our music."Another special moment was spending New Years Eve in Steyr at the Hotel Mader. The staff had prepared a special dinner for the choir, after which a countdown to 2020 was held on the main square.

(right to left): Katie Movick, Lily Saterlee, Andrew Shumake, Madison Rimmer, & Haley Seeba in Prague

Spawn highly encourages all members of the choir to travel to Europe.

She says, "it is not only a way to see some of the most amazing places and to build lasting relationships, but a way to make music and art with others in some of the most incredible venues you will ever see." story by Sammi Peterson

Julie Spawn and Grace Trautman strike a pose in Austria

photos courtesy of Lily Saterlee, Miles Alleven, and Julie Spawn

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Hawaii story by Mercede Odegaard This January, a group of USF students had the opportunity to travel to Hawaii for a class called Experiencing Island Culture. Rather than stay on campus complaining about the cold weather, Emma Baker decided she would rather soak up the sun. Here’s what she had to say about her interim experience:

“This j-term I had the opportunity to go to Hawaii and experi-

ence island culture. It was an amazing trip full of warm weather and daily walks on the beach. We stayed in Kailua on the island of Oahu. It wasn’t as touristy as some other parts of Hawaii, so we had a more authentic Hawaiian experience. While on the island we went swimming, hiking, surfing, snorkeling and so much more.”

left side, front to back: Aubrey Schwebach, Myranda Thoen, and Hoelle Thorfinnson right side, front to back: Cassie Thornson, Bri Whisler, and Emma Baker.

“While we were there, we also got to experience a tra-

ditional luau, which was a lot of fun! They showed us different dances along with the traditional hula. Their costumes were all made of materials from the island.

While they danced there were people chanting a sort of song and playing instruments that resembled drums and a guitar. We learned that the chanting and dancing is how they share their history. It was a very cool experience that ended with a traditional Hawaiian meal.”

Emma Baker on a swing in Oahu

Left to right: Katie Schultz, Isabel Frederickson, Anna Peters, Alexis Kluk, Adrienne Towne, and Emma Baker.

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Israel

story by Sammi Peterson

A Trip to the Holy Land

From January 13-22, theology professors Dr. Hiigel and Dr. Gregg took a team of students to Israel. The trip was open to all students regardless of major. USF junior Kayla Anderson and senior Haley Seeba spoke to the Vessel about their experiences and how the trip impacted them in more ways than one.

“Going to Israel is an incredible experience, but how amazing is it that we serve a God that does not require us to travel across the world to be in his presence? God is just as present here in Sioux Falls and at USF as He is in Israel. People believe they are going to have this holy, spiritual experience once they get to Israel, and I would just like to say, don’t wait till you’re in Israel to reach out to God and expect Him to speak to you in amazing ways. Talk to Him today in bed, at work, at school, the same way you would at a Holy Site in the Holy Land; we serve a God who will meet you where you are at despite your physical location.”

-Kayla Anderson

senior Kayla Anderson

“The trip impacted me in many ways. It is still

continuing to impact me. This trip opened my eyes to various ways God showed me peace. I am learning to trust that God will be with me wherever I go. Since returning from Jordan and Israel, it has been more exciting than ever to read my Bible.

To read different names of places and be able to visualize distances between locations has made the Bible come to life in a new way.”

-Haley Seeba

USF students checked into their hotel in Israel.

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KENYA :

overflowing with love

On December 30, 2019, 14 students from the University of Sioux Falls Vucurevich School of Business embarked on the journey of a lifetime to Kenya. The trip was organized through Simba Ministries and Professor Brad VanKalsbeek, giving students the opportunity to witness God’s love firsthand.

Junior Kiara Mattern, majoring in Business Administration and Accounting, had the opportunity to share in this experience. At first, Mattern was unsure if she was called to go, however, some last minute convincing from business professor Brad VanKalsbeek sold her on the idea. The answer became clear when she stepped off the plane in Nairobi, Kenya. “My favorite experience was going to Saint Jacob’s school and visiting and playing with the children. The children genuinely care and are so interested in America and what I did and because they are so full of life. I also loved it when they sang for us at the closing ceremony, they have such angelic voices and are beautiful people,” said Mattern with a smile on her face.

sophomore Olana Noble with several students from Saint Jacob’s

Although the group went to serve, they also had some fun with their time in Kenya. The students had the opportunity to go and see what happens on at a Kenyan coffee farm. “It was really amazing to pick berries off of a coffee bean plant and to witness the process from harvest to production to the coffee in my hands,” said Mattern.

Mattern enjoyed her time in Kenya and would go back in a heartbeat. “I would highly encourage people to go on a trip that involves both serving and business to fully understand other cultures and to experience God’s love in different ways,” said Mattern.

the USF team introduces themselves to the students and staff at Saint Jacob’s

The Interim 2020 Kenya, Africa team posing for a photo overlooking the Great Rift Valley

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coffee berries growing on a coffee bean plant

story by Taryn Ceglowski photos courtesy of Olana Noble and Kiara Mattern

grief . . .

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coping with the loss story by Jane Martin

In the last semseter the USF community lost two of its students. Grief and sadness can overcome us, and losing someone who we love can have a profound impact on us.

Campus Pastor Dennis Thum spoke to the Vessel about this process of grief.

How will each person react to the news of someone’s death?

Everyone will react differently. In our present situation with the losses we have experienced, some may even feel guilty for not feeling sadder and regret not having connected with the person that they see their peers grieving over.

Each person is on their own journey. We need to be aware of how we process things and to avoid unhelpful things that will only deaden the feelings without really working through them. Avoid behaviors such as insensitive joking and excessive drinking which only numbs the pain but does not help us work through it.

Is it normal to ask if life is fair?

We need to be aware that sometimes life is a mystery and that there is no answer to the question of why certain things happen. We become fearful if we don’t work through any trauma. We may have doubts and wonder if life is fair. We ask “Why does it happen?” or we blame others. We fall into clichés and theologically we often settle for a bad answer rather than have no answer at all. Faith will not eliminate the process, but a well formed faith can help us face it in an appropriate and effective way.

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How can we help a person to deal with this?

Pastor Thum says there are certain things that we can do to help a person who is just having a hard time. Sometimes it isn’t always easy but we shouldn't be afraid to press the issue. We need to ask “Are you sure you’re ok?” and to be willing to say it a second time. You should avoid things like “you ought to be crying” or even “no crying – real Christians don’t grieve.” It is good to just ask simple open-ended questions like “How does it make you feel?”

What impact did the person have on the community?

Each person that dies has an impact on the community. Each person has a small group of friends and acquaintances on campus but we are just a big enough campus that very few students are known by all. Again, everyone grieves differently. Women and men often express feelings such as grief and anger in a different way. For example some women will talk about it while some men will prefer to do things and not talk about it. We normally cope best by often being with someone else to release stress or anger. Men many times have been raised to not talk too much about how they feel, but instead they will get together to enjoy a meal at a local restaurant and watch a game. The important thing is to be aware of what you are feeling and how it is affecting you.

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How do faith and the church help with the process?

5 Young adults will question that life is unfair and we shouldn't be surprised by this. We naturally ask “Why does this

happen?” and we may even feel better when we find someone to blame. We should not assume that God caused it - there is a lot of mystery in life. Sometimes there is no answer to why things happen. We can become fearful if we don't work through it. Faith will not eliminate fear but help us face it in an appropriate and effective way. Grief and fear intermingle. We often try to keep things inside and this is not healthy. It is always best to talk to a counselor or someone who will help you sort it out. If we don’t resolve our pain we will transmit it to another person and that is why sometimes we take things out on someone else.

Where can you go to get additional help?

Over the years Pastor Thum says it has been common for students to talk with him or other staff concerning their grief.

In the time that he has been at the university he has seen students affected by the loss of their peers. In the last few years there have been several deaths in our campus community related to accidents and health issues. This is unusual for a campus full of young people.If students don’t feel comfortable going to the pastor they can get additional help with a counselor. These resources are available through the university.

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Hannah DeHoogh-Kliewer has deep roots at the Uni-

versity of Sioux Falls. The biology major and chemistry minor student has lived in Sioux Falls her whole life, with famous parents around USF--her father, Dave DeHoogh-Kliewer, a music professor and director of choral activities, and her mother, Michelle DeHoogh-Kliewer, the campus counselor.

Hannah DeHoogh-Kliewer

DeHoogh-Kliewer, known around campus as Hannah DK, wanted to be a doctor since eighth grade, and though a love of learning and human anatomy was a part of her decision, she says it was “the Boston Marathon bombing, and I just remember being glued to the TV when that occurred. And they did an interview with a surgeon from the Massachusetts General Hospital... his ability to use his skills and gifts he had been given to help other people in the most vulnerable part of their life I think really inspired me…[that] lit a fire inside of me that I could use my passions for serving other people.”

Hannah DK is a junior at USF, though she hasn’t gone here all three years.

After a year and a half with the navy and gold, she transferred from Augustana, realizing USF was where she wanted to be. “It’s an awesome school,” she said about the rival university, “but I’ve grown up around USF... It made sense.” Similarly to her time at Augustana, Hannah is a Resident Assistant at USF, living in Sullivan this academic year. She also participates in choir and will be helping start a new club this coming fall entitled “Pre-Professional Health Organization.” The club will specialize in “creating a community and mentorship program for students who aspire to attend graduate school in the health sciences.” To top off her resume, she is the President of Lost and Found club on campus.

Looking back on her college experience so far, Hannah says, “I’ve learned the importance of finding balance in your life, and how important it is to live your life in a way that reflects what God has shown.” Through her path in life, Lost and Found, and being an RA, Hannah has learned there are many “ways I can display the teachings of Jesus through what I get to do.” The main goal of her college experience is to love and help other people and reflect a life of positivity and hard work. She likes to challenge herself but is also working to be intentional in trying to find purpose and balance in a hectic schedule.

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I’ve learned the importance of finding balance in your life.

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To this end, she’d tell her high school self to “trust God’s process”, because while she came into college with a set career in mind, things like schools and friends have changed. “I’m so lucky to have such a supportive family and group of friends, great support system.” Because of this, she’d also say to trust her skills, appreciate what you have, look to the future optimistically, and work hard. story by Morgan Holien

stude nt & s t a f f

spotlight

Ceca Cooper is a University of Sioux Falls art pro-

fessor who has been inspiring and guiding creative students for seventeen years. Cooper started at USF as a half-time instructor and became full-time after just two years. Cooper says her favorite thing about USF is the environment. She finds the atmosphere to be unbelievably friendly, the students to be hard-working, and the faculty to be outstanding. USF is now a family affair for Cooper because her youngest son currently attends classes.

Besides teaching art, Cooper also helps out by acting as faculty advisor for Green Fingers Gardening Club and the USF Democrats, as well as supervising interim trips. This comes as no surprise since some of Cooper’s other passions include traveling and gardening. She enjoys and appreciates the diversity and culture both passions have to offer.

Her decisions to teach and create were the right ones, because she has filled Sioux Falls’ venues with her artwork.

Her pieces can be found in the Sanford Hospice, Sanford Hospital, the Edith Sanford Breast Center, Raven Industries, and the Sioux Falls Airport. Furthermore, Cooper has displays here at USF. In fact, her favorite piece just so happens to be her two paintings near the cafeteria, painted with inspiration from a poem. This form of art is one that she has dabbled in multiple times, linking back to an old flame she carries for poetry and creative writing.

Cooper has had much success in her life, but she still sets goals to further her career and success. She aims to have another solo exhibition at the Washington Pavilion within the next couple years, and to somehow indulge herself in gardening. She hopes to find a way to combine gardening and art as a later caCooper has been pursuing art as long as she can remem- reer after retirement for a peaceful and active lifestyle. ber. When she was young, she was encouraged greatly by her family and would sell her paintings to neighbors. To this day, Cooper favors painting over any other art form, Professor Ceca Cooper and she has been very successful in this medium. Cooper owes her success to her family, which contains generations of artists such as her mother and grandmother.

In addition to Art Education, Cooper contemplated simply being a famous artist in New York City. This dream would not quite work out as Cooper had another dream, to have a family of her own. She is now married with five kids and, thankfully, her family pushed her to the education portion of her degree, and she hasn’t looked back since.

While Cooper does consider herself to be living the dream by teaching her passion to her wonderful students, art wasn’t the only career Cooper debated. Before settling on Art Education, Cooper pondered the idea of Creative Writing, Medical Illustration, and Architecture.

story by Vanessa Juarez | photos courtesy of Lisa Stahl and Nick Poppens

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A national movement to support the mental health of college students has found its way to the University of Sioux Falls and is reaching students across campus. The USF Lost&Found Club, an affiliate of the national Lost&Found Association was started this school year.

Advisor of the chapter and Assistant Professor of Education Dr. Brooke Murphy says, “Lost&Found is a new organization on campus that seeks to eliminate suicide by equipping college students with strategies for lifelong resilience. To do that, we provide activities, events, and programs revolving around three main categories: resilience for self, resilience for others, and resilience for the community. Through compassion, understanding, and inclusion, we hope to equip the USF community with tools to thrive in life... and have some fun while doing so!”

L&F seeks to provide activities, speakers, and programs from which students will gain skills that they can incorporate into their daily lives.

The club is primarily student lead. USF students Carla Walquist, Rachel Hughes, Amanda Hamil, Rachel Boyer, Amelia Hanson, Anna Peters, Clara Leverich, Kyleen Walther, Elise Ver Hey ad Nikki Lamb all serve on L&F's leadership team.

“

when I learned that Lost&Found was coming to USF’s campus, I had a desire to be involved because I strongly support the organization’s mission of equipping college students with strategies for lifelong resilience. I myself am always looking for ways to grow and be more resilient, especially since college is filled with many of life’s greatest highs and lows.

”

L&F President Hannah DK Student interest in the USF Lost&Found Chapter has surprised even the organizers. All events in the Fall were well attended and reached many students.

Chapter President Hannah DeHoogh-Kliewer says Follow the club’s social media on Facebook, students want to participate in clubs that share their Twitter, and Instagram: @wearehereUSF same core values and views and that is why she is excited to be involved in Lost&Found at USF. For more information about the history of L&F, go to story by Sammi Peterson the national association website: lafprevention.org.

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The StreaminG

Spotlight

by Bailey Vis

It’s a new semester and that means its time for a new round of The Streaming Spotlight. Streaming Spotlight gives you a monthly dose of great recommendations that you can stream at your leisure.

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Star Wars:The Clone Wars

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The Lion King (2019)

3 4 5

Jump into the final season of the critically acclaimed Star Wars animated series! Don’t miss a minute of the action!

New episodes every Friday only on Disney+.

Fridays on Disney+

It’s a tale you’ve all heard before. A tale of sadness, love, betrayal, and self-discovery. Young lion cub, Simba, will face all these things in this visual reimaging of the 1994 classic animated film.

only on Disney+

Hunters The year is 1977. A group of conspiracy theorists has just discovered that a rogue group of Nazis have been hiding out in New York since the end of WWII. Now, this ragtag group is on a mission to end the Nazi threat once and for all.

Only on Prime Instant Video

Bumblebee Bumblebee, a lone Autobot scout, lands and goes into hiding in Oregon. With his memories shattered, he’ll find friendship in 18-yearold Charlie Watson, who is about to discover that the Universe is much bigger than she ever imagined!

Prime Instant Video & Hulu

Spider-Man:Into the Spider-Verse Miles Morales, a 13-year-old from Brooklyn, is gifted incredible only on Netflix powers after being bitten by a spider. But, after the death of Peter Parker, he’ll need heroic friends and an insane amount of courage if he has any hope of saving the multiverse.

I encourage you to give everything I mentioned a chance. And don’t forget, I’ll be back next month with some brand-new recommendations. See you then!

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making waves

USF SWIMMING TAKES 3RD

AT CONFERENCE SWIM

story by Tori Bailey

The USF Cougar swim team competed in Bismarck, North

Dakota in their conference swim meet from February 12 -15 to crown the champions of the Northern Sun conference in 20 events. The Cougars took third place overall at conference but had a tough go with Minnesota State Mankato, who took second and St. Cloud State University who took first; the Cougars were only eight and a half points from taking second.

Day one of the swim meet saw Lizzy Spaans take first in the 200 Individual Medley (IM) and win her first individual title, taking the first win for the team. Makenzy Kennedy placed third in the 200 IM and joined Spaans on the podium. “I felt happy to do well in my event and was happy to have another teammate on the podium with me,� said Spaans about the win. After the first day finals the Cougars were in the lead with 191 team points.

Lizzy Spaans stands on the podium after a first place finish in the 100 backstroke

Pictured left to right, Ella Johnson (1) and Makenzy Kennedy (3) stand on the podium together after medaling in the 200 butterfly.

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Background Photo Courtesy of Jett Thune

On the second day, Ella Johnson defended her title for the 100 butterfly and took first place. She was later in a first place relay, the 400 medley, with Spaans, Chantal Kasch, and Jenna Krahn.

At the end of the second day the Cougars were in third place behind Mankato and St. Cloud.

Spaans, Johnson, and Kasch lead the Cougars on day three with first place finishes in the 100 backstroke, 200 butterfly, and 100 breaststroke; Kennedy placed in third with Johnson in the 200 butterfly. Later in the meet Johnson, Valerie Childs, Evelyn VanDeMark, and Giulia Fazza Marcon won the 800 free relay. Relays are very important in a swim meet because they are worth double the points of an individual event. This first place performance broke the NSIC record and the swimmers won the event by nearly six seconds. The win also helped the Cougars finish off the day in second place behind St. Cloud.

Kasch took her second individual title on the fourth day in the 200 breaststroke. The distance swimmers also had a great performance placing three swimmers in the top 8 for the 1650 freestyle, Nina Groene, VanDeMark, and Kennedy. The Cougars also placed two 400 free relays in the top eight.

Chantal Kasch finishes first in the 200 breaststroke

In total the Cougars had 34 all-NSIC performers and put to-

proud “ toI’mcalljustmyself a

member of this team.

”

gether 12 NCAA B cut times. The B cuts have a chance to be invited to the NCAA Championship meet in March. Overall the team and coaches seemed very pleased with their performance at the competition. “I saw my teammates rise to the challenge and put themselves out there, it was a great thing to be a part of,” said Julia Zanto. “I’m just proud to call myself a member of this team. We all band together, we fight so hard and pick each other up when we’re struggling,” she says.

Although the Cougars were aiming for a conference win they seem to be optimistic about the future. Freshman Burke Henderson said, “ I can see our program taking first in the future, it would help if we had a diving team but with the coaches and the girls pushing you to achieve your goals, you’re always having fun while doing you something you love.”

The Cougars have one more meet before their season ends.

Spaans said, “I think the Last Chance Meet is a great opportunity to swim fast without a lot of pressure. It would be great to have some people there to cheer us on!” Sunday, February 23, the Cougars will compete with the Summit League in their Last Chance Meet, at Midco Aquatic Center to finish off the regular season. photos courtesy of Tori Bailey

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USF VS. AUGIE Basketball The University of Sioux Falls Cougars hosted a double header against the Augustana University Vikings on Friday, February 21 in an NSIC conference match-up. The women started things off at 5:30 p.m. and Augustana came out ready to play taking an early 19-5 lead by the end of the first quarter. They maintained that advantage in the second quarter, resulting in a 39-23 halftime score. The Vikings were led by 6-foot freshman forward Aislinn Duffy who led all scorers with 19 points on 60 percent shooting for the game. She also had 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Leading the way for the Cougars was senior guard Kaely Hummel who contributed 13 points along with a block and a steal. The Vikings shot 47.4 percent from the field as a team in this game leading them to a 79-56 win over the Cougars. Augustana’s current record is 16-9.

USF finished the regular season with a record of 24-5 leading them to their first NSIC south division championship.

The Men’s game followed and was a much closer contest. Augustana held a narrow 1 point margin at the half 29-28. Chase Grinde (redshirt sophomore forward) was the leading scorer for USF. He had 17 points on 47 percent shooting and also added in 5 rebounds and 2 steals. However, it was Isaac Fink (freshman guard) who made the difference in the game for the Vikings. He had 21 points thanks to an efficient 4 for 5 shooting from behind the arc. It was his effort that led Augustana to a 61-58 victory over the Cougars. The USF men are still South Division champions in the NSIC, finishing with a record of 21-7 just behind North division champions Northern State University. USF won their match up with NSU earlier in the regular season on February 7. story by Cordell Wright photos courtesy of Issac Schubert

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Love Your Melon

USF’s Love Your Melon club at the Falls

The University of Sioux Falls is now one of 840 college and university campuses nationwide that have a Love Your Melon Crew. Love Your Melon is an apparel brand dedicated to giving a hat to every child battling cancer in America. In October 2019, USF freshman Autumn Gray started the Love Your Melon Campus crew. There are almost 14,000 students belonging to Crew Campus organizations in the United States and they help Love Your Melon promote the mission. Gray says, “I personally know the tremendous impact hospital stays can have on families because of my past experiences.

So I wanted to be able to provide the same love, support, and kindness to children in Sioux Falls as a Love Your Melon Campus Crew previously extended to my family.” In order to qualify and become an official campus crew, the Crew Captain must go through an application process and be approved by the company.

Love Your Melon was founded in an entrepreneur class at the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota by two students, Zach Quinn and Brian Keller. To date, they have given over 6.2 million dollars to the fight against pediatric cancer and over 190,000 hats to children battling cancer.

Love Your Melon Campus Crews not only want to influence cancer patients but the greater community around them. Gracie Chance, a freshman member of Love Your Melon at USF said, “Being a part of Love Your Melon allows me to feel like something bigger and am impacting the world in a positive and influential way.” The USF Campus Crew is involved in the Sioux Falls community through events called “Create a Smile”, “Alex’s Lemonade Stand”, and Swab Drives for blood cancer patients. If you would like to join the Love Your Melon Campus Crew contact Autumn Grey at autumn.grey@usiouxfalls.edu. club members Autumn Gray and Brittany Rogotzke

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story by Autumn Grey

photos courtesy of Laycee Cain

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Caramel Macchiato THE MOST POPULAR DRINK AT COOPER’S CAFE Standing in line at Cooper’s and don’t know what to get? Students say you should try the caramel macchiato. It is a mild flavored coffee drink that tastes as good as it looks.

Plus, students say, the lacing of the caramel drizzle is a delicious bonus.

Christine Lund, the manager at Cooper’s Café explains how it’s made and why everyone loves it. Lund says, “It starts with a few pumps of vanilla syrup, followed by standard 2 percent milk, ice, freshly ground and brewed espresso poured affogato style, and then topped with a lacing of caramel drizzle.

The piece that makes it a great drink is the layering of the flavors inside the cup.”

Lund also says the best part of the caramel macchiato is that even if you are lactose intolerant or vegan you can still enjoy the classic coffee concoction. Cooper’s offers a variety of milk alternatives: almond milk, which adds a slightly nutty flavor; soy milk, which adds a smooth silky texture and coconut milk, which adds a creamy yet tangy flavor to the drink.

barista Noah Haradon prepares a caramel macchiato

The option of adding extra caramel drizzle is possible, however, not as many students ask for it due to health consciousness on campus.

a tall iced caramel macchiato from Cooper’s Cafe ▶ story and photos courtesy of Noah Tyson

According to Lund the personality of the drink is a comforting staple.

So if you are standing in line and can’t decide what to get, remember to try the caramel macchiato, either hot or iced.

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