DECEMBER 2021
volume 9 Issue 3
university of sioux falls student media
table of contents Editors.........................................................................2 Writers........................................................................3 Kenzie Byers...............................................................4 Ty Smith......................................................................5 Nathan Woodall.........................................................6 Ashley Clausen...........................................................7 Tyler Hill.....................................................................8 Congrats, Graduates!............................................9-10 Chloe Peterson....................................................11-12 Baily Vis...............................................................13-14
on the cover: Graduate Chloe Peterson on the job at her internship at the White House in the spring of 2020. Story on page 11 and 12.
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greta smith
mercede odegaard
editors
We have an issue with graduates. It’s this one. We want to honor the USF students who graduated in December. As the snow piles up around Sioux Falls and students finally take a deep breath, we want to acknowledge their accomplishment. For this issue, we asked our writers to talk with a student that graduated in December and get to know their story. Here’s what they came up with. Congrats, graduates.
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writers
ashley clausen
sam martin
peter narrai
josh werre
marko coudreau
brendan schumacher
kelsey sutton 3
Story by Marko Coudreau
Kenzie Byers
Kenzie Byers is originally from Goodyear, Arizona and has attended USF since 2017. She is graduating this December with a major in exercise science and a minor in psychology, and she has been a part of the Women’s Volleyball team for the last 4 years as well. Throughout her career, she played in 123 sets across 46 matches... and totaled 240 kills over 3 seasons as she redshirted during her freshman year in 2017. We asked Kenzie to answer a few questions:
Why did you decide to graduate at semester? I stayed one last semester to play my last season of volleyball which also help me to finish my minor in psychology. What do you hope to do for a career or are you going on to more school? As of right now I am planning on moving back home to Arizona and working for a little then going to graduate school for athletic training.
Some say graduating midyear gives you more opportunities for available jobs. Is that partly why you chose a December graduation?
No, I was more excited to go home and start a new chapter in my life. Live closer to my family and gives me more time to figure out what my next step will be, like where to live, where to work and finding new friends.
What does your degree mean to you and how will you remember your time at USF?
My degree will give me many opportunities for my future, since I majored in exercise science and minored in psychology I feel like I will have a good basis to start my future anywhere I go.
What are your expectations jumping into the next chapter of your life without athletics?
It’s definitely going to be a huge change to have more time to myself, finding my own rhythm, but a great opportunity for extra activities to do. I’m excited to find a new passion.
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Ty Smith Story by Peter Narrai
Ty Smith started his academic and athletic career at USF in 2016, graduated last semester with a major in business administration and a minor in finance and economics. After undergrad, Smith will be pursuing a Masters in business with a focus in management. He was born and raised in Sioux Falls and hopes to pursue a career in finance. When asked what it was like to graduate early, before his class, Smith stated, “It’s unique but very beneficial. I get a jump start on life after school and entering the job force at a time when a lot of people aren’t, which means less competition for me.” Smith will be starting his career in Chicago in the following year at U.S. Bank.
Smith wanted to look for a job right away and not take the time off. He has always been a hard-working individual at USF, putting his best foot forward in academics and on the football field, as well as always being one of the hardest workers on the field. “I used my degree to find a job that I would be passionate where I work,” stated Smith. When asked about his time at USF and how it will help his future, he had nothing but great things to say. “I think the biggest thing will be the people I’ve met. I now have so many connections with different individuals around the country that it will help me no matter where I end up in life.”
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photos courtesy of usf athletics
Nathan Woodall December 2021 USF graduate and Sioux Falls native Nathan Woodall spent his time at USF on the golf team as well as in the classroom. He was also a Student Athletic Association Representative for the golf team and was named to the Academic All-NSIC Team and the NSIC’s Academic Team of Excellence. Woodall earned a BA in Business Administration and Media Studies with a concentration in Social Media Marketing, and minored in Mathematics.
Story by Vessel Staff
Woodall told the Vessel, “I decided to graduate at semester to save money and I had a full-time job offer! I will be working full-time at Embrace Church in Sioux Falls as the Lead Youth Coordinator for the 57th Street Campus where I will lead their Wednesday night Middle/High School youth group. I will also be running the @embraceyth Instagram and helping with other online tasks. My degree at USF to me means that I was able to complete a rigorous and diverse course load in a place where I was pushed and cared for. I will remember my time at USF as a large period of growth in many aspects of my life along with where I discovered my true passions that I want to pursue for the rest of my professional career!”
Woodall in the woods
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Ashley Clausen Story by Ashley Clausen
I am Ashley Clausen, a reporter for the Vessel magazine and I am also graduating in December of 2021 from The University of Sioux Falls. I have earned a BA in Business Administration with a double minor in marketing and media studies. I was a USF cheerleader for the basketball and football seasons, as well as a captain of the team last year.
My time at USF provided many opportunities to discover and pursue my professional career as well as growth in my academic development. USF brought me lifelong friendships from day one. I will remember my time at USF as a true learning experience that provided opportunities for personal growth, it is truly a time that will never be forgotten!
photos courtesy of usf cheer
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Tyler Hill Story by Sam Martin
To call Tyler Hill a “nontraditional student” would be an understatement. Originally born in Mildenhall, England and living in nearly every corner and cranny in the US, 28 year-old Hill served in the US Air Force as a signals analyst and a learning facilitator for six years immediately after graduating high school before returning to Sioux Falls to enroll in the University of Sioux Falls as a communications major. While at USF, Hill was involved in Theatre Company Fellowship. Hill’s early graduation can be owed to coincidentally having the credits needed to graduate in the fall. Additionally, Hill also has an eagerness to enter the next step in his life as a college graduate. Already ahead of the curve, Hill has recently applied to twenty jobs to various media and marketing businesses and companies in the Sioux Falls area, including a position as a producer at Sioux Falls’s KDLT News. Although a yearning to enter the workforce and pursue his passions aren’t necessarily the main reason he is graduating earlier, Hill does admit that an early graduation has its advantages. “I’m not going to be applying for jobs at the same time that every other person is going to be applying for jobs,” Hill said. “I get about a six month period where all the other people coming out of college aren’t going to be in the workforce in the same way I would be.”
Hill poses with a sign in the McDonald Center
As the first person in his family to attend and graduate college, Hill says that his college degree serves as a reminder of what he is capable of. “I had a 2.2 GPA in high school. I thought college would never happen for me,” Hill admitted. “To me, this means so much to be able to prove to myself that I can work hard enough to get this, and I can achieve this. I’m different than the other people in my family, and I can work hard, I can set goals, and achieve them.” As to what he will remember most from his time at USF, Hill said that he will always remember the people and come back to see them again. “The people are what made me fall in love with USF, made me stay at USF, and the people are what’s going to lead me back to USF even after I’ve graduated… to see the productions people are in and things like that, because I still want to stay in touch with their lives. I still want to be able to see what they create, what they make, and what they do moving forward.”
photo courtesy of Sam Martin
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Congrats, Graduates! Story by Kelsey Sutton
Jessica Carlson and the entire staff of the University of Sioux Falls Thomas Kilian Academic Success Center (ASC) worked hard to assist students as they prepared to graduate and start their careers this December. “The Academic Success Center provides a wide variety of academic support services to students,” said Jessica Carlson, the Academic Success Center Assistant Director. “We offer services ranging from academic advising, academic coaching, learning accessibility services, tutoring, major and career exploration, and career services to students and alumni.”
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Jessica Carlson
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the University of Sioux Falls generally has about 50 undergraduate students graduate each December.
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A small percentage of students graduate mid-year at USF. “On average, the University of Sioux Falls generally has about 50 undergraduate students graduate each December,” said Carlson. Although many students shudder at the idea of graduating early, certain majors and degrees may be more suitable for mid-year graduation. “ It really depends on their major,” stated Carlson. “Some students may not typically have as many job opportunities available during mid-year – for example, teaching contracts typically last a full year, so there are fewer of these opportunities midyear. However, in our current economic environment, we are seeing many unfilled internship and full-time post-graduation career opportunities across all fields. Countless businesses and organizations are hiring, so it is actually a very ideal time to be looking for a postgraduation career right now,” Carlson said.
Graduating in December gives graduates about a six-month head start on their next adventure compared to their other classmates. According to Carlson, if you are planning on graduating early/mid-year, there are a few things that you can do to help prepare yourself. “Make sure your resume and cover letters are prepared, reviewed, and up to date, and make sure you utilize all of the resources available to you at USF, including registering for Purple Briefcase and attending the BIG Career and Internship Fair March 2nd,” advised Carlson. One unique factor the ASC wants to remind students of is that at USF the ASC services don’t get discontinued just because you graduate! The Thomas Kilian Academic Success Center is here to be lifelong supporters and aid you at any step of your life and to help you obtain all of your career goals.
Now that the semester has come to a close, these December graduates can unwind and enjoy the holiday season by celebrating their enormous accomplishments and getting a headstart on their new job search! Since there is such a small number of students graduating, the University of Sioux Falls does not have a winter commencement ceremony, but instead invites those who graduated in December back in May to walk the stage with the other graduates.
Congratulations graduating class of Fall 2021! 10
Chloe Peterson Story by Josh Werre
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work in the White House, ask University of Sioux Falls graduate Chloe Peterson. A Colorado native, Peterson grew up in the small town of Elizabeth located just outside of the Denver metro area. “Ever since I was little, I have had a passion to tell stories,” Peterson says. This passion stuck with her as she entered college, and it’s proved to open many doors for her, both at USF and abroad. Peterson followed in her sister Kimberly’s footsteps by attending USF on a track and field scholarship. “Being on the track team was where some of my fondest memories of my college years took place,” she says. During her athletic career, Peterson would become the 2019 female MVP of the USF Track and Field team.
Peterson’s headshot
When she wasn’t on the track, Peterson was working hard academically. “I finished my USF course work in December and will be graduating in May with a degree in Media Studies and a concentration in Social Media and Marketing,” she says. “I am especially thankful for professors, Dr. Nick Poppens and Assistant Professor Nancy Sutton, who I consider mentors, coaches, and friends. They are two of the reasons this degree means so much.” 11
Peterson competing in a relay
2020 was a difficult year for many, but for Peterson it was one of the most exciting times of her life. “I had the opportunity to be a White House intern in the Spring of 2020 under the Trump Administration…The application process was grueling but what joy when I found out I was accepted!” In January of 2020 she made the move to Washington D.C. “[I] found an apartment and was one nervous young lady taking the Metro light rail to work that first day.” Peterson served as an intern in the Digital Strategy Department during her time in D.C. “The digital strategy department is the department that runs the official social media platforms for the White House… I had many duties but one of my most favorite roles was drafting tweets for the White House Twitter page. Seeing my work posted on such an important account was humbling. It was wonderful leaving work at the same time Vice President Mike Pence was, meeting President Trump and watching him get on to Marine One multiple times, and walking past Ivanka Trump in the hallway.” And now, as she prepares to graduate, Peterson is getting ready for the next chapter of her life. “I am currently working full time in Denver at a right of center public policy consulting firm while doing wedding, engagement, graduation, event photography and videography as a side business,” she says. “I could see devoting myself full-time to my photography/ videography business as it continues to grow and I love it! Check it out at www.chloenoelleproductions.com”
Peterson on the job
“As I transition to be a USF alum, my hope is that the University will resist cultural pressure and stay true to its mission statement that ‘The University of Sioux Falls is committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and to the integration of biblical faith and learning’… I am grateful for the life-long friendships that I have made and all of the memories that I will cherish forever.” Peterson and friend Miranda Blom
photos courtesy of Josh Werre and Chloe Peterson
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Baily Vis
Story by Vessel Staff
photo courtesy of keloland
December graduate Baily Vis is from Luverne Minnesota and received an Associate of Arts degree in Media Studies. During his time at the University of Sioux Falls, He produced a pop culture-based radio show from 2017-2019 for KCFS radio and it was featured in a KELO-TV news story. He also created a comic book article series for the Vessel magazine and website called Comics Cornerstone. In 2019, he interviewed professional comic artist Doug Mahnke when he visited Sioux Falls. We asked Vis why he decided to graduate in December. “This is an interesting question that needs some background to answer properly. When COVID hit in early 2020 it took a mental and physical toll on everyone, myself included. And I already wasn’t in the best mental state at the end of the previous fall semester. The constant demands of my classes really wore me out and COVID just added to that in a major way. I wasn’t in a place where I could perform my best in class. In fact, there was a point where I was considering dropping out entirely and just dealing with the consequences. But then, Media Studies Asst. Prof. Nancy Sutton got in touch with me toward the end of 2020 and told me I was only a handful of credits away from getting my Associate in Arts. So I decided to take a few months to mentally heal some more and I went back in an online capacity this last February and then in person this fall, and now here we are!”
Baily Vis and comic book artist Doug Mahnke
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Vessel staff: Some say graduating midyear, before the larger May graduation, gives you more opportunities for available jobs. Is that partly why you chose a December graduation?
Baily Vis: “Considering my condition and limited capabilities, earning the degree means the world to me! When I was a toddler, the doctors didn’t know much about SMA because it was so rare. So they logically assumed I wouldn’t live past 6 years old. I’ve been proving them wrong ever since! So this is just as important to me and my family as high school graduation, if not more so. And, despite what I said earlier, I’m very happy with the time I spent at USF. I couldn’t have picked a better place to further my education and I’ll look back at these last 5 years fondly. The Lord definitely blessed me when it came to picking the right college.”
Vessel staff: What do you hope to do for a career or are you going on to more school?
Baily Vis: “Not at all! As I said earlier, it was more to do with my mental health than anything else. The combination of the pandemic and the stresses of school actually had me on the verge of quitting. Then I found out I could graduate at the end of 2021 and, with the encouragement of my loved ones, I decided to strap up my boots one last time and go back to earn my degree. And don’t take that the wrong way! It’s nothing against USF, it’s just that the end of 2019 and all of 2020 were very stressful for me, and really the whole world.”
Vessel staff: What does your degree from USF mean to you and how will you remember your time at USF?
Baily Vis: “I think I’m pleased with my schooling and I don’t feel the need to go back in any way. I’m content with what I’ve done. As far as what’s next, there’s nothing set in stone yet. For the immediate future, I’d like to showcase my work more publicly in hopes of finding steady employment, even if it means doing freelance work for smaller companies. The ultimate dream is to hopefully draw the eye of big names like Marvel or DC Comics to maybe do some writing for them. Because even though my diploma says Associate of the Arts, writing is my true passion. I’d also love to start a YouTube channel where I get to talk about comics and other nerdy stuff with some of my friends. Maybe I’ll even write a book. And who says it can’t be some combination of those things? I have tons of ideas and I’m excited to see where they take me!”
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a March 2, 2022 11:00am-3:00pm Ramkota Hotel & conference center Visit www.getgrads.com to register and learn more