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ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ’s College of Nursing has welcomed two new employees to its programming in West River South Dakota.

A seventh endowed faculty position has been created within the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ. The Metzger Educator in Power System Engineering was created in July by Blair and Julie Metzger of Rock Rapids, Iowa. Blair is a 1986 ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ electrical engineering graduate and the former president of DGR Engineering, headquartered in his hometown of Rock Rapids.

What skills are employers looking for most today? According to job market research, it’s not just technical expertise — it’s power skills like organization, teamwork, problem-solving and communication. These traits are often the key to early promotions and long-term career success.

ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ’s Department of Animal Science has made history, becoming the first four-year animal science program in the nation to receive accreditation from the American Society of Animal Science.

ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ researcher Sunil Mor has received the Bayer-Snoeyenbos New Investigator Award for his crucial work in the poultry industry.

Innovative technology for range management will be the focus of the upcoming Cottonwood Field Station Field Day. All are invited to hear about the latest ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ research on the topic on Friday, Aug. 15, from 9 a.m.-noon at 23738 Fairview Road, Philip.

A team of nine undergraduate students from ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ recently returned from Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, after competing in the prestigious 2025 IFAMA Global Student Case Competition, held in conjunction with the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association World Conference hosted by Harven Agribusiness School.

Three women in wide-ranging leadership positions and three men with extensive legal careers comprise the six graduates who have risen to the top of their fields and have been selected for the 2025 Class of Distinguished Alumni by the ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ Alumni Association. They are: • Sheryl Doering Meshke, Class of ’88, Garden City, Minnesota • Charles Gullickson, Class of ’77, Sioux Falls • Rich Helsper, Class of ’74, Sioux Falls • Jill Janecke, M.S. ’05, Pierre • Hon. Alan G. Lance, Sr., Class of ’71, Calwell, Idaho • Dawn Tobacco-Frank, Ph.D. ’10, Kyle

Maura Valburg knew ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ was the right fit for her. "I wanted to stay in South Dakota, the campus was beautiful, and everyone was super welcoming," she said. But like many students, she didn't know exactly what transitioning to college involved.

precision agriculture during the 2nd annual Precision Ag Camp at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ, July 10-11. Sponsored by Titan Machinery and hosted by ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ’s Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, the camp drew primarily younger high schoolers from eastern South Dakota.