News from President Tom Jackson, Jr.

News from President Tom Jackson, Jr.
July 18, 2016
Crow Peak Fire Operations Centered
The “can-do” spirit of Black
Hills State was in full force
recently as the campus assisted
more than 600 firefighters and
personnel as they battled the
Crow Peak Fire near Spearfish.
Thankfully, the fire
avoided both the campus and
the Spearfish community. We
thank the firefighters for their
commitment and hard work in
containing the blaze.
As firefighters took care of
our beautiful Black Hills, it was
our privilege and honor to take
care of them.
Go Jackets!
[Where ANYTHING is possible]
on
BHSU Campus
For nearly two weeks this summer while a forest fire
burned on nearby Crow Peak, the BHSU campus served
as a firefighting command center that housed and fed
more than 600 people as firefighters moved into the area
to battle the blaze.
The fire, caused by a lightning strike Friday, June 24,
was in a remote area with steep terrain. With smoke
and flames on Crow Peak clearly visible on campus and
throughout the Spearfish region, decisions were made
quickly and the campus provided housing and food, a
central receiving point for supplies, and the location for a
multi-agency daily briefing.
Food Service Director for A’viands at BHSU, Ron
Showman, and his staff of 22 willingly took on the
A firefighter checks in to a supply station set up at BHSU.
challenge of feeding the influx
of firefighters and personnel on
campus. A’viands served 10,595
meals and worked 2,400 hours
over 13 days.
BHSU President Tom Jackson,
Jr. said, “Every day when we
look around at our beautiful
surroundings, it’s a huge relief
not to see smoke billowing
from Crow Peak. We thank the
firefighters for their dedication
and hard work.”
Firefighters attend a daily briefing outside of Meier Hall on the BHSU campus.
GEAR UP Successfully Completes First Program
at
BHSU
The GEAR UP Summer Honors Program at BHSU concluded earlier this month with a closing ceremony
on campus. More than 130 people attended the ceremony including parents and families of the students who
attended the three week, residential, pre-college readiness program. GEAR UP project manager Peg Diekhoff
said data from the Program indicates gains in students’ language arts, math, and science knowledge.
GEAR UP has already had two middle school camps in McIntosh and Mission, with plans for additional
camps underway, one camp that will serve students in the Eagle Butte area and another serving students in
and around Tiospa Zina Tribal School.
S.D. GEAR UP at BHSU (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is funded
by the U.S. Dept. of Education to the S.D. Dept. of Education. A specific focus of the Program is to increase
the number of American Indian Students achieving success at the post-secondary level.
Language arts teacher Kathryn Kettering congratulates
GEAR UP student Kaitlyn Smith on completing the
Summer Honors Program.
L to R, Edgar Bone Shirt, Jr., and Donte Trujillo watch a
video made by fellow GEAR UP students during the Closing
Ceremony.
July 18, 2016
S.D. Teachers Attend
BHSU Physical Science
Workshop
Teachers from across the state attended a
Physical Science Concepts for Teachers workshop
held at BHSU recently.
One of the goals of the workshop was for
teachers to experience learning difficult science
content as students.
L to R: Kayla Schindling, Sioux Falls; Dr. Andy Johnson,
The workshop was funded through a No
Child Left Behind Title II Part A grant written by BHSU; Ashley Schruers, Lead-Deadwood; and Tiffany
Dr. Janet Briggs, science education specialist, and Engesser, Rapid City, discuss atomic models.
Dr. Andy Johnson, assistant professor of physics,
and funded through the South Dakota Board of
Regents.
Students Travel
to
Tweets
July 2
Thank you firefighters
@Black Hills State for all
you do and for fighting the
Crow Peak Fire.
---@tomjackjr
Follow President Jackson
on Twitter @tomjackjr
China
Four BHSU students received a tuition
scholarship to attend a summer program in
China hosted by China Three Gorges, a BHSU
partner University.
The students will learn about Chinese culture,
folk-customs, ethics and diplomacy.
Top
L to R: BHSU students Alicia Benz, Keeley Kleven, Bryce
Boser, and Richard Walbe are attending an exchange program
in China.
President Attends NY Times Higher Ed Forum
President Jackson attended the Higher Ed Leaders Forum sponsored by The New York Times last month where
national leaders in education discussed access, affordability, and completion at U.S. colleges and universities.
Athletic Team Wins RMAC Top GPA Award
The Yellow Jacket women’s basketball team earned the Rocky Mountain Athletic
Conference Brechler Award for their team grade point average. For the 2015-2016
academic year, the BHSU women’s basketball team earned a 3.56 GPA. The Brechler
Award recognizes the top conference GPA per sport.
Sustainability Program One-of-a-Kind
TUESDAY, AUG. 9
Registration starts at 8:30 a.m.
Joy Center Parking Lot
Black Hills State University Campus (beside the football field)
RAISING MONEY FOR
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR VETERANS
Ride ends in Sturgis at
Scott Peterson Motors
$50.00 per Rider $25.00 per Passenger
Includes Limited Edition T-Shirt
Ride • Lunch • Prizes • FUN
For more information contact: 605-642-6228 • Steve.Meeker@BHSU.edu
in
Region
The master’s degree
in sustainability at
Black Hills State is the
only degree of its type
that is available entirely
online in the whole
western half of the
United States.
The degree, which
is drawing students
locally and nationally,
has implications for the
environment, business,
and communities.
Dr. Sandra Marker,
coordinator of the
BHSU alum Rylan Sprague examines plants in the BHSU Herbarium.
Master of Science
Sprague earned his master’s degree in sustainability from BHSU and
in Sustainability
program at BHSU, said works for the U.S. Forest Service.
“Sustainability is for
individuals who want to be change agents and who are passionate about maintaining
something they love, whether it be natural grasslands or a business enterprise. If
students want to make a difference, this is a great program of study to funnel their
interests.”