After six years as a Blue Hawk student-athlete, student employee, and member of the DSU community, Christopher Kistler is beginning a new chapter at Dickinson State University. The 2026 graduate has joined the DSU Heritage Foundation as Development Officer for the Blue Hawk Touchdown Club and Athletics. For Kistler, joining the Foundation is more than the start of a new career. It is an opportunity to give back to a university that helped shape his life and future. A native o

Justin Wetzel was the Head Men’s Basketball Coach for Dickinson State University (DSU) from 2014-2017. In that time Wetzel’s coaching led DSU to the 2017 Regular season Championship. Wetzel recently reconnected with the DSU Heritage Foundation to share some memories and lessons from his time at DSU. Raised in Montana and a basketball player for Dawson Community College, Wetzel was coaching at Montana State University when Ty Orton, now Executive Director of the DSU Heritage F

Staff across the Dickinson State University (DSU) campus are taking advantage of the quiet summer months to prepare for the busy Fall and Spring semesters. This summer is busier than ever at the Theodore Roosevelt Center (TRC) while staff prepare for the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora. “Summer is when tourists come to North Dakota and with the increased emphasis on Theodore Roosevelt in western ND, we expect the TR Center's gallery will be bu

The donors who give Dickinson State University (DSU) students amazing opportunities through scholarship donations at the DSU Heritage Foundation (DSU HF) come from all over and have endless reasons for donating. Some choose to create a scholarship to honor a loved one or support a specific academic interest. Many donors are families, local businesses, alumni and even DSU staff and faculty. Kim Goodall remembers pinching pennies to pay for her own tuition. As an Instructor of

The resident halls and sidewalks are relatively empty during the summer months at Dickinson State University (DSU), but staff across campus are hard at work preparing for the students’ return. The Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program (TRHLP) is one of the many departments that continue to push forward each summer. While many of the TRHLP members continue their participation in the program through internships in the community and their hometowns, TRHLP Director Michell

From the small town of Hettinger, North Dakota, to the sidelines of Florida Gators football, Dickinson State University alumnus Isaiah Kludt ’22 is proving that hard work, persistence, and strong relationships can take you anywhere. Kludt graduated from Dickinson State in 2022 after an outstanding career as both a student and a standout athlete for DSU Football. A dynamic running back for the Blue Hawks, Isaiah became known for his electrifying kickoff returns, taking numerou

On May 20, the Theodore Roosevelt Center sponsored a special event at Sulgrave Manor in the United Kingdom. The manor is the ancestral home of George Washington, and the event was one of the UK’s foremost celebrations for America 250. U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom Warren Stephens and his wife, Harriet Stephens, joined the proceedings. Ambassador Stephens delivered a rousing speech on the strength of the special relationship between the two countries, emphasizing the s

Track and Field athletes, coaches, and supporters closed out the year at the 2026 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Asheville, N.C. from May 20th – 22nd, including 14 athletes from Dickinson State University (DSU). Led by head coach and DSU alum Shayne Wittkopp (’08), the Blue Hawks ended the outdoor season with twelve All-American performances, one National champion, and the Women’s third place team standing. Adarra Hagelund secured the championship title for the w

From Anaheim to Norman: A Blue Hawk’s Journey to the Top of College Softball When Whitney Mesi first visited Dickinson State in November 2014, the North Dakota weather was a dramatic contrast from her hometown of Anaheim, California. “It was -2 degrees,” Whitney recalled of her official visit to campus. “So I definitely needed a pretty good reason to say yes considering the amount of warm winter clothes I was about to have to buy.” That reason quickly became clear. “From the

The 2025-26 season came to an end on Wednesday, May 13th for the Dickinson State University (DSU) Softball team after a 13-inning game at the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round Klamath Falls Bracket at Stilwell Stadium. After winning the Frontier Conference title and advancing to the opening round with wins on Monday and Tuesday, the Blue Hawks finished the season on Wednesday.“Winning 24 games in a row is not easy at any level of college athletics. That kind o

Eric Seiler did not always know he would end up owning a chiropractic clinic, but he always knew he wanted to stay close to home. Born and raised in Dickinson, North Dakota, he graduated from Dickinson High School in 2010 and later returned home to continue his education and baseball career at Dickinson State University (DSU). After initially starting his college journey at North Dakota State University in Fargo, he realized Dickinson was where he needed to be. As he put it,

The commemorative book 100 Years of DSU Football earned third place in the nationally competitive 2026 Blue Pencil and Gold Screen Awards presented by the National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC). Winners were honored May 12 during a ceremony at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas in Greater Palm Springs, California. The NAGC Blue Pencil and Gold Screen Awards celebrate excellence in public-sector communication and attract entries from government agencies and organizati

The DSU Heritage Foundation (DSU HF) is full of passionate and energetic staff members, including students working part-time through the university’s work-study program. This spring, the DSU HF bids a fond farewell to an incredible group of seniors. “Our student workers aren’t just part of the Foundation – they become part of our family, said Pam Rudolph, DSU HF Office Manager and Scholarship Support. “Kailey and Maddy have been by my side since their sophomore years, while L

Fifty-five years apart, two southwestern North Dakota runners are connected by more than a record. By: Debora Dragseth, Ph.D., Faculty Emerita Since 1971, Jerry Schwartz’s 10,000-meter school record of 31:35 had stood untouched at Dickinson State University. On April 19, 2026, Caleb Sarsland brought it down with a 30:37 performance that placed his name among the Blue Hawk greats. But this story is not only about the day the record fell. It is about the meeting that came after

Dickinson State University’s football legacy earned top honors at the 2026 North Dakota Professional Communicators (NDPC) awards, as two books celebrating Blue Hawk history received first-place recognition during the organization’s annual conference held April 30 in Grand Forks. Founded in 1949, the North Dakota Professional Communicators recognizes excellence in writing, editing, photography, public relations, and media communications across North Dakota and the surrounding

The DSU Heritage Foundation (DSU HF) is full of passionate and energetic staff members, including students working part-time through the university’s work-study program. Here, Cheyenne Jabos shares her perspective on working with the DSU HF team as a junior at Dickinson State University (DSU). DSU “felt like home as soon as I stepped on campus” according to Jacobs. Attracted by the strong campus community, Jacobs enrolled as a Physical and Health Education major with a minor

Seventeen students in the Theodore Roosevelt Leadership Program (TRHLP) spent three days in March exploring New York City (NYC) and learning about Theodore Roosevelt. The students were accompanied by program director Michelle Orton, staff from the Theodore Roosevelt Center (TRC) and the DSU Heritage Foundation (DSU HF), and guided by TRC Co-Director Dr. Michael Cullinane. “It was an unforgettable week with an incredible group of students. I am grateful for the memories made,

On Sunday, April 19th students from the Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program (TRHLP) hosted the ‘Spring Pop of Color’ event with the Southwest Art Gallery & Science Center. Families were invited to Dickinson State University (DSU) to welcome the season and foster creativity in the community. Madison Beckler, was the main contact between the TRHLP and the SW Art Gallery & Science Center and described the event as “an opportunity to incorporate science, art, and nature

With a career spanning from farm life to executive leadership, Mary Massad brings a wealth of experience and dedication to both her community and education. She spent 25 years with Southwest Water Authority (SWA), serving as manager and CEO for 15 years. During that time, SWA grew significantly, expanding from 754 to more than 7,400 rural customers, from 10 to 33 communities, and from 10 to 50 employees. She credits that growth to strong collaboration with staff, board member

Before he ever stepped into a newsroom, Fuglie was chasing stories on a newspaper route in Hettinger. Every Sunday morning, he met the train to pick up the Minneapolis Tribune and delivered it across town. He did not just drop off the paper, he read it, fascinated that the stories had happened just the day before. By the time he graduated high school, he was not guessing about his future. He had decided he wanted to be a reporter. That interest carried with him to Dickinson S