Dickinson State University (DSU) alumnus Matt Perdue was elected president of the North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) in December. Perdue farms with his parents near Ray, North Dakota, raising spring wheat, durum, canola, lentils, and soybeans. He and his wife, Abby, have two daughters, Ellie and Eva, and split their time between Jamestown and Ray. He graduated from DSU in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education in Comp

The Blake family, led by Pat and Carolyn, are longstanding supporters of Dickinson State University (DSU), participating as boosters since the 80s. When their son Jaden (’02) graduated from DSU and wanted to support the university personally, the Blake Family Annual Scholarship was created. “As an alumnus and a past scholarship recipient I wanted to contribute and carry on the support of DSU and give the opportunity for scholarships for current and future DSU students,” said

For the first time, the annual Cowboys & Candlelight event for Dickinson State University’s Rodeo Team was held on the competition floor at the brand-new Dale Little Soldier Arena. The event and grand opening of the arena drew the largest crowd in recent years at 420 attendees. “Thanks to the hard work on Winn Construction, specifically Tony Sisson, the dirt in the arena held up phenomenally,” said Kyle Smith, DSU Heritage Foundation Athletics & Rodeo Development Officer. “Th

This March, the Theodore Roosevelt Center (TRC) will officially reach a goal set in 2022 of publishing 135,000 records on the digital archive. This accomplishment comes three months earlier than the projected July timeline. The publishing goal was an objective set with the awarding of a grant. “The Center’s team has worked tirelessly since 2022 to meet this goal set by the Rob Walton Foundation,” remarked Dr. Micheal Cullinane, Co-Director of the Theodore Roosevelt Center. “T

Five DSU Blue Hawks took to the mats for the 2026 NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Championships on March 13th and 14th. In the end, Dickinson State University (DSU) finished 16th in the team standings with 31.5 points to end the season. Life University took the championship spot with 169.0 points, William Penn was the runner-up with 158.5, and Grand View earned 145.5 points and took third place. The five women from DSU competed with vigor under the leadership of DSU alum and

Dan Weber has served as an independent insurance agent for more than 30 years and has owned his family’s agency in Casselton, North Dakota, since 2000. He and his wife, Carol, work together in the office and enjoy traveling and spending time at the lake during the summer. They are also proud grandparents to three grandchildren under the age of 3. As a member of the DSU Heritage Foundation (DSU HF) Board, Weber brings decades of business experience to help guide fundraising ef

Dickinson State University (DSU) alumna Emily Klym has been named to Prairie Business’s 2025 “40 Under 40” list, recognizing young professionals making an impact in their careers and communities across the region. Growing up in Edgeley, North Dakota, attending DSU meant heading farther west than many of her classmates. But family trips to Medora during her childhood made the area familiar and helped inspire her decision to attend the university. Klym graduated in May 2012 wit

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. Adrien Calderon recently shared his perspective on working with the DSU HF team as a junior at Dickinson State University (DSU). Chris Kistler (L), Adrien Calderon (R) Calderon chose to attend DSU for the opportunity to compete in two collegiate sports and to pursue a degree aligned with his passion for athle

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. Samuel Lewton, the sole freshman work-study student, recently shared his perspective on working with the DSU HF team. Lewton is a Dickinson native majoring in Exercise Science (Sports Management). His passion for golf led to a spot on the DSU Men’s Golf team. During the summer, Lewton golfs nonstop, and when

Dr. Micheal Cullinane, the current co-director of the Theodore Roosevelt Center (TRC), Walton Chair of Theodore Roosevelt Studies will release his fifth book on May 1st after a decade of research and writing. Theodore Roosevelt and the Tennis Cabinet explore the contributions of Theodore Roosevelt’s ‘Tennis Cabinet”, an eclectic inner circle that helped the president change the nation. “This is the real way the presidency works. It’s messy. It’s about the networks and the fri

Mark and Melanie Anderson were welcomed into the Blue Hawk family in 2020, when their oldest son Max Anderson (’24) started his freshman year at Dickinson State University (DSU). Max was one of the first athletes to sign to the newly restarted DSU Baseball program, so the Andersons were ready and willing to cheer on their son and the team, traveling for fall and spring games across the country. In 2021 their second son Matt (’25) joined the DSU Football program. After experie

Track and Field athletes, coaches, and supporters flocked to Gainesville, Florida, for the NAIA Track & Field National Championships from March 5th- 7th, including 14 athletes from Dickinson State University (DSU). Led by head coach and DSU alum Shayne Wittkopp (’08), the Blue Hawks ended the indoor season with seven All-American performances, three national champions, and the Women’s national runner-up team standing. Wittkopp was a six-time national qualifier as a Blue Hawk

When Rebecca Duben chose Dickinson State University (DSU) for her technology degree in 2010, she was looking for the flexibility to balance a full-time career and a growing family. Today, she is using that same foundation to help build a national library. As the Library Operations Project Coordinator for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library (TRPL), Duben is helping build the visitor experience from the ground up. Since joining TRPL in September 2025, Duben has facilita

As the Dickinson State University (DSU) campus begins to thaw, Spring events are quickly filling the calendar. This includes the 15 th  annual Blue Hawk Booster Club Rendezvous and the third annual All-Athletic Alumni Weekend, taking place Friday March 27 th  and Saturday March 28 th . The All-Athletic Alumni Weekend is “an opportunity for alumni and supporters of winter and spring athletic events to get together and meet the current student-athletes,” said Kyle Smith, DSU He

John Hanstad grew up in Dickinson and graduated from Dickinson High School in 2008 before earning a degree in biology from Dickinson State University (DSU) in 2013. He chose DSU not only for its programs but also to stay close to home. Playing basketball for the Blue Hawks was an added bonus to his college experience. After DSU, Hanstad attended the Arizona College of Optometry. He then returned home to work with his father-in-law, Dr. Mark Emmerich, and in 2020, he establish

Kelly Reid became a devoted Blue Hawks fan when his son, Dalton Reid (’16), was recruited onto the Dickinson State University (DSU) Football team. As Kelly Reid attended every game, he became familiar with the people who made DSU unique and even became one of the first members of the DSU Touchdown Club. Reid continues to support DSU a decade after his son became an alumnus, notably through scholarship donations. Reid watched as college students struggled to focus on their edu

The annual DSU Heritage Foundation (DSU HF) Alumni and Friends Arizona Trip, held in Mesa in February 2026, offered supporters a meaningful opportunity to connect and engage with the university. The event brought together alumni and friends from across the region for a weekend centered on relationships, shared memories, and continued support of DSU’s mission. Ty Orton, Executive Director of the DSU Heritage Foundation, reflected on the impact of the gathering, noting, “This i

Mandie Erickson brings a deep connection to Dickinson State University (DSU) and the local community to her role on the DSU Heritage Foundation Board (DSU HF). Professionally, Erickson works at Pathfinder Inspections, where she has spent the past three years. She also holds a real estate license and has worked as an agent with Continental Real Estate for ten years. Outside of work, she stays busy with her blended family. She has two children, Addison and Brody, and shares her

For over 20 years, the annual Cowboys & Candlelight event has brought alumni, donors, and the surrounding community together to build the Dickinson State University Rodeo Team. In the past, Cowboys & Candlelight hosted attendees on the DSU campus, at the Biesiot Activities Center, and at local venues. This year, the fundraising event will coincide with the grand opening celebration of the Dale Little Soldier Arena, a standout detail that has the DSU Heritage Foundation (DSU H

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. Andrew Williams and Xeia Schneider are both sophomore students at Dickinson State University (DSU) and recently shared their perspectives on working at the DSU HF. Andrew Williams chose to attend DSU because of its affordability and athletic programs. Williams is majoring in biology, has completed a chemistry