DSU Football Books Receive First-Place Awards from North Dakota Professional Communicators

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 region.

Debora Dragseth, Ph.D., DSU faculty emerita, along with coauthors Jim Dahl and Scooter Pursley, earned first place for 100 Years of DSU Football, published by the DSU Heritage Foundation. The book chronicles a century of Blue Hawk football history, traditions, coaches, players, and defining moments that shaped the program.

Dragseth and her son, Michael, also received a first-place award for the children’s book An Alphabet Book for Little Blue Hawks, a football-themed alphabet book celebrating Dickinson State traditions and spirit. Dragseth expressed special appreciation to Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Dickinson and T.J. Herauf for their generous sponsorship of the project through the Dickinson State University Heritage Foundation.

“My co-authors and I are very grateful to the DSU Heritage Foundation for their support and enthusiasm for these two books that celebrate the 100-year history of football at Dickinson State University,” said Dragseth.

In addition to the book awards, Dragseth received first place for editing 100 Years of DSU Football.

Overall, Dragseth earned six first-place awards, five second-place awards, and two honorable mentions recognizing her work in writing, editing, and photography.

“Acknowledgement from NDPC is a tremendous honor,” said Dragseth. “I’m grateful to the DSU Heritage Foundation and The Heart River Voice for giving me the opportunity to share my work. It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of such a supportive community.”

Among Dragseth’s first-place entries were:

• Feature Story – Online Publication: “DSU Cheer: Rising to Number One”

• Specialty Articles – Food: “Barb and Mike Oppegard: Feeding the Blue Hawks with Love”

• Lessons in Leadership, a monthly advice column for The Heart River Voice

First-place entries will advance to the national competition sponsored by the National Federation of Press Women. National winners will be announced during the NFPW Communications Conference in September in Maryland.

Copies of 100 Years of DSU Football and An Alphabet Book for Little Blue Hawks are available through the Dickinson State University Heritage Foundation. For purchasing information, contact the foundation office at (701) 483-2486.