Prom Attendees Take Walk Through Enchanted Garden
On April 16, as attendees lined up in preparation for Grand March, lights in the West Gym dimmed and the air of excitement escalated.
Expo Geared For Education
As students look toward their futures, becoming instructors may be on the books.
STURGIS, S.D. — On, October 21 at Black Hills State University, 15 students from SBHS attended the first annual West River Educators Rising Expo cosponsored by BHSU and the South Dakota Department of Education.
The purpose of Educators Rising is to provide encouragement for high school learners who may be interested in the field of education as a profession.
“They listened to presentations from Dr. Laurie Nichols, BHSU President; retired Spearfish Superintendent David Peters, and Harrisburg School District Innovative Programs Director Travis Lape,” Assistant Principal Coleen Keffeler said. “Breakout sessions included Make Your Mark – Teach Special Education, Careers in Education, Teaching Math, Engaging with Literature, Teaching with Sketch Notes and Internships & Careers in Education.”
A BHSU panel consisting of six individuals preparing to student teach in the spring semester answered questions from the audience. They also shared their own experiences at BHSU and why they chose to go into education.
After the panel discussion, students toured the campus and talked to BHSU staff during the Resource Expo.
The Educators Rising State Conference will be held Feb. 28, 2023, on the BHSU campus. Lape, also Educators Rising State Coordinator, encouraged all participating students to attend.
“He is available to help schools start a local chapter,” Keffeler said. “There is no cost associated with the organization. Chapters are required to hold monthly meetings.”
BHSU recommended careers@bhsu.edu as a resource for teaching careers as well as careers related to education.
Delzer Run Takes Place
STURGIS, S.D.– There was a crispness to the early summer morning air on July 30 welcoming 29 walkers and 19 runners who were preparing to participate in the 8th annual Brandon Delzer Legacy 5K.
photo by Tim Potts
Starting at SBHS, the course crossed Hwy. 34, wound through Ft. Meade, returning on the bike path back to where it began. This memorial walk/run has been an event held yearly since 2014 after the loss of Delzer in 2013.
“For many years, the Brandon Delzer Legacy 5K was organized by an SBHS student runner as a part of his or her senior project. This year many of the SBHS runners were participating in a camp at BHSU and were unable to help host the event,” Sandy Buchholz said.
Vonda Andersen, Buchholz and Meade County Extension Leader Jenny Voigt decided to make sure the Brandon Delzer Legacy 5K continued to be part of the Meade County Fair in 2022.
Activities for which he became well-known in the community included 4-H, rodeo, cross country and wrestling. According to the organizers, Delzer was an all-around athlete who was loved by the Sturgis community.
“We believe it is important to continue this event to honor Brandon’s life,” Buchholz said. “He was a kind, charismatic young man. Brandon’s smile was infectious and he drew people in. Brandon had an immense amount of talent, succeeding in most of his endeavors, but more importantly, he always worked to lift others up.”
Delzer sought to win, Buchholz said, by helping to encourage everyone else at the same time.
“He did what he could to help everybody become the best they could. He was a mentor and a role model, even as a freshman in high school,” Buchholz said. “Brandon had a positive impact on all who were lucky enough to cross his path or walk beside him.”
Before participants gathered at the starting line, Jarett Keffeler, former SBHS student and runner, started the 5K with a few stories about Brandon and a prayer.
Sponsors included Richter’s Tire and Exhaust, Liberty Chevrolet, County Drug, Pioneer State Bank, Jacob’s Auto Repair, HomeSlice Media Group, Loud American, Black Hills Gunstocks and Engraving, Fowler Insurance Agency, Sturgis Chiropractic, Northern Hills Veterinary Clinic, Sabers Agency, Emma’s Ice Cream, Lynn’s Dakotamart, Grocery Mart, Kick Start Travel Center, Sturgis Coffee Company, Black Hills Rally and Gold, Hotel Sturgis, Sunshine Sweets Bakery and INita Bag etc.
Medals were awarded for the top three participating runners in each of the five age divisions. The overall prize, a $50 gift card to Texas Roadhouse was received by Ty Petrocco who also took first place in his category, 13-18 year-old-males.
In the 13-18 category for females, sisters Josie Reedy and Emily Reedy tied for first place. Second place was captured by Berley Gill.
In the 19-29 male category, Jarrett Keffeler took first place followed by his brother Alec Keffeler. Gavin West landed third place. Females in the 19-29 category were Josie Kaufman in first place, Amanda Froelich second place and Jaelyn Lardy third place.
Winners in the 30-49 male category were Trev Fiedler with first place and Blake Proefrock in second place. Female winners were Erin Fiedler taking first place, Jennifer Johnson in second place and Kari Bates with third place.
Robert Haivala took first place and Marv Linn second place in the category of males over 50.
Proceeds benefited the Brandon Delzer Memorial Scholarship and Meade County 4-H.
Futures Explored at Camp
STURGIS, S.D. – On Sept. 28, 41 high school students traveled to Rapid City for the opportunity to learn and connect with leading industry experts.
Promoted by Associated General Contractors of S.D. (AGC), this year’s construction career camp offered hands-on experience in heavy equipment, carpentry, concrete, surveying, HVAC/plumbing/electrical and virtual reality. The camp was made possible with cooperation from S.D. School of Mines and Technology and Western Dakota Technical College.
Before schooling is complete and students graduate, the need to explore possible career paths has been a key focus for individuals within CTE programs.
photo by Korbin Jensen
“It opened a bigger door to all of these similar trades,” Tadlee Opstedahl (12) said. “Instead of construction, there are other options, such as concrete, carpentry and HVAC.”
Although Opstedahl plans to focus on a future career in ranching, he plans to use construction knowledge to potentially build a side business.
Currently working with water and sewer lines as well as dirt work, Korbin Jensen (12), saw the camp as a way to gain insights.
“There are a lot of different opportunities that I learned about in the construction industry,” he said.
Jensen plans to become a welding and generator mechanic.
“There is going to be a lot more work in construction in the future, more opportunities. It may be hard work but it’s a living,” he said.
Kash Krogman (12) plans to attend Mitchell Tech to become a lineman. His goal is to fly helicopters for a lineman company while still participating in the PRCA.
Even though he is in his fourth year working with concrete, Krogman said the camp gave him many back up plans to consider.
Participants from Cyle Miller’s Machining III, Tate Dewey’s Welding and Marco Marolt’s Building Trades classes were bussed to the event.
photo by Cyle Miller
Technology Requires Care
by Mariah Muchow, staff
Computers, cellphones, cameras- technology is all around us. Nowadays, almost any daily task requires some form of modern technology. With these newfound tools, there certainly comes a number of advantages, but there also comes the need for proper care to ensure these technologies stay running and working properly.
“On a regular basis, I use my phone and TV daily. During the school year, I use my computer almost daily to complete homework. Technology benefits me significantly when I’m trying to do school or creating projects. I would most likely not be at the level I am without the internet. I find it incredible how convenient it is to access information when I need to look something up,” Sam Teigen (11) said.
Cellphones have a small size that proves them to be a powerful and convenient tool that provides a source of communication and knowledge at almost anytime. That small size also makes it prone to easy loss or clumsiness that could cause significant damage to the device. Cellphones also require the need for charging on a regular basis, or else they will die and be of no use.
In school, and in many other workplaces, computers are a major technology used. Once again, they allow for communication, this time often via email, as well as prove to be an advanced digital workspace. Computers are less likely to get lost as they are much bigger than cellphones, but they are still pretty portable and light, making them prone to damage due to clumsiness or carelessness. It’s important to make sure that the computer is being held properly: one hand on the bottom and one hand supporting the screen. Using laptops on level surfaces is also recommended.
While cellphones and computers are more casual, widespread examples of modern technologies that many possess, there are also some technologies that are more niche, but just as helpful to the people who use them. For example, in journalism and photography, digital cameras prove to be an incredibly useful tool that can visually capture important moments.
These cameras require special care to ensure proper function and durability. The camera must be held and anchored properly at all times. It should be set down on a level surface, or if being held by an individual, the neckband should be around the neck. Lenses should either be placed on the camera or have appropriate lens covers on and stay safely stowed in the camera case.
Teigen recounted how she demonstrated improper camera care, resulting in damage to a camera lens.
“Probably the biggest technology mishap I’ve had is when I dropped a DSLR camera lens into a pond. During Journalism Camp this last summer, we traveled to the Fish Hatchery in Spearfish for some photo ops,” Teigen said. “As I pulled my camera out of its case to take photos, the extra lens that remained was too heavy. Because I left the case unlatched, it flipped over, and due to the weight of the lens, fell out, bounced off the bridge and finally landed in the water. Unfortunately, I am now burdened with the replacement of this lens. I feel like I’m a good example of what not to do.”
While everyone can likely benefit from modern technology to some degree, it’s important to remember that there needs to be a level of care provided to the devices to ensure they stay intact to function properly.
9th Annual J-Camp
Summer break provides advantageous opportunities for J-students to hone and learn new skills during the annual J-Camp, visiting area medias. Thank you to Melissa Barnett and Mark Watson at The Black Hills Pioneer in Spearfish for the educational tour today, Day 2 of J-Camp.
