Class of 2024
Meet the 2024 Class!
Read more about this year's class and how USD influenced their personal and professional experiences following graduation by clicking on the image below!
Check out our recipients' answer to the following question: How have you demonstrated success and influence in your profession and community?
Alex Connor
Dean of Students
As a dedicated educator and active community member, I have demonstrated success and influence through both my profession and extracurricular involvement. I am part of North Middle School's Building Leadership team where I collaborate with colleagues to implement innovative strategies. The work that I have put in has allowed the proficiency rate of my students to increase in each of my six years as a classroom teacher before becoming the dean of students.
Alexander Zephier III
Field Advisor
In backgrounds like mine, there are many obstacles and adversity to overcome. I found education to be the great equalizer. If you are resilient in your journey, no matter your background of the adversity you face, you can persevere. I wanted to set an example for my family, my community, and anyone else who was wondering if they can do the same. I've been fortunate enough to be in volved in some great programs and I'm proud to continue that work.
Alexis Evans
Operations Director
I developed, implemented and continue to oversee the case management program at Pathways. I have also been part of the shelter's expansion, adding four new programs during my time here. we are currently working to implement life-skills focused programming to prevent recidivism and teach our guests how to maintain independent housing long-term. I also coach the Yankton color guard program with fellow USD alumni Kimberly Slagerman, BFA. The friendships I made at USD have created opportunities to collaborate in my career.
Anshu Chandra
Director of Philanthropic Counsel
I believe that success and influence are not just about personal achievements but also about how I can contribute to the growth and well-being of others. I demonstrate success by consistently delivering high-quality work and being a team player for my colleagues. I actively seek out opportunities for professional development and growth, and I strive to be a positive influence on those around me.
Benjamin Jacobs
OBGYN Resident Physician
I am a firm believer that to make an impact on a community, you must not only lead by example but share your knowledge with others. In my current role, I serve as the primary educator for all premedical and medical students at Duke University as students rotate through our OBGYN service. I strive to lead by example by listening to my patients and centerin gmy practice around compassion and empathy.
Blake Warner
Postdoctoral Fellow (Clinical Psychology)
I have demonstrated success and influence in my profession and community through my active involvement in research, training, and advocacy. Currently, I am part of the research team examining the effectiveness of the PEERS for Dating intervention, which focuses on teaching neurodivergent young adults the skills necessary for finding and maintaining romantic relationships.
Bre Schmidt
Associate Director of State Government Affairs
Mentoring students and young professionals interested in healthcare policy and administration is something I find especially meaningful. Drawing from my own experiences, I enjoy guiding them as they navigate their career paths. I believe that supporting the next generation of healthcare leaders is essential for the future of the field. By combining my professional efforts with community involvement, I strive to make a positive impact.
Caitlyn Lint
Assistant Professor of Practice
My work for SDDHA has included attending the south Dakota legislative session, conducting research to address workforce shortage issues in the state and serving as a delegate at the national level. Dental Hygiene is undergoing large-scale changes that could affect our scope of practice. As an educator, I feel it is extremely important to lead by example for my students. I want to show them that through advocacy and involvement, they too can be part of the ongoing efforts to affect positive change in our profession.
Cash Anderson
Lawyer
Building genuine relationships and trying to solve (instead of create) problems has led me to success professionally and personally, and the skill sets I use to do so were learned during my time in Vermillion. Practicing law is inherently adversarial, however most attorneys do not try to make it painful. I've been lucky to be part of a law firm with other attorneys who are dedicated to their profession, advocate for their clients, teach, but treat people the right way.
Collette Bowman
Clinical Psychology Trainee
I have demonstrated success and influence in my profession and community through my dedicated efforts in community mental health and educational advocacy for Native American students. As a program coordinator for the Iwacinyechi Peer Mentoring program, I have worked to create a supportive network for Native American undergraduate students at USD. This program connects students with mentors who guide them through their academic journeys, helping to empower them.
Epiphany Knedler
Co-Founder & Curator
My creative and professional practices have flourished since my time at USD. I co-founded Midwest Nice Art in 2022; our community has grown to include over two-thousand artists from around the world, exhibited over 500 artworks, collaborated with 12 professionals in jurying exhibitions and curated one art fair booth. Within my personal practice, my work has been published in the New York Times and featured in the ARTNews Daily Review.
Garrett Keegan
Associate Attorney
I have demonstrated success and influence in the profession by continuing to grow as an attorney after law school. As mentioned, I am one of the defense attorneys for the Pennington County Veterans Court program, which has been an amazing way to help Veterans protect their rights while working through an intensive probation program as opposed to going to prison. Seeing their progress firsthand has been very rewarding.
Jacob Selgestad
Senior Analyst
I have tried to use my opportunities to give back to the USD community as well. For example, there is a group of political science students that come to Washington, D.C. every summer, and the last few years I have had the opportunity to meet with this group. I share my experiences to hopefully give them a roadmap of how to turn a USD education into a career and answer any questions they have about working in D.C. or what the graduate school experience is like. I always enjoy this opportunity to give back.
Jeremy Coss
Clinic Director
To me, being a successful professional in rural communities is a life of service. Service to the community means using my skills and interests to volunteer with local organizations such as coaching Special Olympics, working with students, or serving on boards such as the advisory board for a medical program at a local community college. The most impactful way that I have found to influence my community is to conduct my work with the highest level of my ability.
Jessica Brady
Guest Experience & Operations Manager
I was recently elected as the vice president of the Women's Resource Group for the Las Vegas Raiders, where I work to create a supportive environment for women in sports. I focus on fostering connections, mentoring opportunities and professional development. I believe that success is defined not just by personal achievements but by the positive influence we have on others - something I first learned in Ambassadors of Excellence at USD. I am very proud of my past and greatly look forward to the future.
Kasey Elder
CEO
I have brought a very needed business to a community we all call home. We have made over half a million dollars in gross revenue in our first 18 months of business and hope to keep growing. We are expanding our building by adding more play rooms and overnight rooms. We are also adding grooming which is another needed business in our community.
Katie Anderson
Clinical Social Worker
I have been involved with the establishment and ongoing development of the first outpatient mental health program within a rural health clinic serving a small Nebraska community of 600. This experience also provided me the opportunity to give an educational presentation on Ethical Considerations in Rural Social Work Practice at the NASW-SD Conference in 2023.
Kristen Quigley
PhD Student (Neuroscience)
I've taken on leadership roles within the academic community. As a co-founder of the Integrative Neuroscience Doctoral Program Colloquium, I've worked to create opportunities for knowledge sharing and collaboration among PhD students. I am also a mentor to Indigenous undergraduate students at Nevada. Through these achievements and roles, I've demonstrated a commitment to advancing knowledge in sports neuroscience, improving athlete safety, and sharing valuable insights with both academic and public audiences.
Lauren Paul
Opera Singer
Since graduating from USD, I have found a great deal of success in the opera world. In January 2024, I was selected as a winner of the Nebraska District of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, an annual competition for North American singers hosted by the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Following my win in the Nebraska district, I advanced to the Upper Midwest Regional competition in Minneapolis where I received an encouragement award.
Lyzz Leise
Attorney
My contributions have directly influenced the success of my clients by ensuring smooth corporate restructuring, tax compliance and intellectual property protection in rapidly evolving industries. Beyond my client work, I’ve played an influential role within the firm by mentoring new associates and law clerks. I also strive to give back to the legal and broader community. I’ve provided pro bono services to local nonprofits, assisting with governance and compliance matters as well as volunteering at various nonprofit organizations.
Macie Harris
Doctor of Physical Therapy
In a short amount of time since graduation, I have demonstrated significant success and influence in my profession and community through active engagement in leadership and service initiatives. By participating in leadership events, I continually enhance my skills and knowledge, ensuring that my clinic remains a leader in the field of physical therapy. Involvement in these events not only strengthens my own leadership but also inspires my team, fostering a culture of growth and excellence within the clinic.
Marcus Destin
Assistant Director of Student Activities and Multicultural Affairs
If I can help one person, motivate one person, and make one person believe in themselves, then to me, that's success. No matter what arena I am in - physically or figuratively - I hope to have a positive influence on those around me. I hope to continue being a lifelong learner, gaining insights from those around me and using that knowledge to change the worlds of those I encounter.
Nick Fey
Assistant Personal Training Leader
I strive every day to make an impact on as many people as possible, and this effort has evolved and adapted over the years. One of the most significant shifts in the health and fitness industry came with the COVID-19 pandemic. With gyms closed and people in greater need of support, I took the initiative to start my own personal training business, offering digital personal training and exercise programming. I made it affordable so that many could access it while ensuring it was high-value, providing education and assistance.
Nicole Bell
Director of Asset Management
I have also demonstrated positive influence over the past three years by volunteering with Junior Achievement - an organization which allows students to connect educational topics with real-world scenarios. In this capacity, I have shared my diverse professional experiences with many students and have demonstrated that there are many different avenues to success.
Nikolas Wilson
Morning News Anchor
Earlier this year, I launched a series called "Serving Siouxland." The goal of this series is to highlight local non-profit organizations and all the good work they do to make a difference in the community. I felt motivated to create this series after flooding devastated many parts of Siouxland this summer. In this series, I've had the chance to talk to volunteers who helped clean up flood damage.
Paige Wright
Teacher
I have demonstrated success and influence in my profession and community through various leadership roles and initiatives that foster collaboration, inclusivity, and educational innovation. Within my middle school, I lead the Culture Club, which brings together a group of teachers dedicated to fostering teacher retention. We organize various outings and activities both inside and outside of school, creating a supportive environment that values collaboration and camaraderie among staff.
Rachel Orton
Psychotherapist
I have been grateful to have successfully discharged several dedicated clients. While I hope I had an impact, the individuals deserve all the credit for doing the hard work. I have been able to provide education to my clients and community to increase mental health awareness. I have made suggestions to my agency for changes which have been implemented, collaborate closely with additional mental health providers both internal and external, and have received multiple perfect scores on performance evaluations.
Reece Weber
Attorney
I have been fortunate to volunteer/serve as a board of director for a large non-profit organization in Rapid City that focuses on aiding those who struggle with mental health and substance abuse disorders. I am currently in my fourth year and serve as the secretary and treasurer of the board. I have also previously served as an executive committee member for the West River Finance & Estate Planning Council, an organization that conducts seminars for attorneys, accountants, insurance agents, financial planners, trust officers and more.
Shelbi Conover
CEO / Gemologist & Jewelry Designer
My involvement with historical societies has deepened my interest in anthropology and traditional jewelry-making techniques. Before moving back to Iowa in 2023, I was the only certified gemologist appraiser in South Dakota. This unique position allowed me to introduce services and education that weren't previously available in the state, filling a significant gap in the local market. I provided expertise in gemstone identification, appraisals, and restoration/metal fabrication while educating clients about the history and value of their pieces.
Taylor Douglas
Child Care Service Program Specialist II
Success is a hard thing to define. I believe in taking small meaningful steps to reach your final goal. Most often my professional successes are not overnight large-scale obstacles I overcome. They are multi-step, detailed, data-driven and methodically planned out projects. I have learned to take a step back and look at the micro-social work being completed vs the macro-social work we all strive to achieve.