News & Events

ABERDEEN, S.D. — Presentation College has announced the President and Dean Lists for the Spring 2022 semester. To qualify for the President’s List, students must earn a 4.0 grade point average for the semester. Students maintaining a 3.5 to 3.999 grade point average are included on the Dean’s List.
 

President’s List:

Ajay Archambeau

Parker Beastrom

Taylin Boettcher

Sage Bultje

Christian Fischer

Kaeden Frazier

Brooke Heairet

Erin Jorgenson

Douglas Klipfel

Katrin Kriener

Kenzie Kuxhaus

Sarah Larson

Justin Mcclurg

Hope Mehlhoff Schaar

Sydney Miller

Emma Ogitchida

Logan Rank

Aiden Roddy

Abbie Rodgers

Kennedy Schimke

Camryn Shockley

Kylee Wadsworth

Alexandra White

 

Dean's List:

Ashley Alfonso

Rebecca Allen

Kamryn Arment

Avery Bourk

Isabella Burger

Courtney Burmeister

Olivia Castellanos

Ashli Christopherson

Arika Citrowske

Tyler Clapp

Payton Colestock

Olivia Corey

Alyssa Correa

Talyn Curl

Candace Dobberpuhl

Chloe Dominger

Jaecy Engebretson

Jonah Evans

Natalie Flores

Elizabeth Fuller

Samuel Garner

Jasper Gibson

Molly Hanse

Sharmayne Hardy

Rachel Henderson

Weston Holdren

Taylor Holm

Kendel Jones

Preston Jones

Lili Joseph

Phillip Jourdan

Chelsie Kallhoff

Cassidy Keller

Kaontxhee Khang

Jacob Klemme

Kayla Kramer

Jordan Kulczyk

Hannah Larson

Ethan Leech

Brooke Lind

Cassandra Loa

Emily Locke

Gabrielle Lopez

Kaitlyn Maidl

Michael March

Jaidon Martin

Antony Martinez

Noah Martinmaas

Krystina McCollum

Harleigh Miller

Veronicah Miruka

Samuel Motzkus

Georgia Murphy

Jack Murray

Staci Musielak

Zach Niederman

Keagan Niedermeyer

Kotaro Okada

Kelechi Okoh

Molly O'Rourke Reiners

Jenna Ostenson

Jamie Parsons

Blaine Patten

Yulissa Pena

Evy Peterson

Brandy Peterson

Jocelyn Peterson

Isabella Pinotti

Ryan Powers

Giselle Prado

Brayden Prokop

Thaddaeus Punshon

Kathleen Reichert

Valeria Romanchuk

Brook Russell

Nani Santos

Sophia Schnell

Colton Schusted

Mesha Schwab

Clayton Scott

Echo Smit

Allison Sommerville

Elijah Steele

Isaac Sumption

Pharoh Tapia

Amelia Tarbox

Isabel Thomas

Katelynn Thompson

Amy Turner

Victoria Vau

Julisa Vega

Camille Vestal

Darlene Vue

Josie Walz

Maxwell Welch

Sidney Welling

Delainey Williams

Michael Wishowski

Ashleigh Wong

Gaosheng Yang

Charity Zetterlund

In an announcement made earlier this academic year, Father Joseph Sheehan shared his intention to retire after 30 years as Chaplain and Professor at Presentation College.

Long walks around campus followed with a few sighs was Fr. Joseph’s calling card, and everyone on campus during his career knew of his kind spirit and humorous personality. Even after teaching classes and leading upwards of six masses a week, Father was always available to talk and encourage the students, faculty, and staff of PC.

“Father Joe has been an absolute treasure at Presentation College,” said Dr. Paula Langteau, the College’s President. “He has brought compassion, wit, humor, and a genuine love of people and of learning to his three-decade commitment to Presentation College and to Aberdeen. There are no words to capture the magnitude of his impact on our campus community. We are all better for his having spent his time and energy giving so graciously in his teaching and his chaplaincy.”

In 1957, Fr. Sheehan took his first vows with the Order of the Brothers of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel in Middletown, NY. He professed his solemn vows in 1960, was ordained in 1963.

Fr. Joseph received his Master’s Degree and Ph.D. in English from Catholic University of America in 1973 with a concentration on 18^th Century British Literature. He would later receive a post-graduate certificate in Theological Studies from Notre Dame in 2003.

Starting in August of 1992, Fr. Joseph, taught College Composition I and II, American, British, and World Literature courses, and Philosophy of Argumentation, as well as many different philosophy and religious studies classes at PC. It was at this time that he would also begin serving as Chaplain for the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Presentation College.

“Fr. Joseph is a bright spot in my day. Always witty and a blessing to be around. Throughout my time here at presentation college, Fr Joseph has taught me an infinite number of life lessons,” said Lindsey Swenson, Director of Campus Ministry.

Fr. Joseph would go on to be awarded tenure, promoted to full professor, and earn the “Spirit of the Mission” award. Father also served as the Arts and Sciences department chair from 1992-1996 and again from 1998-2004. He has also been Secretary, VP and President of Faculty Assembly on campus.

When asked about his retirement Fr. Joseph simply stated, “I loved living in the Prairies of South Dakota. I’m truly going to miss this place.”

This week will mark Fr. Joseph’s final Commencement on Saturday, as well as his final Mass on Sunday, May 8^th at 10:30AM. The public is invited to attend the Sunday mass, held by Presentation College and the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel on campus. A reception will follow Mass at the Saints Cafeteria.

Bishop Donald E. DeGrood will be attending Presentation College's Commencement as well as leading Commencement Mass with Father Joseph Sheehan this weekend.

Bishop Donald E. DeGrood was born in rural Faribault, Minnesota, on February 14, 1965, and raised on the family farm not far from there. He attended Catholic grade school in Faribault and graduated in 1983 from Bethlehem Academy Catholic High School, a school sponsored by the Sinsinawa Dominicans. He attended the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where his discernment of a priestly vocation led him to Saint John Vianney College Seminary. After graduating from the University of St. Thomas with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy in 1987, he worked for several years in the business world, first as a shoe sales representative and manager, then for Land O’ Lakes as a feed specialist. During this time, he continued to be drawn to the idea of a priestly vocation. He entered the Saint Paul Seminary in 1993, earned a Master of Divinity, and was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Harry J. Flynn, May 31, 1997.

For more information about Bishop DeGrood please follow this link:

https://www.sfcatholic.org/bishop-degrood/

ABERDEEN S.D. –  Presentation College has received a $5 million anonymous gift in support of its newly minted strategic plan, including partnering to expand rural health care programs. The gift will enhance growth of PC’s 2021 nationally 4^th-ranked online LPN-to-BSN program to extend it to nearly all 50 states. It will also provide support for reimagining existing programming and spaces on the PC campus in Aberdeen, as the campus explores partnership with other academic and health care institutions to extend its outreach in the rural Midwest. This tremendous donation also provides a substantial boost to student scholarships.

“The scope of the gift ensures the entire college and its stakeholders will benefit,” said Dr. Paula Langteau, Presentation College President, “ and as the single largest donation that the College has received in is more than 75-year history, it represents a significant investment in the future of PC.” The gift follows closely upon PC’s release of its new strategic plan this past fall, when the College also announced a plan to pursue partnerships with other educational and health care organizations to extend the outreach of the campus in preparing quality health care workers to enter the market where they are needed more than ever. “This gift not only positions the college for a planned partnership to advance PC’s Nursing and Rural Healthcare programs,” said Langteau, “but it represents the level of commitment of our community, filled with people and organizations eager to be stakeholders in support of PC’s outreach and growth, to serve our community in ever greater ways. We are truly blessed to receive such acknowledgement and support.”

Matthew Blair, PC’s Vice President for Mission and Advancement added, “This timely contribution adds to the already remarkable fundraising year the College is experiencing, with members of the community, alumni and staff showing their support for the exciting next chapter in PC’s life.”

Presentation College (PC) is a private Catholic College founded in 1951 by the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Welcoming people of all faiths, the College prides itself on being the most diverse higher educational institution in the state. Enrolling just over 600 students from 10 countries and 30+ states, the majority of students pursue careers in the healthcare sector. Thanks to donor support, the College is capable of enrolling a high number of Pell eligible, first-generation College degree seekers – that without donor support would not be able to afford a college education and live out their full potential. In addition to its main campus in Aberdeen, the 3^rd largest city in South Dakota, the College also offers a virtual campus with a number of degree programs - among them, the nation’s 4^th ranked LPN-BSN program, according to the website: www.nursejournal.org in 2021. For more information on Presentation College, or to support our Student Success Fund for scholarships, please visit www.presentation.edu/giving.

Students from across six colleges, located in North and South Dakota, came together to lead and network at the Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) State Leadership Conference (SLC) in Bismarck, North Dakota.  Participants from across North Dakota universities, Presentation College, and Northern State University attended this exciting conference to enhance their business skills, expand their networks, take professional headshots, and participate in business and business-related competitive events. Presentation College students competed in both individual and team events.

 

For over 45 years FBLA-PBL has consistently ranked as the top March of Dimes youth fundraising partner, raising millions of dollars for moms and babies.  For the 2022 SLC, PBL students raised a total of $396 for March of Dimes.

 

The following Presentation College students received recognition at the PBL Awards of Excellence Program on April 9, 2022: 

 

Jonah Evans received 1^st place in Business Ethics (team event), 1^st place in Emerging Business Issues (team event), and 2^nd place in Management Concepts (individual event).  Maximo Guillermo received 3^rd place in Accounting Principles (individual event) and 3^rd place in Entrepreneurship Concepts (individual event).  Benjamin-Joe Heather received 1^st place in Client Service (individual event), 1^st place in Human Resource Management (team event), and 2^nd place in Marketing Analysis & Decision Making (team event).  Weston Holdren received 1^st place in Public Speaking (individual event), 1^st place in Global Analysis & Decision Making (team event), and 2^nd place in Marketing Analysis & Decision Making (team event).  Ian Kelly received 1^st place in Sports Management & Marketing (individual event), 1^st place in Management Analysis & Decision Making (team event), and 2^nd place in Business Communication (individual event).  Samuel Motzkus received 1^st place in Human Resource Management (team event), 1^st place in Global Analysis & Decision Making (team event), and 2^nd place in Marketing Analysis & Decision Making (team event).  Zach Niederman received 1^st place in Global Analysis & Decision Making (team event), 1^st place in Management Analysis & Decision Making (team event), and 3^rd place in Future Business Executive (individual event).  Blaine Patten received 1^st place in Business Ethics (team event), 1^st place in Emerging Business Issues (team event), and 2^nd place in Impromptu Speaking (individual event).  Alexandra White received 1^st place in Human Resource Management (team event), 1^st place in Management Analysis & Decision Making (team event) and Who’s Who (individual event).  Who’s Who honors PBL members who have made outstanding contributions to the organization at the local, district, state, and national levels. 

 

“These students are some of the most dedicated and hard-working students at Presentation College. It is quite evident that all of their persistence to excellence came to fruition at the PBL Awards of Excellence program this year.  Each of these remarkable students will truly be an asset to their home communities,” said Dr. Brenda Merkel, Presentation College business faculty.

                                                      

For many students, the competitive events are the capstone activity of their academic careers. In addition to the competitions, students immersed themselves in interactive workshops and heard from motivational keynotes on a broad range of business topics.

 

About FBLA-PBL, Inc.

Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, Inc., the premier student business organization, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) education association with a quarter million members and advisers in over 6,500 active middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. FBLA-PBL’s mission is to inspire and prepare students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences. The association is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. For more information, visit fbla-pbl.org.