Started in 1955, the Eastern South Dakota Science and Engineering Fair is held annually, each spring, at South Dakota State University. Eastern South Dakota Science and Engineering Fair is an affiliated fair for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair put on annually by the Science Service of Washington, D.C. Students in grades 6-12 from area schools are eligible to submit scientific research projects, and each year, several Grand Champion winners receive an all-expense paid trip to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, which is hosted by a different city each year. Students are also competing for a wide variety of medals, trophies, and monetary awards. / The Science Fair is operated by a Fair Director and Committee, as well as the SDSU Chapter of Sigma Xi scientific research society. Sponsorship comes from Sigma Xi, South Dakota State University, the Division of Continuing Education (SDSU), The Greater State Fund, and the South Dakota State University Foundation.

Barry Dunn became the fourth alumnus to be president of South Dakota State University in 2016. Dunn received his B.S degree in biology in 1975, M.S. in animal science in 1977, and Ph.D. in animal science in 2000 from South Dakota State University. Between 1979 and 1996 he ran his family’s ranch near Mission, S.D. From 1997 to 2004, he was an Extension livestock specialist and an assistant professor at South Dakota State in the Department of Animal and Range Science. In 2004, he joined the faculty at Texas A&M University-Kingsville as executive director of the King Ranch Institute for Range Management. In 2010, Dunn returned to SDSU to become the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council endowed dean of the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences. In addition, he was also the director of SDSU Extension and a professor of animal science.

In 1965, Paul McConaughy had been searching for an inexpensive way to produce limited editions of watercolor prints. He decided to try his idea out at his alma mater and made a series of prints of Cornell University buildings. They were an instant hit and the College Watercolor Group was formed. Soon they were making inexpensive watercolor prints of college buildings from all over the country. Following the model developed by Currier & Ives more than a century before, they would make a pen and ink drawing of a building, have it reproduced on watercolor paper as an 8” x 10” lithograph and then have artists color paint each picture. Limited edition sets of 4 scenes or large prints, framed or unframed were available. / Professional artists were added to the staff, the quality greatly improved. One of the artists, E.B. Walden, began signing his pictures “Gray”, based on a watercolor hue “Davy’s Gray”. Soon, each artist began using the Gray surname but a different first name. Walden became Davis Gray, with over a dozen other artists taking the last name. From this play on names, the business became known as “Gray’s Watercolors”.

Reed “Rocky” G. Hart, Jr. was born to Reed Sr. and Marie (Johannsen) Hart on August 4, 1926, in Pipestone, Minnesota. He grew up in Pipestone and graduated from high school in 1944. After graduating from high school, he entered the United States Army and served until the end of World War II. Hart started at the University of Minnesota in 1947, where he was part of the freshman football team. He was recalled into the service of the United States Army during the Korean conflict. He returned to the University of Minnesota and graduated with a B.S. in 1955. / Hart worked on government contracts around the world, including Greenland, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands; and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He also lived in Washington, D.C.; San Diego, California; and New Orleans, Louisiana. / While employed in Kwajalein (part of the Marshall Islands) and again in Saudi Arabia, he established jogging leagues. The scrapbook “1975 Kwajalein Jogging Program” states, “October 8 [1975] Kwajalein loses Rocky Hart, bachelor status with Global Associates, [who] will be leaving for South Dakota. Rocky has been a Kwaj resident for 8½ years and during that time organized the [jogging] club in 1968 and in the last five years has organized jogs, special events for the club and he even makes all the awards and trophies himself at the Special Services Hobby Shop.” / Once he retired, Hart returned to Pipestone, Minnesota, to be near his family and later moved Egan, Minnesota. While retired, he formed the All-Star Jogging League for runners in southwestern Minnesota and southeastern South Dakota. At its peak, the club had nearly 150 joggers; it has since been disbanded. / Reed Hart died July 14, 2014, at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

John Heston came to South Dakota State in 1896. Previously, he was the president of Washington State College. Under Heston’s guidance, the college saw an increase in enrollment and the construction of new campus buildings such as Solberg Hall. He also introduced electives, majors and minors, and specialized Bachelor's degrees including the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Agriculture, and Bachelor of Engineering. Heston oversaw the formation of new departments such as music and foreign languages in the liberal arts, and mechanical, agricultural and electrical divisions in engineering. He also emphasized the necessity for teaching sciences such as biology, chemistry, and physics in the study of agriculture. Heston had an uneasy relationship with the regents. In 1903, the regents dismissed him as president of South Dakota State, and installed him as the president of Dakota State University in 1905.

Emil Jacobsen was born August 8, 1903 to Armus and Elvina Jacobsen. Armus immigrated to America in 1881 and met Elvina in Iowa and they later wed. Emil had two sisters, Hilda and Lucile. The Jacobsen family remained near Rock Valley, Iowa for the majority of their lives. Emil went to South Dakota State Agricultural College for two years, 1922 to 1923. Emil married Ruby Ingebord. Together they had six children: Russel, David, Marilyn, Roy, James and Stanley. Emil passed away August 4, 1998.

Lyman Jackson became president of South Dakota State in 1940. He received his B.S. and M.S. from the University of Wisconsin, and Ph. D. from the University of Minnesota. Jackson was junior dean of agriculture at the Ohio State University prior to arriving at South Dakota State. He became president just before the United States entered World War II. The impact of the war on the college was great, with decreased enrollment, the use of college buildings as barracks, and rationing. During his tenure, Jackson established the Junior College Division. This plan separated the freshman and sophomore students from the upper-class students, instituted student advising, and established rules and regulations for overseeing the student body. Jackson also made changes to the School of Agriculture to help it run more efficiently. One of the most daunting tasks during his term was in preparing the college for the return of the veterans and the many students who had left to aid in the war efforts, and administering the GI Bill. He resigned his position as president in 1946 to become dean of agriculture at Pennsylvania State University.

Delmar R. Johnson was born July 17, 1947 in Mitchell, South Dakota. He received his BS in Mathematics from South Dakota State University in 1969. He received a Master of Education from the same institution in 1991. / Johnson started his career at South Dakota State University in 1969 as a programmer. He taught mathematics and computer programming from 1969-1974. In 1982, he accepted a position as Co-director of the Computing Center. He eventually, became the director of University Computing Services. He continued in this capacity until 2003. He then became the director of Administrative and Research Computing. / Del Johnson retired from the university in 2012.

John P. (Johan Peter) Johnson was born July 5, 1854 in Snostorp, Sweden and died January 27, 1934 in Sioux Falls. He married on March 25, 1879.

Dr. W. Carter Johnson is Distinguished Professor of Ecology at South Dakota State University in Brookings. He received a B.S. in Biology from Augustana College in 1968 and a Ph. D. in Botany (Plant Ecology) from North Dakota State University in 1971. Johnson began his professional career as Research Associate and Research Staff Member at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (1971-77), followed by 12 years in the Department of Biology at Virginia Tech. In 1989 he became Head of the Department of Horticulture, Forestry, Landscape, and Parks at South Dakota State University, a position held until 1995. / His research interests include river regulation and riparian forest ecology, climate change and prairie wetlands, seed dispersal in fragmented landscapes, paleoecology (climate reconstruction using tree rings; Holocene seed dispersal and plant migration) and multifunctional agriculture and agroecological restoration. His research program is strongly multi-disciplinary and inter-institutional. Dr. Johnson has published approximately 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, books and book chapters.

Willis E. Johnson came to South Dakota State College as president in 1919. He received degrees from St. Cloud State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, and the University of Minnesota. Prior to coming to South Dakota State he was president of Northern State University. Johnson was the first president to enjoy a formal inauguration. During his term, there were enormous problems with the college infrastructure and many financial difficulties resulting from World War I. Johnson was in office when many extra-curricular activities began. During his term, many student organizations were formally recognized, and intercollegiate athletics became a regular part of college life. He succeeded in opening the student bookstore and placing the post office on campus. The Printing Department also began during his term. One of his most important contributions was the creation of five divisions of study, which were precursors of today's academic colleges. The Board of Regents recognized Johnson for these contributions by naming him South Dakota State’s first president emeritus in 1923.

Inez O. Erickson Johnson was born to Martin and Julia Erickson on October 31, 1911 in Lake County, South Dakota. At the age of eight she moved with her parents to a farm near Baltic, South Dakota. She attended rural school and Baltic Grade School. She was baptized at St. Peter Lutheran Church and confirmed at East Nidaros Lutheran Church. On March 14, 1931 Inez married Henry Johnson at East Nidaros Lutheran Church. They lived and farmed on the farm of Henry' parents until they retired and moved into the town of Baltic in 1987. Henry and Inez had four children. Odel, Ivan, Dean, and Jerome. Inez became a resident of Terrace Manor Nursing Home in Dell Rapids on April 28, 1995 and died May 19, 1995 at Dell Rapids Community Hospital.

Wilma (Jean) Walters Lothrop was born July 19, 1919 in Brookings, South Dakota to William Hayes and Grace (Durland) Walters. Jean Walters graduated from Brookings High School in 1937, from South Dakota State College in 1941, and from Denver University with a Masters in Library Science. She also attended the University of Minnesota. In 1941-1942, she taught home economics and science at Langford, South Dakota, High School. On December 20, 1942 she married Eugene “Gene” Henry Lothrop of Huron, South Dakota. She was a librarian. They had two daughters Helen and Martha; and one son Robert. Jean died November 20, 2013 in Prescott, Arizona.

Fred Leinbach became president of South Dakota State in 1947. He was previously dean of agriculture and head of animal husbandry at the University of Maryland. His presidency was marked by a controversy in the reorganization of the Division of Agriculture, which led to Leinbach's eventual resignation. Many buildings were constructed during his tenure, including several agricultural buildings, the Men's dormitory, and Printing and Rural Journalism Building. Public power from the Missouri River Basin Project became available during this time, which helped in running the campus. The Faculty Association was formed, giving faculty a voice in decisions involving their work. The graduate programs continued to develop, and enrollment increased considerably in both graduate and undergraduate programs. His tenure also saw the first hiring of a vice president to manage the increasing enrollment. Another highlight of Leinbach's term was the acquisition of the Harvey Dunn paintings, which now form a core collection for the South Dakota Art Museum. Leinbach resigned in 1951.

George Lilley became the first president of Dakota Agricultural College in 1884 when he was only 30 years old. At this time the college building was only partially complete and seeing how he would not be able to open the college without a building, Lilley gave a third of his $1,500 salary to finish three rooms of the building. On September 23, 1884, 35 students had enrolled in the preparatory course of the college. Over the next two years, the enrollment grew to 252. The first person to receive their degree from South Dakota State graduated on June 24, 1886. The regents felt Lilley was not able to maintain discipline among the students. They had also learned that Lilley had overstated his qualifications. He had not received a college degree and his title of “doctor” was honorary. Lilley submitted his resignation in 1886.

Ethel Austin was born July 14, 1893, in Storm Lake, Iowa to George and Evaline Austin. Her family moved to Brookings, South Dakota in 1902. She attended grade school and high school in Brookings. She graduated from South Dakota State College in Brookings ... »

Vera Way Marghab was co-founder and president of Emile Marghab Inc., New York, and Marghab, Ltd., Madeira. This business produced linens designed by Mrs. Marghab and embroidered by skilled artisans in Madeira. She was born to Stitzel X. Way and Kathryn Bacon Way on August 21, 1900 in Wesley, Iowa. / Begun in 1934 by Mrs. Marghab and her husband, Emile, the business sold linens exclusively in fine shops around the world. After Mr. Marghab's death in 1947, Mrs. Marghab managed the business alone until the political situation in Madeira forced her to close in 1984. Shortly thereafter, she returned to Watertown, S.D. where she expanded her childhood home "Wayland" on Lake Kampeska, and settled into the community. / In 1921, Emile Mogabgab, a British subject and native of Cyprus, began to manage the L. Tweel Importing Co. House, a manufacturer and importer of hand embroideries in Funchal, Madeira. After a brief stint with this company, Emile moved to F. M. Jabara and Bros., another embroidery firm in Funchal. Eventually, Emile and a friend, Gabriel Farra, organized a new business called Farra and Mogabgab Ltd., manufacturers of fine embroidery. The business operated in connection with the Jabara Company. In 1930, they leased the factory from Jabara and began to operate the business independently. By this time, they had buyers in England and in New York with Syrian-run firms and other importers. After Vera Way and Emile Marghab (Emile changed his name from Mogabgab at the insistence of Vera) were married in 1931, Emile's business began a period of healthy growth. The newly married couple began to live part of the year in Madeira. Vera began to show interest in Emile's business with ideas for management and production. By 1933, Gabriel Farra decided to sell his interest in the business. Emile took Vera on as a partner, and Vera and Emile immediately undertook a wide range of improvements. / The new company, now called Marghab Ltd., began to expand and improve its business. Emile and Vera attempted to raise the standard of the linens by purchasing the finest quality linen possible. Irish weavers provided linens that lived up to Marghab quality. Fine linen was not enough, however, so Vera and Emile also embarked on a quest to find a new fabric that would work well. The result was Margandie, a fabric patented by the Marghab Company. It was designed by Swiss weavers and made of the finest Egyptian cotton. / Vera Marghab was interested not only in the fabric, but also in the designs on the linens. Madeira embroiderers were held to exacting standards while embroidering designs created by Vera. Designs were repeated year after year to form a collection, an innovation of which Marghab, Ltd. was very proud. This was unheard of in the industry at the time, and helped set Marghab apart from other linen companies. / Another important improvement of the new company was the opening of a U.S. branch in 1934. Located in New York City, Emile Marghab Inc. began to work extensively on marketing the products produced in Madeira. The marketing of Marghab linens was the most distinctive feature of the business. Instead of offering the linens for sale in any shop that wished them, Vera devised a plan of creating Marghab Shops within certain larger stores. Stores chosen to house Marghab Shops had to adhere to strict standards, and agreed not to alter the very precise policy of the Marghab Shops. Among a number of strict guidelines, this policy included plans for shop layout and rules governing the display of linens. All shops were under the direction of a shop manager, personally trained by Vera Marghab. / The special plan for marketing the linens did not end with the establishment of the shops. All advertising was strictly limited as well. Shops could not advertise without prior approval of Vera. Standards for all aspects of the marketing were extremely high and under the iron hand of Vera. / The strict monitoring of the business maintained the high quality of the Marghab product and somewhat improved the business by 1947, when Emile Marghab passed away. At that time, the Board of Directors, with Vera Marghab at the helm, decided to continue the businesses. Vera continued to exercise utter control over all aspects of the business, especially the design and marketing of materials. / The Marghab business peaked around the time of Emile's death in 1947. After his death, the business started a gradual decline and the number of shops carrying Marghab linens slowly dropped off. Attitudes toward formal linens were changing, and the strict adherence to Marghab rules led to a decline in the shops. In addition, the Madeira embroidery guild, the (Gremio) made increasing demands that Vera found difficult to accept. Finally, by the late 1970's, these changes, coupled with political events in Portugal and Madeira, forced Vera to close the business and leave Madeira. Both businesses were fully dissolved by 1984. / Marghab linens, unsurpassed in quality, were world-famous. Many of the designs were used in palaces and embassies. Several are in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. A complete collection, 1,918 pieces and 282 designs, is in the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, S.D.

Nellermoe was born in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and graduated from Watertown High School (1944). He served in the Unites States Navy (1944-1946), and received a BA (1950) and an MA (1952) from the University of South Dakota. He also studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, France, and the Internationale Musik Akademies in Salzburg, Austria. Nellermoe worked as a translator at various entities including the United Nations. He also taught foreign languages at Colorado State University. Nellermoe purchased the leaves from Ferdinand Roten Galleries in Baltimore.

Bill Nibbelink received his journalism degree from South Dakota State University in 1975 and then worked for the Moody County Enterprise newspaper. He met Daschle through the SDSU Democrats and worked for him during Daschle’s first two campaigns for the ... »

Roberta K. Olson was named dean of the College of Nursing at South Dakota State University in 1994. During her tenure, she increased the number of entering students each year from 136 to 304. The number of graduate students more than doubled. She established an online master’s degree program in 2002 and started a Ph.D. program in nursing in 2005, and a doctor or nursing practice degree program in 2009. / Dean Olson holds bachelors and master’s degrees in nursing from South Dakota State University. She earned a doctorate in organization and administration of higher education from Saint Louis University. She received the Sr. Bernadette Armiger Award from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. / Dean Olson conducted research in Nursing Science, Allied Health Science and Medical Science Nursing.

Kathleen Norris was born July 27, 1947 to John Heyword Norris and Lois Totten Norris. She graduated from Punahou Preparatory School, Hawaii in 1965, and from Bennington College in Vermont in 1969. After college Norris worked as arts administrator for Betty Kray, Executive Director of the Academy of American Poets, who became her good friend and mentor. / “Falling Off,” Kathleen Norris’ first book of poetry, was published in 1971 and won the Big Table Younger Poets Award that same year. Soon after, she settled down in her maternal grandparents' home in Lemmon, South Dakota, where she lived with her husband, the poet David Dwyer, for over twenty-five years. Since the death of her husband in 2003, she has transferred her place of residence to Hawaii. / The move to Lemmon was the inspiration for the first of her nonfiction books, the award-winning bestseller "Dakota: A Spiritual Geography." It was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and was selected as one of the best books of the year by Library Journal. / In 1986 Norris became an oblate, or associate, of a Benedictine monastery, Assumption Abbey in North Dakota and spent extended periods at Saint John's Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota. / For many years Kathleen Norris was the poetry editor of Spirituality & Health magazine. She continues to make numerous appearances, including lectures, symposia, workshops, and retreats. Norris was the Randall Distinguished Professor of Christian Culture at Providence, Rhode Island from 2014 to 2015, and is currently the nonfiction editor of the Saint Katherine Review. She also serves as an editorial advisor to Give Us This Day.

Ellwood C. Perisho was named president of South Dakota State in 1914. He had most recently been dean of arts and sciences at the University of South Dakota. Perisho received his degrees from Earlham College and the University of Chicago. During his term as president, South Dakota State became accredited by the North Central Association and started the Cooperative Extension Service. New subjects were introduced and many new buildings were built, including the stock judging pavilion, a hog plant, a poultry plant, Wecota Hall, and the Administration Building. World War I had affected the work of the college. Between 1917 and 1918, military trainees were housed on campus and given instruction for skills needed in the armed forces. Special courses in agriculture, engineering, and home economics were introduced as part of the war effort. Perisho took a leave of absence in 1918 and resigned in 1919.

Born May 5, 1927 in Westville, Illinois to John and Elsie (DeBarba) Plumart, Phillip “Phil” Edmond Plumart was “the proud son of a long line of coal miners descending from Belgium” who went on to serve SDSU for 28 years, where he was “Teacher of the Year” multiple times and recipient of its Outstanding Service Award in 1986 for service to students. After serving in the US Army (1944-1947), Phillip Plumart received his B.S. in Agriculture from the University of Illinois in 1950 and is M.S. in Poultry Science from Kansas State College/University in 1952. He continued his post-graduate work at Purdue and the University of Minnesota. / On August 4, 1956, he married Darlene Rieck of Sheboygan, WI. They had three children: Perry (Mary) Plumart, Larry (Donna) Plumart, and Rene (Phil Salisbury) Plumart. / From 1961-1974, Phil Plumart was an Assistant Professor at SDSU, and from 1975-1989, he was Associate Professor, retiring in 1989 as Professor Emeritus and Extension Poultry Specialist. During his tenure, he taught poultry management, advised animal science students and worked in extension services with both poultry and computers. In addition to the awards mentioned above, he received in 1983 the Distinguished Service Award from the SD Future Farmers of America for his involvement in poultry judging, as well as his automating of FFA rules and regulations. He also developed the computer program used in recording and tracking the thousands of 4-H entries at the SD State Fair. In addition, he was awarded “Poultryman of the Year” and the “Gip Nolan Award for Outstanding Community Service.” Among his many community activities, he was 13 years of the Brookings City Planning Commission and later served as a Brookings City Commissioner, where he oversaw the finances for the Swiftel Center and the expansion of the Brookings Public Library. His colleagues called him “peppy, not only because of his initials, but because of his boundless energy and enthusiasm.” / He died November 27, 2014 in Brookings, SD (Thanksgiving Day).