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DSU Commencement  May 13

view the commencement program here (pdf)

United States Senator Tim Johnson will be the commencement speaker at Dakota State University’s graduation May 13.  Johnson served as South Dakota’s congressman for five terms before being elected to the Senate in 1996.  Graduation begins at 10:30 in the DSU Fieldhouse. 

 Rebecca Jean Knips and Mathew Nelson will speak on behalf of the graduates.  Rebecca is a computer education major from Adrian, MN.  Mat is an elementary education and special learning & behavioral problems major from Hendricks, MN.

 Dakota State University will honor two alumni with the Distinguished Alumnus awards at commencement.                             

 Joyce (Lusk) Farrell is a 1970 graduate of Dakota State with a degree in physical education and health and a minor in biology. Joyce began her teaching career at Madison High School in 1970.  She served as a substitute teacher and coach at Pine River, Minnesota in 1977-78.  The remainder of her 36 years in the teaching profession, however, has been at Madison High School. 

 In addition to her work in the classroom, Joyce served as the head coach for Madison’s girl’s track team from 1970-1975, head girl’s golf coach from 1975-1997, and head gymnastics coach from 1979-1986.  Joyce was head volleyball coach from 1986-2006.  She was also an assistant volleyball coach for Dakota State from 1982-1984.

 Joyce has been honored for her coaching success over the years.  She was named the Golf Coach of the Year in 1981 and the Volleyball Coach of the Year in 1995 by the South Dakota High School Coaches Association.  Her golf team earned second place in the state tournament in 1979 and 1989, and her volleyball team earned third place in the state tournament in 1999. Her volleyball team became state champions in 1995.  Dakota State recognized Joyce as Alumni Coach of the Year in both 1981 and 1999.

 Joyce is married to Tom Farrell, an associate professor at Dakota State.  They have two children, Jim and Susan. 

 Dr. Thomas Lorang earned his degree in history and English from Dakota State in 1966.  He continued his education at the University of South Dakota, earning an M.A. in educational psychology and guidance in 1969, an Ed.S. in educational psychology and guidance in 1974 and an Ed.D in educational administration in 1987.

 Dr. Lorang began his career in education at Yankton High School where he served as an English and history instructor, guidance counselor and boy’s and girl’s basketball coach from 1966 to 1978.  He became principal of O’Gorman High School in Sioux Falls in 1978, a position he held until 1990. From 1990 to the present, he has served as Superintendent of Sioux Falls Catholic Schools.

 Lorang’s contributions to education have been recognized over the years with several awards including being named the South Dakota Outstanding Guidance Counselor in 1976, the Outstanding Doctoral Candidate in Education at USD in 1986-87, and recipient of the Outstanding Alumni award at DSU’s 1996 Homecoming. While he served as principal at O’Gorman, the school was chosen as one of 270 exemplary schools in the United States.  In 2004-05, O’Gorman became the only high school chosen in a six state region to be named a “Blue Ribbon School” by the U.S. Department of Education.

 In addition to his leadership in the Catholic school system, Dr. Lorang is a member of several community and government organizations. Tom and his wife Penny reside in Sioux Falls. They have one daughter and three grandchildren.