SDSU to honor 6 as distinguished alums

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BROOKINGS – Six graduates from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s will be honored as Distinguished Alumni of South Dakota State University during activities on Hobo Day weekend Oct. 12-13.

Those to be honored at Hobo Day 2018 Oct. 13 are:

• Steven Kappes, Elkridge, Maryland, Class of ’80/M.S. ’86;

• Terry G. Nelson, Black Hawk, Class of ’65/M.Ed. ’67;

• Kevin Roberts, Hillsboro, Missouri, Class of ’78;

• Larry Tidemann, Brookings, Class of ’70/M.S. ’72;

• Wesley Tschetter, Brookings, Class of ’69; and

• Diana VanderWoude, Sioux Falls, Class of ’82/M.S. ’91.

Kappes, whose degrees at State were in animal science and reproductive physiology, has served as associate administrator for the Office of National Programs within the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service since 2016. He has oversight responsibilities for the research direction of the $1.1 billion ARS program.

Nelson, whose degrees at State were in psychology and guidance and counseling, is owner of Nelson Investments and retired first vice president of RBC Wealth Management of Rapid City. He has a long history of involvement with the Alumni Council and SDSU Foundation, serving eight years on the council, including a term as president. He has served as a SDSU Foundation trustee since 2010.

Roberts, whose degrees at State were in political science and history, is a prominent St. Louis-area attorney. In addition to his practice and service on the Missouri Lottery Commission and Missouri State Fair Commission, he also chaired the SDSU Foundation through two-thirds of the entity’s six-year, $255 million fundraising effort, which ended in April 2013.

Tidemann, whose degrees at State were in dairy manufacturing and dairy science, followed a 32-year career with the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service with a 14-year career in the South Dakota Legislature. He served all 14 years on the Appropriations Committee and was a strong advocate for SDSU, particularly in funding buildings.

Tschetter, whose degree was in ag engineering, retired in June as the university’s vice president of finance and business. He was director of the Legislative Research Council in Pierre when asked in 1982 by then-President Sherwood Berg to serve as SDSU’s chief financial officer.

For 36 years his responsibilities included the operating budget, accounting, purchasing, payables, receivables, property acquisition and providing financial management for the construction of $500 million investments in research, academic and residence halls as well as other student services facilities.

VanderWoude, whose degrees at State were in nursing, served as executive director of the South Dakota Board of Nursing for 11 years (1991-2002) and since that time has been with Sanford Health. She is a senior executive director of human resources, overseeing leadership, education and development, managing a multi-million budget and more than 100 professionals.

The Legends and Leaders Distinguished Alumni Awards banquet and program is 6:30 p.m. Oct. 12, the evening before Hobo Day, at the SDSU Alumni Center in Woster Celebration Hall with the social hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 ($12 for age 12 and younger). They can be purchased from the SDSU Alumni Association at 697-5198 or 888-735-2257 or online at www.statealum.com. Reservations and payments are due by Oct. 7.

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