The Lynx Way
Hegland awarded J. Michael McMillin Scholarship
At the South Dakota State Medical Association Annual Awards & Scholarship Recognition Dinner during the annual conference on May 29, the SDSMA Foundation recognized scholarship recipients for medical students attending the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine during the 2026-27 school year. Jacob Hegland, of Brandon, is this year’s recipient of the J. Michael McMillin Scholarship.
J. Michael McMillin Scholarship was established in 2008 by J. Michael McMillin, MD, to be awarded to a first-year medical student for all four years of medical school at the USD Sanford School of Medicine. Eligible students must be a South Dakota resident, top ranked in their college class, and maintain ranking in the top 50% of their class for all four years receiving the scholarship. Previously the Excellence Scholarship.
Kwiecinski is Morningside graduate
Bryce Kwiecinski, of Brandon, was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree from Morningside University during its spring graduation ceremonies.
SD Mines spring Academic Recognition, Dean’s lists released
South Dakota Mines spring Dean’s and Recognition lists have been released.
Local students named to the Dean’s List include: Brandon – Matt Beck, Logan Brakke, Ethan Carlson, Zander Gregor, Ava Johnson, Soraya Luschas, Xavier McGuire, Tristan Niewenhuis, Carter Smook, Josey Wickersham; Garretson – Noah Schotzko and Sage Solheim.
Local students named to the Academic Recognition List are: Brandon – Megan Eskam, Thaddeus Malsam and Adam Smook.
For Dean’s List status, students must earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher for the semester. Full-time students must have earned a minimum of 12 credit hours for the term. To earn a place on the Academic Recognition List, part-time students must have earned between three and 11 credit hours that term in addition to a 3.5 GPA.
Area students earn NSU academic honors
Northern State University has released its sprng semester President’s, Dean’s and Academic Recognition lists. These lists include seven area students.
The President’s List honors full-time undergraduate students who have achieved a perfect 4.00 grade point average (GPA) for the semester.
Selected to the President’s List are Alicia Gedge, Valley Springs, and Drake Jellema, Brandon.
The Dean’s List recognizes full-time undergraduate students who have attained a GPA of 3.50 to 3.99 during the semester.
Earning Dean’s List distinction are Kennedi Deckert, Sioux Falls; Alexa Johnson, Kailyn Poppen, Thomas Risty and Jaci Stemwedel, all of Brandon.
Local students named to NWC Dean’s List
Seven local Northwestern College students have earned a spot on the Academic Dean’s List for the spring 2026 semester. Students from Brandon are: Kyle Foss*, biology-health rofessions major, 2026 graduate; Keaton Jensen, senior exercise science major; Emily Outland, junior theatre major; Benjamin VanDeBerg, actuarial science major, 2026 graduate; Sydnie Wannarka, sophomore nursing major; from Valley Springs – Allison Sjaarda, music major, 2026 graduate; and from Garretson – Trygg Peterson, junior secondary education and mathematics major.
The Dean’s List is comprised of students who achieved a semester grade point average of 3.50 or above while carrying a minimum of 12 graded hours.
