Alumni News Don't become an alum who gets LOST


BHSU is working with Harris Connect to produce an alumni directory scheduled for release in July 2012. Over the next several months, you may receive postcards, emails or phone calls from Harris Connect asking for updated contact information.


We would appreciate your cooperation in updating your contact information so we can keep our alumni database up-to-date.


All updates are returned to BHSU. Harris Connect is only collecting information for purposes of the publication. Your information will not be released to any third parties.


It is a great way to stay connected to your alma mater and former classmates!


baby boy, Tristen Trey John, July 26, 2011. He weighed 6 lbs. 12 oz. and was 19 in. long. Leroy is employed with Rapid City Regional Hospital and the South Dakota Army National Guard as a sleep technician and chaplain candidate.


Jammie (McKey) Prager, Class of ’01, and husband Ryan, Ladera Ranch, Calif., had a baby girl, Sydney Madison, Nov. 29, 2011. She weighed 8 lbs. 6 oz. and was 19.5 in. long.


Shawn “Butter” Travis, Class of ’05, and wife Katie, Sioux Falls, had a baby girl, Lucy Ann, Nov. 17, 2011. She weighed 7 lbs. 6 oz. and was 21 in. long. Butter is a junior customer service


analyst at Meta Payment Systems.


Amanda (Willert), Class of ’10, and Steve Otto, Class of ’07, Basin, Wyo., had a baby girl, Lilliann Renee, June 5, 2011. She weighed 8 lbs. 4 oz. and was 19 ½ in. long. Amanda works for Children Resource Center. Steve is an electrician for the Wyoming Department of Transportation.


Jennifer (Wagner) Williams, Class of ’02, and husband William, Rapid City, had a baby boy, Eric Anthony, Oct. 12, 2011. He weighed 9.2 lbs. and was 20½ in. long. Jennifer is a law clerk for Justice Konenkamp (South Dakota Supreme Court).


Keegan


Graham's Lion of War novels will be produced into a major motion picture Cliff Graham, Class of '06, will have his Lion of War


novel series, which includes, Day of War and Covenant of War, produced into a series of major motion pictures. The series was discovered by filmmaker David L. Cunningham (The Path to 9/11) and producer Grant Curtis (Spiderman, Spiderman 2, Spiderman 3, Oz: The Great and Powerful). Curtis and Cunningham formed the production company, GiantKiller Pictures, and will bring the series to the big screen as a major motion picture franchise.


Seeing that many knew little about the Bible,


Cliff and several of his friends came up with the idea of creating exciting stories based on the adventures of a band of warriors known as the Mighty Men, a disgruntled army of mercenaries and outcasts forged into an elite fighting force by a young warlord named David, who would one day be king of Israel.


Graham


Cliff graduated from BHSU with a major in political science and minor in military science, and did his graduate studies at Liberty Theological Seminary. He is an officer in the United States Army National Guard and a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom. He currently serves part-time in the Chaplain Corps. When Cliff is not writing, he enjoys the outdoors and speaks at conferences and churches about King David and his warriors.


Keegan receives prestigious teaching award Nicole (Fellows) Keegan, Class of '05, a


seventh-grade science and social studies teacher at Dakota Middle School in Rapid City received the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award for excellence in teaching. The award was presented to Nicole during a surprise assembly at her school by the state Secretary of Education, Melody Schopp, along with Dakota Middle School students and faculty and various education dignitaries, which included a congratulations video from Gov. Dennis Daugaard. Nicole was just one of 13 teachers who received


the award this year, which included a $25,000 cash prize to be used at the recipient's discretion. She has been at the school for 11 years and also coaches volleyball, basketball, weight training, and track and field. She also serves as a mentor for new staff, is a member of the Dakota Leadership Team, is the chair of the science department, and presents at staff development meetings as well as at several state- and national-level conferences. According to the Milken Foundation, Nicole develops relationships with


students and works with them as a class, in small groups and individually. She employs modeling and strong questioning to engage her kids. She holds reading and writing workshops and invites parents to her class eight times a year to view their children’s written work and hear them read. Launched by education reform leader Lowell Milken to celebrate, elevate


and activate exemplary K-12 educators, the Awards program showcases in a very public way that greatness in education must be recognized and rewarded. Unlike most teacher awards, this program has no formal nomination or application process. Every participating state’s department of education appoints an independent blue ribbon committee to recommend candidates according to strict criteria, with final selections made by the Milken Family Foundation.


Black Hills State University Alumni Magazine Page 10


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24