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From NASA rovers and jumping challenges to medieval weapons and a virtual reality exploration of the ocean, South ��ֱ���� State University Day at the Washington Pavilion gave students and visitors a taste of what SDSU has to offer.

More than a dozen academic programs took over the in Sioux Falls Sept. 20-21 to showcase the many different opportunities at SDSU in a first-of-its-kind event.

Friday offered a “sneak peek” of the festivities for 270 area eighth graders from Whittier Middle School. On Saturday, the Pavilion opened to the public with free admission, and over 700 people joined the action.

“Events of this nature foster partnerships between the university and the Sioux Falls community,” said Madelyn Grogan, director of education and museums at the Washington Pavilion. “It allows us to engage with local families and schools, strengthening ties and showcasing the university and the Washington Pavilion as a community resource.”

The middle school students were able to talk one-on-one with faculty, staff and current students while experiencing various hands-on academic activities. 

“Our biggest goal is just to get them thinking about college as an option for them, to get them acquainted with the different programs,” Amber Breuer, eight grade team lead for Whittier Middle School, said. “Just letting them see that this really could be a path that they could take in the future. We're really thankful for the opportunity.”

Main Avenue was closed for both days of the event so visitors could rev up student-engineered vehicles, test drive remote-controlled rovers and enjoy some SDSU ice cream, all provided by the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering.

“We wanted to show the public, who does not get the opportunity to come and see the college, to see what we do,” said Sanjeev Kumar, dean of the Lohr College of Engineering. “We took the College of Engineering to their backyard.”

Experiencing what SDSU has to offer is significantly different than reading about or seeing pictures of the students’ work, Kumar added.

The exercise science program offered a vertical jump test for students to test their jumping ability. The activity also served as an ice breaker and conversation starter, according to Seth Daughters, instructor for the School of Health and Human Sciences.

Students often have a favorite athlete, and many will know that athletes vertical jump. This activity shows students the process and starts a conversation about the possible careers associated with exercise science.

“The students’ curiosity about SDSU, the exercise science program and what we have to offer was made apparent through great questions and conversations,” Daughters said. “Students are curious about the world, and they are excited to experience the different knowledge, skills and abilities that SDSU has to offer.”

Academic programs who participated include:

• College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions
• College of Nursing
• Department of Animal Science
• Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
• Department of Dairy and Food Science
• Exercise science program
• Fashion studies and retail merchandising program
• Human development and family studies program
• All departments in the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering
• School of American and Global Studies
• School of Design
• School of Education, Counseling and Human Development
• School of Performing Arts

Additionally, the offices of Multicultural Affairs and Accessibility and Admissions shared information about their work on campus.