11 minute read
NURSE FOR A DAY
Students in the region gain hands-on experience at Presentation College.
by INDIA KLIPFEL | Director of Admissions at Presentation College
Advertisement
Nurse for a Day is a program offered on campus at Presentation College, geared toward high school students who have an interest in a career as a nurse. They spend a few hours in the Avera Simulation Center working with Presentation nursing students and exploring some of the different skills that nurses would learn.
Participants of Nurse for a
Day go through the process of a baby evaluation in
Presentation College’s
Avera Simulation Center. High school students learn from PC nursing students who are currently in clinical rotations.
The event is open for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Students can try their hand at suturing, inputting catheters, giving injections, learning CPR, and watching the obstetrician simulator give birth.
Presentation started this program in 2018, wanting to educate students on the duties of a nurse. All too often high school students start on an education path toward a career, start the career, and find that it was not what they expected. By starting Nurse for a Day, students are able to learn about the field and discover if they have a passion for nursing before graduating high school.
The community of Aberdeen and surrounding towns can benefit so much from Nurse for a Day. Presentation has been awarding nursing degrees for over 70 years, and to continue to educate the people of South Dakota is to carry that legacy forward.
There is such a high need for nurses both in Aberdeen and in small clinics and communities around us. With Nurse for a Day, Presentation College hopes to spark a passion in high school students for nursing, so they can become amazing nurses and help their community. //
BENEFITS OF EDUCATIONAL HANDS-ON LEARNING
n Technology in the Avera Simulation
Center provides five high-functioning mannequins or simulators to enhance student learning. n Students can practice real world application for transferable skills to a hospital or clinic. n Trial and error in a safe, simulated environment helps control the learning outcomes. n Students build quality connections with members of the Aberdeen community like individuals in the fire or police departments during community simulation events.
PROMOTING ARTS IN OUR COMMUNITY
The Aberdeen Area Arts Council initiates a variety of art opportunities for every age.
by JOSIE CLEMENS
Art is a creative outlet that inspires, entertains, and educates. Whether it's the performing arts, public arts, or artisan marketplaces, these events open opportunities for individuals and families to share new experiences and hear about different cultures. One Aberdeen organization in particular strives to broaden these art experiences for the community.
The Aberdeen Area Arts Council (AAAC) is a non-profit organization in Aberdeen with an outreach that serves six counties in Northeast South Dakota, which includes Brown, Spink, Day, Edmunds, Marshall, and McPherson.
In 1967, AAAC was formed to bring more arts to the community and promote opportunities for artists locally. The Art Council’s role evolved slightly over 55 years as interest in the arts expanded, introducing new organizations and advocates in the area. While AAAC is no longer the sole provider of the arts, it still plays a big
Stacy Braun,
AAAC executive director. Photo by Troy McQuillen.
Picture frames with past event posters, groups invited to perform in Aberdeen, and AAAC memories cover all four walls in Stacy’s office. Photo by Troy McQuillen.
This mural on the Woodman building on Sixth Avenue was painted by Nick and Nicole Fisher as a commission through AAAC in 2020 when the organization began initiating more public art projects. Courtesy photo.
role in local art experiences, and its initiative in the late 20th century impacted the future of Aberdeen.
With a mission to “enhance the quality of life through the arts by initiating, sponsoring, and promoting the arts through education in the Aberdeen area,” AAAC encourages a variety of entertainment.
“The Aberdeen Area Arts Council has a unique mission of bringing the arts to the community and region. We work with our audience and the artists, both performing and visual,” AAAC board member Kathy Brumbaugh said. “Art is such an integral part of our everyday living that most people don’t even realize how much it affects them—through music, architecture, movies, clothing, and even the color of their walls.”
The Board of Directors for the Council consists of 14 members who all bring a different perspective of the arts to the organization. The range of interests and areas of expertise of the Board reflect the purpose of the organization in bringing relatable, accessible events and shows to both first-time and seasoned attendees.
Alongside the team of board members, the Aberdeen area community, volunteers, and artists all make the work at AAAC possible. And at the heart of it all is Executive Director Stacy Braun.
Passion for the Arts
In March 2022, Stacy celebrates 20 years as the Council’s executive director. For Stacy, her love for art all started behind a piano. In 1983, she graduated from Northern State University with a degree in music and opened a piano studio in Aberdeen where she taught lessons for 18 years.
“Whether it’s playing piano or doing pottery, it is an escape for me. I get to go into my own little world where life is good because I’m doing art.”
When the executive position in AAAC became available in January 2002, Stacy was
Upcoming Event!
FAIRYTALES ON ICE:
WHERE STORIES COME TO LIFE ON ICE
March 29 7:00 PM Aberdeen Civic Theatre
Perfect for the entire family, experience the art of figure skating with professional skaters and sensational music, featuring the spinning tales of Little Mermaid and Pirate Adventures. The show will be staged with synthetic ice.Ticket information at www.AberdeenAreaArtsCouncil.com
Arts in the Park is a popular summer event at Melgaard Park that showcases a wide range of hand-crafted items from regional exhibitors. Courtesy photo.
Is IT working for you?
At Expetec, we provide solutions and peace of mind so that IT works for you!
We offer Cloud Computing, Off Site Data Backup, Networking, Outsourced IT, Telecommunications, Virus and Spyware Removal, Technology Sales and Service. Call us at 605-725-6992 to let us take your technology management off your hands.
CALL TODAY 605.725.6992 20 3rd Ave. SE, Aberdeen, SD
www.aberdeen.expetec.com
WHETHER IT’S PLAYING PIANO OR DOING POTTERY, IT IS AN ESCAPE FOR ME. I GET TO GO INTO MY OWN LITTLE WORLD WHERE LIFE IS GOOD BECAUSE I’M DOING ART.” – STACY BRAUN
immediately interested, taking on the interim position until she was officially hired in March. She found a role where she could still be involved in the industry but with a schedule that was better suited for time with her family and her children’s school activities.
“Arts advisement is such an important role in my life. I did piano lessons growing up, band and choir in school, took art classes. … Because of how important the arts have been to me, I feel it is important that others have that opportunity to experience the arts, participate in the arts, attend concerts, things like that,” Stacy said.
Carrying her personal excitement for the arts into the workplace, Stacy enjoys many elements of her job from talking with agents and management companies that represent
LET’S GET YOU THE BEST PRICE FOR YOUR HOUSE!
Heather Smith Heather Smith
Broker 605-228-9042
heather.firstpremierrealty@gmail.com
1606 6th Ave SE Aberdeen, SD 57401
artists to planning and showcasing public art to organizing educational outreach in area schools.
“My absolute favorite part of my job is the educational outreach that we do with the schools and seeing those kids’ faces and expressions and excitement when they are getting off the bus and going into the theater, and afterwards hearing them talk about what they just saw and experienced,” Stacy said.
The outreach component of AAAC plays a large part in promoting arts in our community.
Encouraging the Arts
Working with schools exposes the students to the arts at an early age, creating long-lasting memories and positive experiences.
“We provide those opportunities and encourage those opportunities because if we don’t get the young people involved in the arts and not be scared to go to the theater when they are young, they probably won’t experience it as an adult,” Stacy explained.
The performances brought in by AAAC vary from musicians to acrobats to comedians in a special day-time performance free to the students. The groups usually have a later
The Queen's Cartoonists performed for approximately 925 students from 15 schools in Aberdeen and surrounding areas in a school outreach event. Courtesy photo.
YOUR BRAND. ON ANYTHING. ANYWHERE.
performance for the community, and some students even come back to watch it again with their families.
“The impact the performances have on our students is impossible to measure, but I do know from my observations that the students love attending. Experiences such as this are not just entertaining; they are a learning experience that cannot be replicated by a book or classroom discussion,” Mike Neubert, principal at May Overby Elementary, said.
AAAC works hard to find artists and performers who align with its mission and can interact with the students and encourage them to participate in various parts of the show.
“Being able to watch and learn from such talented performers who have amazing passion for the arts and have committed their lives to inspiring others is something we need to continue to pursue for our students,” Mike said. Encouraging the arts doesn’t stop with the students. Promoting events that are unique and interesting for adults is an important goal for AAAC.
“You never know which experiences may spark a new interest in the arts; and providing a diverse range of art opportunities is an important part of cultivating that passion in children and adults alike,” AAAC board member Victoria Georgoff said.
An Advocate for the Arts
The Arts Council brings performing arts events of all categories to Aberdeen from dance and vocal performances to acrobatic and
Arts in the Park regular, Paul
Imholte, entertains the crowd with a portable cache of string instruments. Courtesy photo.
stringed instrument groups, but promoting arts is only one facet of AAAC. The organization also emphasizes advocating for local art events and artists alike.
“We shouldn’t have to travel out of town to experience great arts events, and by bringing artists to Aberdeen, the AAAC makes performances more accessible to our community by eliminating travel time and the extra costs incurred from travel,” Victoria said.
Two large events that AAAC organizes every year include Arts in the Park and Winterfest. These two opportunities highlight artists and exhibit their creations while giving the public access to support and embrace the arts in a fun, relaxing environment.
“For those who attend Arts in the Park, it provides an opportunity to see different forms of fine and folk art, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy some entertainment,” Stacy explained. “It’s a social event that many wait for every summer. It brings people together to enjoy the arts.”
Aside from advocating for the arts and local artists, the Arts Council also is an advocate for the community. Before COVID, the organization was the fiscal agent and led marketing for Empty Bowls, a project that used the creative arts to fundraise for the local social issue of hunger. Proceeds would go to food projects in Aberdeen like Salvation Army Backpack and its senior meal program along with various community meals.
Unfortunately, the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 paused performing arts events and projects like Empty Bowls. This gave AAAC the time to start initiating more public arts projects.
Last year, as a way to continue to support local artists who couldn’t participate in normal gallery shows, the Arts Council crafted a billboard art series. Six local artists were featured on billboards around Aberdeen, and AAAC’s website contained a blog for each artist that shared their story and more images of their work.
“I love how hard we work to bring these experiences to our local audience. The purpose of our council is to provide arts opportunities to our community, and we do just that,” Victoria said.
Even though we are still in the midst of a pandemic, the Aberdeen Area Arts Council continues to find ways to bring unique, thoughtful art to the community. Whether it is through general admission, choose-your-ownseat performing arts events, or “studio walks” to experience an artist's progression of work, AAAC is an advocate for all kinds of art in Aberdeen. // To read more behind Aberdeen Area Arts Council, projects, and artists, visit www.aberdeenareaartscouncil.com.
The Aberdeen Area Arts Council was awarded for its community involvement as a not for profit organization in 2010.
Photo by Troy McQuillen.
