It’s a small town business with a big name. Since its humble start in 1968, Daktronics has gone from the ingenious idea of two former SDSU electrical engineering professors to one of the world’s largest and most competitive leaders in the display industry.

This year, as Daktronics celebrates its 35th year with 35 sales and service offices nationwide, it owes a portion of its success to the diligence and effort of some of our very own South Dakota State students. After all, nearly one-fourth of their employee population is made up of three hundred SDSU student employees.

“State students contributing as employees is one of Daktronics’ core components,” said Carla Gatzke, Manager, Personnel and Information Systems.

She describes their role in the business as: Win, win, win. It’s good for Daktronics, good for the students, good for SDSU.

“It’s good for Daktronics because we can offer students the chance to work on their skills and to perform within their major so they can see exactly what they’re getting themselves into. It’s good for students because they can earn money while acquiring work experience for their major. It’s good for SDSU because the students are elevating discussion in the classroom and improving the graduate hiring rate. The students know that when they start at Daktronics, they have a high probability of being offered a full-time job after graduation. They add to our success,” said Gatzke.

Brianna Batien, a senior majoring in consumer affairs, has been working at Daktronics for the past nine months. Currently, she works 20 hours a week as a corporate training student. Her position requires her to be responsible for setting up scheduling for all of the training in the corporation.

“I like Daktronics because of the emphasis they place on responsibility. Office students are given their work and they have to get it done without anyone telling them what to do. It takes a lot of communication with department heads and knowing what they need,” said Batien.

Dustin Treml, a fifth year senior majoring in civil engineering, works 30 hours a week as a mechanical design assistant. He contributes to the design of structures that support scoreboards and other indoor sports products. When the design is approved, he drafts the plans; then after the structure is built, he inspects it.

“I like that I’m getting really good experience for my major and it’s a very reputable job that looks great on my resume. The flexibility that Daktronics offers to students is very helpful. I can almost assign my own hours,” said Treml.

“We think that the student experience is a key part of who we are”.

“They are continually learning and changing, as they become the company’s future leaders,” said Gatzke about her past experiences with SDSU students. “The students contribute to the work and recruitment of full-time positions. South Dakota State offers the key majors that match what Daktronics would be recruiting.”

The pride and satisfaction that Daktronics student workers have in their job is increasingly apparent throughout their involvement.

“In summer corporate training, I got to work with many of my supervisors. Now they come directly to me if they have a problem, instead of going to a full-time employee,” Batien said.

Treml, however, sees his finished projects as motivation. “Being a sports fan, when you see at a football game or in an arena the products that you helped design, that is the ultimate pride.”

Both students, however, realize that pride isn’t the only benefit that comes from working at Daktronics.

“The responsibility and prioritizing are major components. Learning how to break up projects and handle the work myself was important,” Batien said.

“Daktronics has helped me master thinking for myself. It’s not a job where everything is handed to you; it requires a lot of thinking and communication,” Treml said.

The positions available to students range widely from sales and marketing to engineering and manufacturing to administration.

“Many of our current leaders started as students of SDSU, so we believe among our students is the company’s future,” said Gatzke.

Since it first opened its doors in 1974, helpful smiles have been gracing every aisle of the Brookings Hy-Vee. While over time those smiles have changed, the purpose behind them has not.

Hy-Vee started out in the present day Ace Hardware building and in 1991, doubled its size by moving to its current location. Since 1991, the store has been remodeled twelve times and store manager Doug Dell says it will continue to improve in an effort to maintain customer satisfaction.

“We really want to be known as a customer-oriented business to the point we would do anything for our customers. Dealing with food, we want to make sure we’re always clean and fully stocked,” said Dell.

Hy-Vee presently employs 121 South Dakota State students, which makes up 36 percent of their entire employee population.

The importance of having such young and vibrant employees is clearly evident in the way Doug Dell treats the students.

“With SDSU students, it’s always a win-win situation. We benefit from them and they benefit from us,” said Dell. “We’ve had very few problems employing SDSU students.”

The advantages, Dell noted, to employing students are their maturity and availability, among others. Flexible schedules are always accessible as they constantly track the availability of the students.

“In a store that runs 24 hours a day, there are a lot of shifts that need to be filled. SDSU students have a great work ethic and are able to fill those shifts.”

There is a wide diversity of positions that students can occupy: anything from customer service to sackers and checkers, special departments such as floral and bakery to night crews. The option to raise status within the business is also always an option. Hy-Vee currently has thirteen student managers.

Andy Sutton, a 2002 graduate of SDSU, has been working for Hy-Vee for nine years. After graduation last winter, he decided to stay with the business and is now completing the training to apply for an assistant director position. From there he hopes to someday become the store manager.

“I saw Hy-Vee as a potential to earn a great salary. It was a very challenging and fast paced, yet rewarding job.” Sutton said.

Aaron Anderson, a senior manufacturing-engineering technology major, also holds a manager position in store operations. He has held his job with Hy-Vee for seven years, since he was first eligible to work as a fourteen year old sophomore in high school. As a manager, he is directly responsible for overlooking the day to day operations, such as making sure the store runs smoothl and customers are taken care of, inventory and store displays.

“I take pride in the store’s appearance and love the experience of working with different kinds of people,” said Anderson. “Doug is the absolute best boss I could work for and my fellow employees are so friendly.”

As in any job, conduct is also a principal aspect. We’re all familiar with the unmistakable Hy-Vee slogan: Where there’s a helpful smile in every aisle. But for most employees, the saying goes unsaid. Instead, it’s in their every action and the pride of their job.

Amber Stroschein, a junior sociology major and front end manager, has had almost three years of Hy-Vee experience working in both the Watertown and Brookings businesses.

“You bet,” she says about her helpful smile. “How you treat customers is how they’ll treat you. They always appreciate helpfulness with a smile.”

Anderson says, “You’ll enjoy your job better if you smile. Our boss always tells us to try to have fun at work.”

“We just ask that our employees treat every customer as if they were a guest,” said Dell.

While the profit Hy-Vee receives from its student employees is obvious, the benefits they, in turn, obtain are also as numerous.

“I take pride in knowing that I am paying my way through college,” Anderson said. “Going to school full-time and working full-time keeps my priorities straight.”

“Learning the importance of pulling your own weight and proving to people that I can be dedicated and responsible are the greatest rewards,” said Stroschein.

Sutton, however, says the greatest benefit isn’t about him. “The best satisfaction is watching an employee excel after you’ve trained them.”

Working in a store full of food, it’s understandable that a hungry college student can get overwhelmed at times. You would think stacking, bagging and ringing up food all day would be enough to drive a person crazy.

“I’m hungry all the time,” said Sutton. “I see various things throughout the day that look good and end up changing my meal plans several times.”

Anderson tries to avoid the bakery if he can. “That sweet smell and those chocolate rolls,” he says enthusiastically.

Stroschein, however, has a different story. “Sometimes I get hungry, but other times I see something and just think, how can people eat that stuff?”

So once again, the legacy of the smiles in every aisle lives on through the dedicated and driven SDSU students.

“Now that I’m here, I’m glad. It’s like a family!” said Stroschein.

“SDSU students are a solid asset to our store. I would not want to operate this business without their help,” said Dell.

No matter what you prefer to call it, Wal-Mart, Wally World, the store of perpetual browsing, it’s certain that the Brookings Wal-Mart is by far one of the most vital necessities to the South Dakota State student.

Wal-Mart, among Hy-Vee and the university, is one of the top student employee businesses in Brookings. They employ, on average, anywhere between sixty and seventy SDSU students every year.

“Students vary between part-time and full-time,” says Dennis Tramp, Wal-Mart store manager. “Typically our student employees work roughly twenty hours a week.”

Tramp sees employing SDSU students as a valuable asset to his business. They’re great listeners, hard workers and now with the record attendance, plentiful.

“The students bring maturity, tons of energy, and creative new ideas,” says Jackie Weiss, Wal-Mart personnel manager. “They’re great with the customers.”

Isaiah Wadell, a third year, history education major, has been working at Wal-Mart for over half a year as a stockman, or in other words, the guy with the brawns.

“I like my job because it always keeps me busy, I always have something to do, like carry out or stock shelves.”

Wadell joined the Wal-Mart team because he saw it as a reliable job.

“I applied because I knew it wouldn’t just last for the summer. With the rumors of a new Wal-Mart Superstore, I saw room for expansion.”

Tabitha Docktor, a second year apparel merchandising major, chose to apply at Wal-Mart just over a year ago because she wanted experience in her field. As a sales floor associate, she is responsible for a particular department, which requires her to make sure shelves are fully stocked, put away returns and handle customer questions.

“My job has helped me further my knowledge about clothing design, the types of materials used and the way items are constructed.”

She also says that a job has improved her time management and has required her to keep her priorities straight.

Christopher Larson, also applied at Wal-Mart for the benefits of his major. A senior business economics major, Larson holds the title of Support Manager, or as he likes to describe it, “I’m the assistant to the assistant managers.”

He began his career at Wal-Mart two and a half years ago and is now currently working full-time.

“My position has allowed for a lot of management experience. I plan to continue working here and hopefully be promoted as an assistant manager, which will permit a larger leadership role.”

In a shopping center so sizeable, employees are bound to run into odd situations, nearly all of which they deemed most likely inappropriate for this article, however, a few common day-to-day occurrences never seem to grow old.

“You wouldn’t believe how many people can’t find their cars,” says Wadell. “They will just stand there bewildered or wander around the parking lot while I trail behind with a TV in my arms.”

Docktor has been surprised many times by little children who hide in the racks of clothing and then jump out when she walks by.

All of the students agreed that the best part of their job was the chance to meet new people and how well their co-workers work together.

“All of the employees, from college-age to the older folks, make the experience worthwhile,” says Docktor.

In a city like Brookings, population 18,500, with over 10,000 of those being SDSU students, many businesses focus on catering to the needs and wants of the college community. That is Garner Hanson’s goal with the opening of his new dance club, The Lodo.

Located at 408 Main Avenue, The Lodo has proven it can hold its own against the countless other weekend activities for students.

Hanson’s original idea was to provide a diverse atmosphere downtown for the non-bar-going crowd. According to many students, he has succeeded.

“It’s a great place to meet people and have a good time,” says Dani Sonnicksen, a freshman from Winnebago, Minn.

The 18-and-over club offers a wide variety of activities including pool, foosball, darts and dancing. They also operate a concession-style snack bar including non-alcoholic beverages.

Live bands can be heard taking the stage Wednesday nights, while a DJ plays music Thursday through Saturday.

The Lodo has become increasingly popular for its weekly special events. Fridays, The Lodo hosts its own pool tournament open to the public and hosts ladies night with reduced admission for all women.

Every three weeks, the foam dance becomes the main attraction, along with a new favorite, Jell-O wrestling.

During football season, after each home game, SDSU students can receive reduced admission with their student ID.

Eric Covrig, current manager of The Lodo, believes strongly in the club’s growing popularity.

“We wanted to have a dance atmosphere with something for everyone”, Covrig said. “We wanted to give students a place where you can just go and hang out.”

The Lodo is open every Thursday through Saturday from 8:30 pm to 2:00 am.

#1.886733:397247201.jpg:Lodo.jpg:Whether dancing to live bands or DJs, students enjoy dancing at the new over 18 dance club downtown Brookings.: