4 Broadcaster Press April 24, 2018 www.broadcasteronline.com Gov. Daugaard Announces MyPI Empowers Youth With Economic Development Awards Disaster Preparedness Training At 2018 Annual Conference SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) hosted its annual conference in Sioux Falls April 11 and April 12, closing the two-day event with Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s reception and economic development awards banquet. Approximately 250 business, education and development leaders from across South Dakota attended the conference to ‘Think Big’ in 2018. Among the award recipients for achievements and contributions to economic development in South Dakota were two individuals and a community. Gov. Daugaard presented awards to Dr. Christian Widener of Rapid City, S.D., Jim Fedderson, Mayor of Beresford, S.D., and the community of Beresford. The Entrepreneur of the Year award was presented to Dr. Christian Widener, co-founder and chief technology officer of VRC Metal Systems in Rapid City. VRC manufactures cold spray equip- ment that bonds metallic powders to metal surfaces. The high-pressure system deposits similar and dissimilar metals on most metallic surfaces in some previously impossible heat sensitive situations. VRC’s supersonic cold spray equipment enables innovative solutions for repair, additive manufacturing and coatings for many industries. “A nationally recognized expert in cold spray technology, Dr. Widener has more than 60 publications and multiple patents because of his research and development work in advanced materials processing technologies,” said Gov. Daugaard. “VRC’s successful strategy sets the precedent for all Giant Vision competitors, making Dr. Widener an ideal choice for Entrepreneur of the Year.” The final two awards, the Excellence in Economic Development Award, and the Community of the Year were presented to Beresford Mayor Jim Fedderson and the community of Beresford, respectively. Treat yourself. BROOKINGS, S.D. - Disaster can strike a family or community at any time. Are you prepared? “2017 was an exceptionSDSU Extension, is working to empowal year for Mayor Fedderer South Dakota teens, their families and son and the entire Berescommunities through MyPI. My Preparford community,” said Gov. edness Initiative or MyPI, is a two-time Daugaard. “Without a paid national award-winning youth disaster economic developer in preparedness/youth leadership program Beresford, Mayor Fedderdeveloped by Mississippi State Extension son volunteers much of his and adopted by SDSU Extension. time to shepherd projects "This hands-on training program is like Hendrix Genetics, designed to get teens to take ownership the commercial turkey of their preparedness plans, so they can hatchery that announced take an active role in protecting thema $25 million investment selves and those close to them," exlast summer, and Century plained Ryan Akers, MyPI National Project Custom Molding, a plastic- Director and Associate Extension Profesmolding manufacturer that sor with Mississippi State Extension. acquired a 20,000-squareMyPI training will begin mid-2018 in foot facility. Clay County and Beadle, Brown, Hard“Beresford has proven ing, Minnehaha and Pennington counties. to be a progressive comLocal SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program munity, continuing its Advisors and certified MyPI Instructors investment in the future. will be providing the training and overI commend Mayor Fedsight to interested youth. derson and all the commuDeveloped in 2013, following severe nity leaders in Beresford storms and devastating flooding in rural for their hard work and communities throughout Mississippi, the sincere commitment to in- program is designed to train teens in sevcreasing workforce oppor- eral basic areas of disaster preparedness tunities and improving the and then equip them with the necessary quality of life for everyone skill set to train seven families they know in their community. It’s and help them prepare. that kind of steadfast com"Many times when disasters occur mitment that earns you whether it be a natural disaster, house recognition as an excellent fire or car accident - many youth think economic developer and they are supposed to stay out of the way Community of the Year, in and wait for professional help to arrive. the same year.” Those first moments are critical. While we certainly do not train our teens to self-deploy, we do provide them with the skill set to assist those in need prior to professional first responder arrival," Akers explained. "A quarter of our nation's population is under the age of 18 ... this program shows them that responding to a disaster is not necessarily an "adult thing," and preparedness certainly is not," Akers continued. "We all have a place in helping secure our communities and our teens are empowered when they feel that they are a part of the solution, instead of an unused We’ll help you find that special something. resource or barrier." MyPI provides teens with basic skills to be safe before, during and after a disaster in numerous areas of preparedness including: basic disaster preparedness, fire safety and utility control; basic disaster medical operations; light search and rescue; disaster psychology, among others. Through MyPI, students complete a technology track, career track, disaster simulation. They also have the option to receive CPR and AED certification. MyPI also gives youth the option to gain additional training in specific types of natural disasters which may be common in their region of the country. Once MyPI program was proven successful in Mississippi, Akers began introducing it to other states by training extension personnel, who train teens, who then assist families and friends in their communities become better prepared for emergencies and disasters. South Dakota is the twelfth state to receive a MyPI grant. Through the program's capstone leadership program, for every 25 teens graduated, 175 households will have enhanced preparedness measures through the development of emergency supply kits and family communication plans. By the time they graduate, teens will make a widespread community impact in addition to gaining leadership characteristics, civic responsibility, self-esteem and empowerment. In 2014 and 2017, MyPI received the FEMA Individual Community Preparedness Division's national award for most outstanding youth preparedness program. "The idea is not to make youth completely self-sufficient, but to give youth the skill set to do basic things until more help arrives and so they are not part of the problem," said John Keimig, the SDSU Extension Youth Safety Field Specialist, who serves as the MyPI program coordinator in South Dakota. This work is supported by the Smith Lever Special Needs Grant program, Grant no. 2017-41210-27102/project accession no. 1014022 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. State Historical Society Presenting Highest Honor To Late Patricia Adam Of Pierre PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota State Historical Society will be honoring the late Patricia Adam of Pierre with its highest honor on Saturday, April 28, during the annual state history conference in Rapid City. Adam will be the recipient of the Robinson Memorial Award, one of the Governor’s Awards for History. Named after former state historians Doane and Will G. Robinson, the Robinson is the highest award given in the field of history in South Dakota, recognizing a lifetime of outstanding and meritorious service. Adam was recognized for her years of service and leadership to the State Historical Society. Pat, as she preferred to be called, died in 2016. She was a long-time member of the State Historical Society, serving on the • AUTOMOTIVE COLLISION REPAIR • PAINT • FRAMEWORK • GLASS REPLACEMENT HOURS: M-F 9AM-6PM SAT 9AM-12PM 1205 CARR STREET • VERMILLION • 605.670.0471 BlainesBodyShop@gmail.com - ROOFING - Asphault Shingle - Steel - Flat - EPDM - SIDING - LP Smart - Cement - Vinyl - Stone - GUTTERS - Heavy Duty Seamless - Gutter Guard - EXTERIOR PAINTING Sherwin-Williams Pro STORM RESTORATION - HAIL OR WIND Certified Installation Experts Call Steve or Karl 605-595-7809 • Vermillion, SD Board of Trustees from 1991 to 2009 and as president from 1996 to 2009. She also served on the South Dakota Historical Society Foundation’s Board of Directors from 2000 to 2014, the society’s nonprofit partner. “Pat was a keen promoter for the work of the State Historical Society,” said Jay D. Vogt, society director. Four other individuals and one organization are also being recognized by the State Historical Society with Governor’s Awards for their efforts in preserving state history. The award winners include Pierce and Barbara McDowell of Sioux Falls, Kenneth Wetz of Newell, Melvin Fathke of Avon, Margaret Preston of Sioux Falls and the Charles Nolin Monument Restoration/Revitalization Committee of Sturgis. “We are pleased to give out these awards,” said Vogt. “These are just a few of the shining examples of how people across the state are helping us in our efforts to promote, nurture and sustain South Dakota history.” McDowells are an individual award winner. They are being recognized for their personal fight for historic preservation from 2015-2017. www.precisionlawncaresd.com Their fight came to an end Mowing / Aeration in 2017 with a landmark Landscaping opinion from the South Grass Seeding Dakota Supreme Court Fertilizer / Weed Control that protects not only the Spring & Fall Cleanup McKennan Park Historic Hedge Trimming / Irrigation District in Sioux Falls, but all historic properties in South Dakota. Because of the McDowell decision, South Dakota’s historic properties will receive proper consideration under state law. Scot Vogel 605.202.0555 FREE ESTIMATES OAKWOOD APARTMENTS 605.624.9557 Smoke Free • Rent adjusted to income • Large 2 & 3 bedroom w/AC • O? street parking • Large closets - one walk-in • On-site coin laundry • Playground equipment • Just Blocks from Campus, High School & Prentis Park 1200 E. Clark Street • Vermillion, SD Another individual award will be presented to Wetz, who is a leader of the Butte County Historical Society and is passionate about preserving both Butte County and South Dakota history. A former history teacher and mayor of Newell, Wetz helps plan Butte County’s annual caravan tour, one- or two-day tours across the region and state. His latest project is marking the Fort Pierre-toDeadwood Trail west of the Cheyenne River. Fathke is the 2018 History Teacher of the Year. He has been teaching South Dakota history for 39 years, the last 19 in Avon. Fathke provides a variety of activities in his lessons that bring history to life for his students. He is also well-known for bringing student teachers as well as high school interns interested in history education into his classroom to give them teaching experience. Preston is the recipient of the 2018 Herbert S. Schell Award for the best article in Volume 47 of “South Dakota History,” the State Historical Society’s award-winning quarterly journal. The Schell Award is named for Herbert S. Schell, an historian and long-time University of South Dakota professor. Preston’s article, “Three Catholics and a Congregationalist: Four Women and the Founding of a Medical Industry in South Dakota,” appeared in the Fall 2017 issue of the journal. The article explores how a group of Roman Catholic nuns stepped in to carry out the vision of philanthropist Helen McKennan for a hospital in early-day Sioux Falls. Together, they created what today is the largest facility in the Avera Health system, which is still run by the Presentation and Benedictine Sisters. The Nolin Monument Committee wins the organizational award. They are a group of volunteers who worked to solicit funds, research materials, acquire grants and in-kind labor, and hire and supervise construction companies in order to preserve the monument near the Regional Health Sturgis Hospital. The monument memorializes horseback mail carrier Charles “Red” Nolin, who died under mysterious circumstances in 1876. The Saturday awards luncheon is part of this year’s State Historical Society annual history conference, taking place Friday and Saturday, April 27-28 in Rapid City. This year’s theme is “Infinite Variety: Past, Present, Future.” Registrations are still being accepted. Call 605-773-6000 for more information or visit www.history. sd.gov. We’re all ears. Your opinion is something we always want to hear. Questions? Call, write us or contact Comments? us via e-mail and let us Story Ideas? know how we are doing. 201 W. Cherry •Vermillion, SD 57069 605-624-4429 • classifieds@plaintalk.net