Dakota State University students walking around campus

Preparation + opportunity = success

That's the DSU equation. We're a four-year university with nationally recognized programs, cutting-edge facilities, and the brightest thinkers. But we're also a tight-knit, inclusive community. Small class sizes mean hands-on training and individualized attention. All this with an affordable, public school price that's among the best values in the region.

Majors & Degrees

Schroeder wins honors at brookings arts contest

February 6, 2018

“Life is beautiful, and photography can capture that beauty,” said Dakota State University student Emily Schroeder. “Just one photo can capture a thousand words.”

Schroeder is a senior at DSU, majoring in graphic design, with a photography minor. Three of her photos were honored last month at the annual Brookings Arts Council Photography Competition. Sioux Falls photographer Shalista Anderson was this year’s judge.

Schroeder won first place for her black and white image titled “Abandoned,” a photograph of a weathered farm home. She won third place in the color photo division for her piece “Mason Jars.” She also was awarded the online People’s Choice digital image award for her piece titled "Tulips.”

“There are an infinite number of reasons why I love photography,” Schroeder said, “and it seems each time I capture an image, that number increases by at least one more reason.”

A native of Watertown, S.D., Schroeder said, “When I’m capturing a photo, I see the world and light in a whole new way. I am able to express myself through my camera and use it as an extension of myself to tell stories that people want to hear and that I want to cherish forever.”