Four to receive honorary doctorates at SDSU commencement

Four individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to South Dakota and beyond will receive honorary doctorates from South Dakota State University and the South Dakota Board of Regents at the university’s 138th commencement May 4 at the Dacotah Bank Center in Brookings. 

The highest honor bestowed by the regents and university, an honorary doctorate is meant to pay tribute to worthy individuals. The doctorate recognizes the efforts of talented, selfless and energetic individuals who have performed beyond the call of duty in service to humankind. 

An honorary doctorate may be granted to an individual who has done at least one of the following: 

• Achieved distinction in his or her profession. 
• Rendered outstanding contribution or service to the people of South Dakota. 
• Made a recognized scholarly or service contribution as a regional, national or international figure. 

“We take great pride in recognizing these distinguished individuals with honorary doctorates for their many accomplishments and important contributions to higher education, the state of South Dakota, the region and beyond,” said Dennis Hedge, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Each has had distinguished careers that have had a positive impact on thousands of people. They are very deserving, and SDSU considers it a true honor to be able to recognize them.” 

The recipients of the honorary degrees to be recognized at the three commencement ceremonies on May 4 include: 

10 a.m. ceremony
James Faulstich 
Honorary Doctor of Science 

Faulstich and his wife, Carol, own and operate Daybreak Ranch near Highmore. Faulstich is a longtime advocate for and practitioner of natural resource management and applying a holistic approach to regenerative land management, with an emphasis on soil health, wetlands and native grass management. 

Faulstich has shared what he has learned from his experience with numerous groups, both on the ranch and at conferences and events in numerous states and Washington, D.C. He was a speaker at the White House Conference on Conservation and hosted U.S. Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar at the ranch when the secretary visited South Dakota. 

Faulstich has received more than 20 local, state and national awards for his leadership in agriculture and natural resource conservation. He was recruited to serve on the national Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish and Wildlife Resources, serves on numerous boards representing production agriculture, and improves the land for future generations. He was instrumental in bringing the Leopold Conservation Award to South Dakota to recognize landowners who excel in natural resource conservation and was a leader in starting several landowner-led conservation organizations. 

Faulstich is a 1968 graduate of Highmore High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture from South Dakota State University in 1972. He was selected for a Distinguished Achievement in Agriculture Award from the Honor Society of Gamma Sigma Delta in 2011 and the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2015, both from South Dakota State University. 

2 p.m. ceremony
John Stiegelmeier
Honorary Doctor of Public Service 

Stiegelmeier retired as the winningest head coach in South Dakota State University football history after winning the 2022 Football Championship Subdivision National Championship. Coach “Stig,” a Selby native, returned to his alma mater in 1988 as secondary coach and recruiting coordinator. In 1990, he was named defensive coordinator before being elevated in 1996 to head coach. 

The Jackrabbits never had a losing season in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in the 15 seasons they have played in what has proven to be the toughest FCS conference in the country. Stiegelmeier led the Jackrabbits to the FCS playoffs 12 times and finished his career with a 199-112 record in 26 seasons. 

In 2022, Stiegelmeier was named the recipient of the Eddie Robinson Award as the top coach in the FCS, the FCS Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association, the Bruce Craddock Missouri Valley Football Conference Coach of the Year and was an American Football Coaches Association FCS Regional Coach of the Year. 

Stiegelmeier and his wife, Laurie, have been generous supporters of organizations like Feeding South Dakota, and Stiegelmeier serves on the Fellowship of Christian Athletes state board of directors. He recently accepted a position as a senior adviser for the SDSU Foundation. 

6 p.m. ceremony
Joseph Marshall III
Honorary Doctor of Letters and Literature 

Marshall, a historian, writer, teacher, craftsman, administrator, actor and public speaker, was born and raised on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation in his maternal grandparents’ traditional native household. His first language is Lakota, and he also learned the ancient tradition of oral storytelling. 

Marshall taught at the high school and university levels and developed curriculum. Now he writes full time, with much of his award-winning work based on Lakota oral history and culture. He’s published 15 nonfiction works, three novels, a collection of short stories and essays and two children’s books, was contributing author in five other publications and has written several screenplays. 

Marshall has appeared in, contributed to, and served as a technical adviser on several television documentaries, movies and mini-series. He practices primitive Lakota archery, having learned from his maternal grandfather the art of hand-crafting bows and arrows, and is also a specialist in wilderness survival. 

One of his most treasured and meaningful experiences was helping found Sinte Gleska University (1971) on the Rosebud Reservation. In recent years he was an adjunct instructor there and at Lower Brule Community College. He has developed a leadership seminar based on the leadership lessons of Crazy Horse. 

Marshall has 16 grandchildren and divides his time between the Rosebud Reservation and New Mexico. 

Donald Montileaux
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters 

Montileaux (Oglala Lakota) is a master ledger artist and, following in the footsteps of his forefathers, has rekindled ledger art with striking images that capture the unique Lakota way of life. 

Montileaux was born in Pine Ridge. He received his formal art training at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Montileaux interned under noted artist Oscar Howe at the University of South Dakota, along with the late Herman Red Elk, who became a close friend and mentor. 

These influences and his own drive have taken his art on a dramatic journey. With work spanning the globe, numerous awards and commissions to date, and his work being represented in numerous private and public collections, Montileaux continues to push the envelope. Always looking forward to new endeavors, he has authored and illustrated children’s books, which have won numerous awards — the Western Writers of American Silver Spur Award in 2015 for “Tasunka A Lakota Horse Legend” along with the Mom’s Choice Award, Moonbeam Award and Aesop Award. In 2017, his second book, “Muskrat and Skunk/Sinkpe na Maka: A Lakota Drum Story,” was released. 

In 2014 he was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame as a Champion for Excellence, Arts and Entertainment/Artist. 

In 2021, he received the Western America Award for Lifetime Achievements from the Center for Western Studies, Augustana University. In November 2021, the received he first Living Treasure Award of the Lakota Nation in Rapid City. 

Find more information on spring 2024 graduation ceremonies and activities online.