RAPID CITY, SD — Black Hills Special Services Cooperative (BHSSC) in partnership with the Black Hills Area Community Foundation (BHACF) is thrilled to announce the establishment of the Cathy and Ken Vogele Adult Education Fund. This endowed fund will help cover the costs of adult education testing services for adult learners across the Black Hills region.

“We are deeply grateful to the Vogeles for their generosity. Many of our adult learners cannot afford the fees associated with GED® testing, and this fund helps remove a significant barrier. Earning a high school equivalency opens doors to future careers and financial stability, creating long-term impact not only for families, but for workforce development across our community,” said Jeanne McKenna, BHSSC Education and Workforce Development Division Director.

Inspired after reading the Rapid City Journal’s 2025 “Nonprofit Wish List,” local donors, Cathy and Ken Vogele, reached out to the Black Hills Area Community Foundation asking how they could help. BHACF worked closely with BHSSC to understand adult education needs for the region, and the Vogeles stepped forward in a major way to meet those needs. They established the fund with an initial $50,000 gift from their Donor Advised Fund and recommended an additional $3,000 grant to BHSSC to help meet immediate adult learner testing needs in 2026.

Through a matching partnership with the John T. Vucurevich Foundation, BHACF provided an additional $12,500 match, bringing the total value of the endowed fund to more than $62,500 at launch. At this level, annual distributions from the fund will cover approximately one-third of BHSSC’s adult education testing costs each year.

“Cathy and Ken’s generous gift will help Black Hills residents get the credentials they need to take the next step in their educational and professional journeys. The Black Hills Area Community Foundation is grateful to them and to Black Hills Special Services Cooperative for all they do in our community. We are proud to steward these dollars, which will make a positive difference for generations to come,” said Chris Huber, President and CEO of the Black Hills Area Community Foundation.

Community members are encouraged to help grow the Cathy and Ken Vogele Adult Education Fund. Donations can be made in several ways:

By check: Payable to Black Hills Area Community Foundation with “Vogele Adult Education Fund” noted in the memo line and mailed to 243 Founders Park Drive, Suite 102, Rapid City, SD 57701

Online: Donations may be made by credit card online at Cathy & Ken Vogele Adult Education Fund

Additional giving options: Please contact BHACF directly about Qualified Charitable Distributions from an IRA, gifts of appreciated stock, or other planned gifts.

Beginning in 2027, BHSSC will receive an annual notification from BHACF detailing the value of the endowed fund and the amount available for distribution. At that time, BHSSC may choose to receive the funds, reinvest them for future growth, or combine both options. BHACF will continue to match new contributions to the fund at a 4:1 rate, up to an additional $7,500, increasing the fund by as much as $20,000.

SIOUX FALLS, SD — The 2025–26 South Dakota FIRST LEGO League Challenge State Championship was held January 24 at Memorial Middle School in Sioux Falls, bringing together youth, families, coaches, and volunteers from across the state for a day of innovation and teamwork.

Despite extreme temperatures and a delayed start, all 20 qualifying teams competed, and nearly 400 spectators filled the venue to cheer on the students and recognize months of hard work. The event marked the culminating competition of the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge season in South Dakota.

The championship was emceed by Jeremy Haugen and supported by dozens of dedicated volunteers whose efforts ensured a smooth and successful event. Black Hills Special Services Cooperative (BHSSC) served as the Program Delivery Organization for FIRST LEGO League Challenge in South Dakota.

Throughout the day, teams showcased autonomous robot performance, creative problem-solving, research-based innovation projects, and a strong commitment to FIRST Core Values.

Award Highlights

• Champion’s Award: H-BC Brick Wall 2.0 (Hills–Beaver Creek, MN) — recognized for excellence across Robot Game, Robot Design, Innovation Project, and Core Values.
• 2nd Place Champion’s Award: Legendary Squirrells (Sioux Falls, SD)
• Core Values Award: Tra la lego, tra la la (Sioux Falls, SD) — honored for outstanding demonstration of teamwork, inclusion, respect, and gracious professionalism.
• Innovation Project Award: Pickle Dragons H-BC (Hills–Beaver Creek, MN) — recognized for a well-researched, creative solution addressing a real-world problem connected to the season theme.
• Robot Design Award: Nacho Average Team (Flandreau, SD) — honored for strong robot strategy, efficient programming, durability, and mission performance understanding.
• Robot Game Award: Legendary Squirrells (Sioux Falls, SD) — awarded for the highest overall robot game performance and consistency across matches.
• Coach/Mentor of the Year: Isaac Harr (Rapid City, SD) — recognized through nominations from students, parents, fellow coaches, and judges for meaningful mentorship and commitment to FIRST Core Values.
• Rookie Rising Star Team: Tech Team (Aberdeen, SD) — honored as a first-year team showing strong potential through teamwork, growth, and rapid skill development.

As a result of the championship, South Dakota will advance one team to the FIRST World Festival scheduled for April 29–May 2, 2026 in Houston, Texas. Additional South Dakota teams will advance to three invitational events in California, Massachusetts, and Georgia.

“This season demonstrated the incredible creativity and dedication of South Dakota’s youth,” said Billie Jo Bakeberg, BHSSC Learning Specialist. “We’re proud to support a program that empowers students to think critically, work collaboratively, and see themselves as problem-solvers.”

The 2025–26 season marked a strong year for FIRST LEGO League Challenge in South Dakota, with BHSSC stepping into the role of Program Delivery Organization and supporting expanded opportunities for students statewide.

Those interested in getting involved in or supporting FIRST LEGO League in South Dakota are encouraged to contact Billie Jo Bakeberg, Program Delivery Partner, at 605-641-1222.

Billie Jo Bakeberg and Desmond Keller of the CFS Division recently co-authored an article titled Data With a Purpose: Reimagining Family Engagement in Afterschool in a special joint publication by the Afterschool Alliance and the National Afterschool Association (NAA). This latest edition brings together the voices of afterschool professionals, youth leaders, researchers, and community partners who are raising awareness, driving solutions, and strengthening systems that support young people and their communities.

Through storytelling, data, and real-world examples, AfterSchool Today highlights the many ways advocacy takes place every day — both for afterschool programs and within them. The featured article shares key findings from the Out-of-School Time (OST) evaluation work developed by the CFS Division through ESSER funding and illustrates how insights from the pilot project directly informed meaningful changes in how programs engage and partner with families.

Compass Learning Specialists, Sharla Steever and Scott Simpson, have written a new book, Relational Landscaping: The Human Terrain of Organizations.

In today’s fast-paced, results-driven environments, Relational Landscaping offers a timely and transformative invitation: tend to the human terrain. This book reimagines organizations not as static systems of policies and procedures, but as living ecosystems—dynamic, interdependent, and shaped by relationships. When we care for the soil of trust, vulnerability, and connection, the entire landscape of our work begins to flourish.

Structured in two parts—Cultivating the Ground and Reshaping the Garden—this book guides readers through foundational relational practices and the more complex terrain of organizational change, including staff transitions, team mergers, and cultural renewal. Drawing deeply from the CircleBridge framework and tools like the Circle of Trust® and Touchstones©, each chapter includes poetic openings, reflection prompts, and implementation invitations designed to make relational change not only possible—but sustainable.

BHSSC staff in Pierre from the Health and Human Services and Education and Workforce Development divisions volunteered in November at Feeding SD. The staff packed 400 boxes that will be delivered in the central region of the state and bagged 2,100 pounds of onions!

Feeding SD has seen an increase in requests for food assistance in recent weeks. Feeding SD serves over 12,000 families each month through their Mobile Food Distribution sites across the state. Volunteers help extend the reach of the program by donating time to pack the food boxes.

This fall, BHSSC, Compass, and Community & Family Services partnered with SASD, the Cook Center, and the Superintendents Association to host the Fall 2025 Superintendent Academy at the K Bar S Lodge. Twenty-seven superintendents from across South Dakota gathered for two days of professional learning and collaboration.

Compass staff led engaging sessions on AI tools and strategies that superintendents could implement in their districts. Meanwhile, Community & Family Services facilitated a powerful “Poverty Escape Room” experience, where superintendents and their spouses worked through real-world scenarios designed to build understanding and empathy around the challenges families face.

Participants left the Poverty Escape Room experience wanting to replicate the experience for teachers, administrators, and support staff at their own schools and districts. Leaders committed to:

• Working with counselors and social workers to learn more about available resources
• Reviewing desensitization and building empathy among staff
• Training front office staff on the importance of being helpful and friendly
• Reminding school partners that everything they do matters
• Being more cognitive of real-life family situations

Overall, the academy provided an invaluable opportunity for South Dakota’s educational leaders to learn, network with colleagues, and bring fresh ideas back to their communities.

Jeanne McKenna, Education and Workforce Development Division Director, and Gloria Miller, NFJP Program Manager, presented our new video about NFJP in South Dakota, produced by BHSSC Media Services, at the national AFOP Conference this fall.  

We are thrilled to announce that Michael Gleason has been named our Direct Support Professional of the Year!

This prestigious recognition celebrates a DSP at Black Hills Special Services who consistently goes above and beyond in providing compassionate, person-centered support to the people we serve. Mike received an overwhelming number of votes from his peers
this year. He brings heart, skill, integrity, advocacy, and unwavering dedication to every moment of service.

Mike has worked for BHSSC for over 15 years. He has worked as a DSP, Job Coach Developer, and a Special Olympics Coach during his years. Mike’s coworkers commented that he has an exceptional ability to connect with every individual he supports and that he earns the trust and admiration of everyone around him. Other comments are that he is always professional and can be called on for anything, and that he goes above and beyond for the people he supports. He has demonstrated exceptional creativity and problem-solving in challenging situations, and he has inspired his peers and uplifted others in our community with his leadership.

“He’s a true example of what a dedicated DSP should be.” Whether it’s a quiet moment of encouragement or a bold step toward inclusion, Mike reminds us what it truly means to make a difference. 

Mike will be recognized at the Simply the Best celebration in Pierre this fall and at the BHSSC Christmas party. Please join us in celebrating Mike—a shining example of excellence in direct support! Congratulations, Mike!