BROOKINGS- The South Dakota Board of Regents, meeting today on the University of South Dakota campus, gave awards to two student organizations from USD. President Harvey C. Jewett presented the awards on the Board's behalf. "The two groups honored today are examples of the diversity on the campuses of South Dakota's public universities. These organizations are a positive influence not only to their members, but the entire student body," said Jewett.

The award for academic excellence was presented to the USD Taiwanese Student Association. Beyond the social aspects of meeting with other Taiwanese students, the Association leaders provide assistance to new students in making their arrival at USD as easy as possible. Members of the Taiwanese Student Association (TSA) offer help to new students from Taiwan with housing, scheduling, and enrollment practices. TSA also forms study groups and provides tutors for students. For the past five years members of TSA have served the USD campus by teaching cultural enrichment classes to the students attending summer programs. Instruction is not limited to the language, but extends into the sharing of music, dance, art and writing. Taiwanese students and members of the USD faculty share art pieces and other memorabilia with high school students visiting the campus. During the Christmas/New Year break in 2000, members of the TSA assisted the South Dakota Center for Education of the Gifted (housed on the USD campus) in making a cultural tour to Taiwan. The TSA assisted in making the travel, hotel, host family housing, and meal arrangements for the group.

The award for organizational leadership was presented to the USD Native American Law Student Association. The South Dakota Native American Law Student Association (NALSA) represents six tribes, including four South Dakota tribes. Accomplishments of the NALSA have included the hosting of two successful fundraisers, reinstatement of the USD chapter with the national NALSA, conducting a National Minority Law Student Recruitment Month campaign, and providing outreach to newly admitted Native American students and prospective students. Currently the organization is working to create internship opportunities for Summer 2001, establishing regular committees and developing a new website. Future plans of the USD NALSA involve the planning of an Indian Law Symposium, representing USD at the 2002 National NALSA Moot Court competition, fundraising for scholarships, and creating additional summer internship positions for law students in regional Reservation court systems.