USF Alumni Association

Four smiling people are posing together outdoors. Three are wearing matching purple football jerseys with "The COD" and different numbers, while the fourth person, dressed in black, has "Cougars Football" on their shirt. One holds a metal tumbler. They appear to be enjoying a sunny day.

Banner graphic that says "We are brave. We are Faithful. We are Cougars."

The mission of the University of Sioux Falls Alumni Association is to connect alumni to the University and each other, while contributing to the excellence and advancement of the University’s mission.

Membership Options

If you think the mission of serving our University and keeping alumni informed and involved is worth supporting, Alumni Association membership is for you! Our alumni and friend community is over 15,000 strong, and we welcome everyone to have the opportunity to come together and show their Cougar Pride.

Young Alumni

$10

USF alumni who received a traditional undergraduate degree within the last 5 years enjoy a discounted individual membership to the association. This membership is active from July 1 - June 30 of each year and we will remind you to renew your membership each June. Or, you can pay for all 5 years up front.

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Annual

$50

Join the association with this yearly household membership. Active from July 1 - June 30 of each year, you can select that this will auto-renew (highly recommended) or we will remind you to renew your annual membership.

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Lifetime

$1,000

Join the association with a membership that supports our University and preserves its great traditions for your lifetime and beyond. Pay once (or over 12 months) and never pay dues again with this household membership.

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Benefits	Young Alumni Members	Annual Members	Lifetime Members
Membership Card	x	x
Personalized Membership Card			x
Alumni Association Monthly Newsletter	x	x	x
Subscription to the USF Magazine	x	x	x
10% off at Cougar Central (20% off the month of your birthday!)	x	x	x
Free or Reduced Rates for All Alumni Association Events	x	x	x
Ticket Discounts (or in some cases complimentary admission) to Many Events	x	x	x
Magnet	x	x	x
Car Decal	x	x	x
Wall Calendar	x	x	x
License Plate Frame		x	x
Alumni Association Jacket			x
Lapel Pin			x
Discounted Campus Facility Rentals			x
Support USF and Grow Your Connection to Our Community of Over 15,000 Alumni	x	x	x

An old, multi-story building constructed with rustic stone features arched windows and a wooden double-door entrance. A purple banner displaying "USF University of Sioux Falls" hangs from a nearby lamppost. Trees with green leaves surround the building.

Alumni Association Board

The USF Alumni Association serves as a vibrant hub for alumni seeking more engagement with USF. It plays a pivotal role in fostering lasting connections with each other and their alma mater. Therefore, the USF Alumni Association Board works to:

Strengthen the engagement of alumni and supporters of our distinctly Christian University.
Contribute to the excellence and advancement of USF by collaborating closely with the Office of Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations.
Enhance and support the professional development and accomplishments of USF graduates
Cultivate a lifelong relationship with the University of Sioux Falls by providing opportunities to engage and support USF through our motto, Culture for Service.

Board members serve as representatives of the USF alumni population, responsible for being the voice for over 15,000 alumni nationwide. The board convenes 3-4 times annually, and each board member has the opportunity to serve up to four terms, each spanning three years.

We invite new members to join the Alumni Association Board every year. If interested, applications for prospective candidates should be submitted by June 1st, with the board electing new members by July 1st. For further details on serving on the Alumni Association Board, please contact alumni@usiouxfalls.edu or call 605-331-6632.

Apply For The Board

Name	Location
Luke Yost '10 - Chair	Minneapolis, MN
Troy Klongerbo '12 – Vice Chair	Sioux Falls, SD
Lisa Gossett '16 - Secretary	Mound, MN
Emily Englund '16	Denver, CO
Doug Hunter '79	Lawrenceville, GA
Al Johnson '64	Sioux Falls, SD
Keri LeBrun '09	Sioux Falls, SD
Jon Peterson '83	Cedar Rapids, IA
Heidi Reynolds '94	Sioux Falls, SD
Hailey Schmidt '17	Sioux Falls, SD
Shane Sandersfeld '96	Johnston, IA
John Solberg '83	Mitchell, SD
David Warsing '09	Sioux Falls, SD

Mentorship Program

The USF Alumni Association is partnering with various academic departments to offer a mentorship program to a limited number of juniors or seniors. USF alumni will be matched with selected students for the mentorship experience. The goal of the mentorship program is for alumni to mentor students as they transition out of college into the workforce or graduate school.

USF students and alumni must complete a short application form to apply for the program. Applications can be submitted anytime, but must be received by September 1 to be considered for the program that year. After the mentor/mentee introductory meeting in September, pairs will set their own monthly meeting times from October through April.

Questions about becoming a mentor? Email alumni@usiouxfalls.edu or call 605-331-6632

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Meeting Schedule

Introductory meetings will occur in September. After the initial introduction, pairs will set their own monthly meeting times from October through April.

A Guide to the First Conversation

Initially, you might feel intimidated, especially if this is the first time you have had a mentor. Remember that the mentor shares a mutual interest in the success of the partnership and is excited to help you. The most important thing in the first conversation is to introduce yourself and build rapport. Before the meeting, think about what you want to share with your mentor and be prepared to talk about the information you wrote on your mentee application form. Consider talking briefly about your family, hometown, USF experience, hobbies, etc. In addition, think about some ways you can learn about your mentor. For example: Ask your mentor to tell you about their work, and ask about the highlights of their time at USF.

Questions/Discussion Topics for Future Meetings

Job Description

Please describe a typical day on the job.
What is the title of the person you report to?
What types of problems do you face in your job?
What are the most satisfying and the most frustrating parts of your work?
What are the trends in your industry and how will they affect careers?

Personal Experience

What are some transitions you have made in your life?
What do you wish you had known before you started your first job?
Tell me about some influential people in your life.
What is the best piece of advice you have received about life, work, school, faith?

Advancement

How did you prepare for your job?
What do you recommend for a person interested in this occupation?
If you could start all over again, what would you do differently?
What additional education/degrees/training are required in this field?
What are the professional organizations in this field?

Lifestyle

What are the pressures you have to manage?
How does this job affect your personal life? For example, what is expected of you outside of normal working hours?

Career Conversations

Discuss your mentor’s talents, skills and interests.
Discuss the mentor’s educational background and the ways it has helped in their work.
Discuss organizational cultures.
Discuss how individual and personal values impact career choices.
Discuss a current event or issue in your field.
Discuss the transition from school to work.

Mentorship Stories

Two women stand in front of a screen that reads "University of Sioux Falls Alumni Association." One woman, wearing a black top and white pants, listens as the other, in a white dress and denim jacket, speaks. They are likely engaged in a discussion or presentation.

A bearded man wearing glasses and a gray cap, dressed in a gray button-up shirt and black pants, sits on a patterned chair in a modern room with wooden accents. He is gesturing with his hands as he speaks.

Two people smiling and standing side by side in front of a mural with black, white, and pink colors. The person on the left is wearing glasses and a black sweatshirt, while the person on the right is wearing a blue "Champion" hoodie. The background includes some plants and decor.

USF Alumni Association