Central ND News

Debora Dragseth, Emerita Professor of Leadership at Dickinson State University, was recognized on September 14 for her achievements in writing and photography. She received five national awards from the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW), a longstanding professional communications organization.

Her most notable honor was a second-place national award for The Heritage Magazine: For Alumni and Friends, which is published by the DSU Heritage Foundation. The 2024 edition of this magazine has also been awarded first place in the Publications Magazine category by the National Association of Government Communicators’ Blue Pencil and Gold Screen Awards.

Helen Plotkin, NFPW National Contest Director, commented on the competitiveness of this year’s contest. “Even an honorable mention was difficult to win in this year’s contest,” Plotkin said during the awards banquet. She explained that entries had to secure a first-place award at the state level or in the At-Large contest before advancing to national judging.

Dragseth’s recognitions include:

- Second Place for publication editing with The Heritage Magazine: For Alumni and Friends.

- Third Place in photography for her image Little Missouri River in the North Dakota Badlands.

- Third Place for columns with Lessons in Business: Paws and Effect.

- Honorable Mention for personality profile with A Life Remembered: Tyler Plummer’s Tree Flourishes at DSU.

- Honorable Mention for specialty articles with Lefse Diplomacy: Using the Power of Food to Bind Families Together.

“I am grateful to the DSU Heritage Foundation, North Dakota Monitor, and The Heart River Voice for giving me platforms to share my work,” Dragseth said. “It’s extremely rewarding to be part of such a supportive community of communicators in my home state.”

The NFPW was established in 1937 and represents professionals working across journalism, broadcasting, digital media, public relations, marketing, photography, and related fields. Its mission includes promoting press freedom and professional standards nationwide.

Reflecting on her recognition, Dragseth stated:

“NFPW has a long tradition of honoring excellence in journalism and communications, so to be recognized by my peers on a national stage affirms the value of my work. What makes these awards especially meaningful is the breadth of the recognition, from storytelling to editing to photography. I’m proud to be part of an organization that has championed press freedom and professional standards since 1937, and deeply honored to have my work counted among the best in the country.”

In addition to her recent awards, Dragseth is co-author of two new books celebrating Dickinson State University football history: 100 Years of DSU Football and An Alphabet Book for Little Blue Hawks.