SCOUTING YESTERDAY: Dakota State's most wired award was two decades in the making

This week in South Dakota history: April 18-24

DSU’s 40,000 square feet MadLabs research facility. Photo: DSU

Twenty-five years ago this week, Dakota State University was ranked as one of the most wired colleges in the United States. Yahoo! Internet Life’s rankings judged campuses on wired classrooms, dormitory equipment, email access and online services among other factors, according to the Argus Leader.

The milestone marked the culmination of a bold transformation begun in the 1980s. Pushed by state leadership and fueled by industry partnerships, the Madison-based college shifted its mission toward computer science and digital innovation at a time when few others dared. That pivotal decision laid the foundation for DSU’s evolution into a nationally respected leader in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and applied research.