SDSU student awarded Kranz-Argus scholarship

South Dakota State University senior Greta Goede has been awarded a David Kranz-Argus Leader Media Journalism Scholarship for the 2023-24 academic year.

Goede, a journalism major with a criminology minor from Waverly, Minnesota, will serve as the editor-in-chief of The Collegian student newspaper beginning in August. She is completing a news reporter internship at Rapid City television station KOTA this summer.

Goede’s scholarship is for $2,000.

Scholarships totaling up to $5,000 are awarded annually to South Dakota journalism students in memory of David Kranz, who worked in journalism for more than 40 years before retiring from the Argus Leader in 2010.

Kranz was a 1968 South Dakota State journalism and political science graduate and was tabbed as a Distinguished Alumnus in 2008. Kranz died in 2018, and the scholarship helps carry on his memory and legacy through an endowment.

Scholarship applicants must have completed at least one year in a journalism program at a South Dakota college or university and must have earned a 2.5 GPA in the previous semester.

“This is the first time the scholarship has been offered since 2019, but we’re hoping this continues to be a long-term opportunity for aspiring South Dakota journalists,” said Shelly Conlon, Argus Leader news director.

Jim Helland, instructor, student media adviser and internship coordinator in SDSU’s School of Communication and Journalism, said Greta is driven to take on tough, challenging stories.

“She is a newshound who is eager to report the government-related stories that can be more complicated than many other news stories,” Helland said. “She likes to tell people about how their leaders' actions are affecting them. They are not the easiest stories to do, but someone has to do them to keep people informed.”

Conlon said the scholarship committee decided Goede was a great candidate for the award. “It’s clear she showed a long-term interest in the field, and her work was straightforward and focused. Her perfect GPA also played a role in the decision,” she said.

Goede said she’s still deciding what exactly is in store for her after college. She plans to pursue investigative journalism, no matter what field—print or broadcast—she enters.

“I have always been interested in writing, but looking into stories and writing about the truth is really what pushed me toward journalism. I have always been a journalism major and knew I wanted to pursue the career even when I was in high school,” Goede said.

“I am just looking forward to a great year at The Collegian and incorporating more things into our student media like Jacks News. I'm excited for the year ahead and working with more students who are interested in journalism, as well as preparing myself more for my future career.”