Debora Dragseth, Emerita Professor of Leadership at Dickinson State University, received recognition on September 14 for her outstanding writing and photography. She earned five national awards from the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW), one of the country’s oldest and most respected professional communications organizations.
At the top of her recognitions was a 2nd Place national award for The Heritage Magazine: For Alumni and Friends, published by the DSU Heritage Foundation. The 2024 edition of the magazine has earned wide acclaim this year. It also recently received First Place in the Publications Magazine category of the prestigious Blue Pencil and Gold Screen Awards from the National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC), further cementing its reputation for excellence in storytelling, design, and alumni engagement.
NFPW National Contest Director Helen Plotkin noted that the 2025 competition drew a record number of entries. “Even an honorable mention was difficult to win in this year’s contest,” Plotkin said during the awards banquet. To qualify for national judging, all entries had to win a first-place award at the state level or in the At-Large contest.
Dragseth’s award-winning entries highlight her versatility across multiple formats:
- 2nd Place – Publication edited by entrant for The Heritage Magazine: For Alumni and Friends.
- 3rd Place – Photography for her image Little Missouri River in the North Dakota Badlands.
- 3rd Place – Columns for Lessons in Business: Paws and Effect.
- Honorable Mention – Personality Profile for A Life Remembered: Tyler Plummer’s Tree Flourishes at DSU.
- Honorable Mention – Specialty Articles for 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.”
Founded in 1937, the National Federation of Press Women represents thousands of professionals (including both women and men) in journalism, broadcasting, digital media, public relations, marketing, photography, and related fields. The organization is dedicated to promoting press freedom, professional standards, and the advancement of communicators nationwide.
Reflecting on her recognition, Dragseth said:
“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.”
Dragseth is also co-author of two newly released books celebrating Dickinson State University’s football heritage: 100 Years of DSU Football and the companion children’s book An Alphabet Book for Little Blue Hawks.