Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska, and Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences in West Des Moines, Iowa, have announced a new partnership designed to create streamlined pathways for students pursuing advanced degrees in health care and biomedical sciences.

Effective Jan. 1, this collaboration establishes formal interview guarantees and dual-degree programs across a wide range of medical disciplines. Under the new agreement, CSC students who meet specific academic benchmarks — including GPA and standardized test requirements — are guaranteed interviews for several of DMU’s competitive graduate programs. This includes opportunities in:

• Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

• Doctor of Podiatric Medicine

• Doctor of Physical Therapy

• Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

• PhD in Biomedical Sciences

A highlight of the partnership is the 3+3 program for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD). This pathway allows qualified CSC students to begin their studies at DMU after their junior year, concurrently earning credit toward both their undergraduate degree at CSC and their doctorate at DMU. Additionally, one seat in the OTD program is reserved annually for the most competitive applicant from CSC.

Similar concurrent credit opportunities are available for students interested in the Master of Public Health and Master of Health Care Administration programs, allowing up to 22 credit hours to be transferred back to CSC.

“Our partnership with Chadron State reflects a shared commitment between our two schools to support student success and address the growing demand for highly skilled health care professionals,” said Kimberly Brown, PhD, MEd, vice president for academic and student affairs at DMU. “We are committed to the development of quality programs and services that benefit our students and the broader health care community.”

Candidates must maintain strong academic standing, typically requiring science and cumulative GPAs of 2.8 to 3.5, depending on the degree program. The agreement is set to remain in effect through Sept. 30, 2030, with options for future extensions.

"Chadron State College has a strong reputation for graduating students who are well-prepared for success in the health professions,” said CSC Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Kimberly Paddock-O’Reilly. “We are delighted to partner with DMU to provide new pathways for our graduates wishing to develop into highly competent and compassionate health professionals who will make a difference in the communities they serve.”

For more information about DMU’s programs and admissions requirements, visit dmu.edu. To learn more about Chadron State College, visit csc.edu.

Broussard named Student of the Month

CHADRON – Chadron State College student Gabriel Broussard has been chosen as the Project Strive/TRiO Student of the Month for January 2026.

Broussard is a junior from Aurora, Colorado, studying business administration with a minor in marketing. He is also a wide receiver for the Eagles’ football team.

CSC has felt like home to Broussard since he first visited campus. He was originally nervous coming from a city to a small town but quickly saw the benefits of a tight-knit community, like Chadron.

“The people here are great. Everyone cares about you; they want to see you win and they want to see you grow and succeed,” Broussard said.

He plans to attend a police academy and become a state trooper after earning his degree. While shadowing a Nebraska sheriff who is also a family friend, Broussard discovered his love for the fast pace and excitement of the job.

“He was the whole inspiration for me. I got to see how everything goes down: the scary stuff, the cool stuff, and helping people out. All of it resonated with me,” he said.

Broussard has started the police academy application process, hoping to take the next steps in securing his career this summer.

Among the faculty at CSC, Broussard has developed a connection with Associate Professor Markus Jones. Although Broussard was only enrolled in a few writing classes with Jones, his impact was long-lasting.  

“He was more than a teacher. He really cared about me,” he said.

As a first-generation college student, Broussard finds Project Strive a helpful resource. Particularly, he enjoys having a place to get away from any chaos to focus and study in the basement of the King Library.  

“Going to college, I wanted to make sure that I was doing everything right. Project Strive provided that guidance,” Broussard said. “They are people you can talk to and trust.”

Chadron State College’s Project Strive/TRiO program, located in the lower level of the King Library, is an academic enrichment program committed to help students succeed. Project Strive also focuses on career exploration, cultural and social enrichment, and self-awareness. To be eligible for the program, a student must be one of the following: A first-generation student where neither parent has a four-year degree, meet low-income status based on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services criteria, or have a documented disability. For more information, visit https://www.csc.edu/projectstrive/.

Gehlhausen Named RMAC Wrestler of the Week

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Chadron State men's wrestling made it two consecutive RMAC Wrestlers of the Week, with 184-pounder Keegan Gehlhausen earning the latest honor from the conference office on Tuesday.

After injuries slowed Gehlhausen in the early part of the RMAC season, the reigning national runner-up has been victorious in all four RMAC duals he has competed in. This past week, the redshirt senior took his dominance to a new level with performances against Western Colorado and Colorado Mesa. 

Last Thursday, Gehlhausen pinned WCU's Erik Anderson in just 1:22. The fall was a vital six-pointer for Chadron State in what wound up being a narrow loss to the Mountaineers, but Gehlhausen's bonus-point result flipped momentum as the Eagles turned a 17-7 deficit after seven matches into an 18-17 lead after nine matches. 

On Saturday against Colorado Mesa, Gehlhausen handled the Mavericks' Noah O'Dougherty 17-4 for a major decision win. Gehlhausen tallied five takedowns plus the riding time point, scoring at least one takedown in all three periods, and only allowed O'Dougherty to score on escapes. 

Gehlhausen is 12-2 this season and is a perfect 5-0 in duals and 5-0 against RMAC wrestlers. With this award, Gehlhausen has taken home an RMAC Wrestler of the Week award in two consecutive seasons after previously winning on November 26, 2024. 

He is the fourth Chadron State wrestler to win the conference's weekly award in 2025-26, joining Quade Smith (November 11), Hunter Jacobsen (November 18) and reigning winner Mason Villwok (February 3). Chadron State's four winners this season are the most in the league – no other school has more than two.

The Eagles are idle until the NCAA regional tournament on November 28 in Golden, Colorado, where Gehlhausen will seek to defend his regional title from 2024-25.