BHSU student creates education channel on YouTube for new job during COVID-19

Headshot - Katie Wolff

Katie Wolff, studio art major from

Hettinger, N.D., will earn her degree from

Black Hills State University in December.

She started her first professional job with the

Dahl Arts Center this spring, adapting quickly

to fulfill her role during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Starting a job during the COVID-19 pandemic meant Katie Wolff, studio art major at Black Hills State University, needed to adapt quickly. Katie is the education coordinator at the Dahl Arts Center in Rapid City and was honored with the Spirit of BH award this spring at BHSU.

Katie began working at the Dahl in March, right before Gov. Kristi Noem closed the state’s K-12 schools.

“It’s been a huge process of adaptation and change for everyone at the Dahl. We moved exhibits into an online format and I focused on making online education videos for K-12 students who were learning at home,” says Katie, who is from Hettinger, N.D.

Katie’s free videos on the Art Education with the Dahl Arts Center YouTube page are less than 10-minute-long lessons on origami, sculpting with paper, mixed media watercolor and collage, and more.

Katie will graduate from BHSU in December. During her first day on the job at the Dahl, she was already tapping into her experiences at BHSU in her new role.

“It was a really great feeling to put what I learned at BHSU into practice. I was communicating with art teachers and coordinating classes my first day at the Dahl, just like I did during my mural internship,” says Katie.

From start to finish, Katie was involved in the creation of the vibrant public art mural on Jackson and 5th Streets in Spearfish. Katie served as the mural assistant, collaborating with schools and community organizations to create mural pieces for installation.

Because of COVID-19, Katie and other BHSU art students will miss their Senior Art Show which was supposed to take place at the Dahl this spring. She had planned to exhibit large scale figurative oil paintings.

Katie says just because her final spring semester of college was cut short, it does not mean her experience has been any less meaningful. Her favorite memory from college happened this fall when the BHSU Art Club planned a trip to Denver for Art Week, visiting the Denver Art Museum Monet exhibit.

As she finishes up her final courses this fall at BHSU, Katie says she will savor her final weeks being part of the BHSU learning community.

“Especially within the Art Department, we’re a tight-knit community of artists. We love learning and talking about art together.”

Katie was honored with the Spirit of BH Award this spring. The annual award is given to one student who has made significant contributions to the university and the surrounding community.

“BHSU holds a special place in my heart and to be recognized with Spirit of BH is such an honor,” says Katie. “I’ve really been given the space to grow at BHSU.”

View Katie’s art portfolio at www.katie-wolff.com and follow her on Instagram @kbhwolff

About BHSU Art Programs
BHSU offers a wide variety of degrees in the arts and recently added a bachelor of fine arts (BFA) program for photography, studio art, and graphic design. A BFA is the industry standard for degree-seeking studio artists.
Studio Art: At many other universities, students must declare an art concentration early in their course of study, such as in painting, drawing, ceramics, etc. At BHSU, artists can explore a variety of fine arts courses as a way to discover their talents in a variety of techniques.
Photography: The BFA in photography at BHSU offers many opportunities to students interested in photojournalism, commercial photography, or fine art photography. BHSU has among the finest darkroom and digital imaging facilities in South Dakota and the surrounding region.
Graphic Design: Gain the necessary graphic and computer design skills and experience to prepare for an exciting, cutting-edge career in advertising, publishing, or public relations with the BFA in graphic design from BHSU. Students learn graphic and computer design, photo imaging and web design, as they relate to advertising and graphic communication in this degree.
Other degrees that BHSU offers in the art and humanities field include: art education, corporate communications, mass communication, and music/music education. For more information about the BHSU art programs visit www.BHSU.edu/arts-humanities or contact admissions@BHSU.edu or 605-642-6131.