USD Knudson School of Law Graduates First Student Admitted Through Joint University Honors Program
Lund left his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, to attend NSU. The university, located in Aberdeen, South Dakota, partners with Knudson School of Law through HLOP to provide five guaranteed admission spots to selected NSU honors students upon completion of their undergraduate degree. HLOP serves as an opportunity for any undergraduate NSU honors student, regardless of their field of study, to apply for admission and become a pre-law-school student.
While at NSU, Lund majored in sociology and minored in both legal studies and criminal justice. Throughout his studies, Lund was motivated by a love for debate and advocacy. The two passions, he says, explain why he has always wanted to attend law school.
“It is a combination of debate and inspiration from reading advocacy-type books about topics like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X,” said Lund. “Reading those books built my passion for wanting to do a job where I can help people, and I think law school is the perfect opportunity to do that.”
Lund’s perfect opportunity to pursue a career helping people became more accessible when Kristi Bockorny, Ph.D., director of the NSU Honors program and the Dacotah Bank dean of the NSU School of Business, professor of management, introduced him to HLOP.
After being accepted into HLOP and earning a bachelor’s degree from NSU, Lund took the clear pathway to the Knudson School of Law. He graduated with his law degree in May 2025.
Now at the start of his professional legal career, Lund looks back and highlights six other impactful moments and mentors.
His high school debate coach, Adam Higgins, inspired him to attend college. His mock trial coach, Irene Downs, introduced him to courtroom advocacy and traveled with him while helping build a debate program alongside NSU Professor Justin Foote, Ph.D. He also credits the trial tech course he took in his second year of law school, taught by Laura Rose, J.D., USD associate professor and Heidepriem Trial Advocacy Fellow; philosophical discussions about the law with Tyler Moore, J.D., USD associate professor of law; and the experienced insight he received from USD Professor Emeritus Frank Pommersheim, J.D.
The choice to attend law school through the pathway HLOP provided was not the only decision in Lund’s academic journey that felt right.
When asked about his decision to attend NSU, Lund said, "It was kind of last second, and I just thought it was quiet, it was beautiful.” He added, "South Dakota was definitely a change of pace from Kansas City, and I fell in love with it."
He says the small-town culture of Aberdeen, and NSU provided him with opportunities to get involved and participate in more events. Lund built community connections working weekends at the local Buffalo Wild Wings, qualifying for the Honors program, and joining the debate team.
“Aberdeen is just a close-knit community, and I think it represents South Dakota,” said Lund. “I joined Debate when he [Foote] was still trying to build it, so it was really fun. We had a small team, and I made a lot of memories and friends. With the Honors program, I was able to do research and travel.”
Once at USD’s law school, he enjoyed the accessibility of the 8-1 student-to-faculty ratio.
“The faculty really care, and I don’t think you can get that anywhere else,” said Lund. “It is more enjoyable to be able to come into a classroom where your professor takes the time to talk to you.”
While in law school Lund refocused on his love for the courtroom setting. He was active on the trial team and was awarded best direct examination at USD’s annual intramural trial team competition, in spring 2025, Lund spent his time at USD exploring and establishing a personal value system; he recommends aspiring lawyers do the same.
“In my first year, Professor Pommersheim asked us, ‘What is justice?’ Asking questions like that helped me find my foundation,” said Lund. “Take time to answer these questions and determine why you want to be a lawyer.”
After graduation, Lund is staying in South Dakota to be near his fiance, Alexandria Arndt, as she finishes her third year at USD’s Knudson School of Law. Lund is pursuing a career in trial work to complement his passions for advocacy and debate, especially in a courtroom setting.
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