HenkinSchultz was proud to once again help produce this year’s South Dakota State University Foundation Donor Celebration. While the gala takes place in one evening, the event is months in the making, with extensive planning and preparation necessary to make sure it all comes together without a hitch. HS President and co-founder Kirby Schultz personally conceived and oversaw the development of the theme for this year’s celebration – “Imagine” – and our design and production teams created invitations, programs, banners, staging, graphics and video components to carry through that message.

Mr. Schultz, along with operations/large format division manager Jason Jellis, audio/video department manager Joseph Schultz, and Eric Van Beek from the HS Sign Shop, went up to Brookings several days early to help set-up the event and lead rehearsals. Frost Arena on the SDSU Campus was completely transformed into a Vegas-style theater with two large projection screens, seventeen scrims, and an “Imagine” sign prominently featured at center stage – these elements were able to show projected video from different depths and angles, giving a dazzling look to the stage design and a unique atmosphere for those at the event. The show itself featured awards, video presentations and the 160-person SDSU choir. There were around 800 attendees in the audience this year.

At HenkinSchultz, we’re always keeping our eyes focused on the end result of any of our projects – and this one is no exception. The evening itself is a thank you to donors to the SDSU Foundation – but it’s also an important opportunity to inspire these donors to contribute even more to their beloved institution. In addition to the show, HS produced a donor wall where those who’ve contributed to the school could see their names being honored, which was a big hit amongst the donors and led some to give again right then and there. It was a great night for all involved and a proper thank you to those who give so much. We’re already thinking about next year’s event!