Four Receive UMC Torch and Shield Awards for 2001

The University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) honored four individuals with the Torch and Shield Award at the annual Torch and Shield Banquet, held Tuesday, October 30, on the campus.  The awards recognize individuals who have provided leadership and who have aided in the development of campus.   This year’s award recipients included Thomas Anderson, Daniel Gartrell, Les Nielsen, and John Vallager.

Thomas E. Anderson
Thomas “Tom” Anderson is very active in the farming industry.  He and his wife, Kirsten, live near Barnesville, where he operates a 1300-acre family farm.  In addition to farming, Anderson has served as the national co-chair of the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative, as chairman of Minnesota Small Grains Research and Communications Committee, and as vice chair of the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Research and Education Board.  He is also active in the Barnesville Economic Development Authority and currently serves as treasurer. 

Anderson received his bachelor of science degree in agricultural engineering from North Dakota State University in 1970.  He served as Clay County King Agassiz in 1990-1991, and received the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers Meritorious Achievement Award in 2001. 

Anderson has enthusiastically provided input and land for research dealing with soil-borne diseases of sugarbeets.  As chair and member of the Minnesota Small Grains Research and Communications Committee, he was instrumental in helping secure three faculty positions at the Northwest Research and Outreach Center (NWROC), namely soil scientist, plant pathologist, and extension small grain specialist. He has also served on numerous search committees for the University of Minnesota and the NWROC, most recently for the head of the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate in St. Paul.

Daniel J. Gartrell
Daniel “Dan” Gartrell, professor of early childhood and elementary education, is the director of the Child Development Training Program (CDTP) at Bemidji State University and the coordinator for college and competency-based early childhood education.  He received his master’s in education from BSU and his doctorate from the University of North Dakota.  He has served as an instructor and a field advisor for CDTP since 1971.  Prior to that he taught at both the Head Start and sixth grade levels.

Gartrell is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and its Minnesota affiliate, and each year he oversees the BSU Early Childhood Conference, which draws 700 early childhood education professionals and parents.  He is currently finalizing the third edition of his textbook, A Guidance Approach for the Encouraging Classroom (Delmar, 1998), and has authored a second book, What Kids Said Today:  Using Classroom Conversations to Become a Better Teacher.  He received the BSU Outstanding Creative and Scholarly Achievement Award in 1991 and has had several articles published in various early childhood education journals.

Gartrell has been instrumental in helping to develop the collaborative degree program in early childhood education shared between UMC and BSU.  He has worked closely with UMC faculty to create what is considered a model for successful collaborative programs in the state.  He and his wife, Julie, live in Bemidji.

Les Nielsen
Les Nielsen is the president and co-owner of Herc-U-Lift, a multimillion dollar company specializing in material handling equipment.  The company, which began in 1968 in Maple Plain, Minnesota, now has five locations including St. Cloud, Grand Rapids, and Anoka, Minnesota, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  The cornerstone of the business is selling top-quality products with unmatched customer service and attention to detail.  These things are very important to Nielsen, whose forte is business and financial management.

Nielsen was born in Red Lake Falls and later moved to a farm near Euclid.  He is a graduate of both the Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA) and the University of Minnesota, where he majored in business and accounting.  Nielsen is a member of the University of Minnesota, Crookston Campaign Steering Committee.

He and his wife, June, have established scholarships for graduates of the Clearbrook-Gonvick High School in memory of their son, Mitch. The Nielsons’ other son, R. Brian, graduated from the University of Minnesota.  They have also designated gifts to support the NWSA Scholarship fund, and they have been inducted into the UMC Trustees Society Gift Club. 

John E. Vallager
John Vallager is the Vice President of Drees, Riskey & Vallager, Ltd., CPAs and is the manager of the Crookston office.  He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and of the Minnesota Society of CPAs.  Vallager earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting with an economics minor from Moorhead State University in 1971.

Vallager is very active in the Crookston community and serves as treasurer for the Crookston Education Foundation and for Crookston Jobs, Inc.  He is also involved with the Crookston Pirates Booster Club and is an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Crookston.  He was presented with the City of Crookston Outstanding Volunteer Award in 1999.

Over the years Vallager has been a stalwart supporter of UMC and its programs.  He and his wife, Jan, are members of the UMC Presidents Club for annual giving to support scholarships, and he is a member of the UMC Teambackers Club.  He also serves as treasurer for UMC’s Cooperative Campus Ministry Program.   Vallager’s daughter, Kari, currently attends UMC.

 

Posted  11/01/2001
Contact: Andrew Svec, 218-281-8435

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