Students Receive Awards at April 15 Awards Reception

The University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) honored students with achievement and service awards at the annual Student Awards Reception on Tuesday evening, April 16, in Kiehle Auditorium on the UMC campus.  The ceremony is held each year to honor those who have made outstanding leadership and service contributions or who have achieved high academic standing at the University’s Crookston campus.

Among the recognitions and honors, student organization presidents and members of the Crookston Student Association were recognized for their work during the year.

Sixteen students received Student Achievement Awards, which UMC presents to recognize those students who have excelled not only academically, but also through leadership and service to the University and local community.  Those students included Jill Anderson of Newfolden; Cathy Behr of Willmar; Kelly Bisek of Mahnomen; Susan Boeddeker of Brandon; Cameron Brauer of Ellendale, N.D.; Michael Burak of Battle Lake; Baizhou Chen of Xiamen, China; DeAnn Ebert of Fairmont; Paul Feakes of Motley; Cheryl Isder of Little Falls; Jean Korkowski of Brandon; Rebecca Locke of Bemidji; Jim Myers of Woodbury; Dan Oberg of Isanti; Kim Pinske of Gary; and Steve Waling of Grygla.

Student Achievement Award recipients for 2003 year were:  (front row from left):  Susan Boeddeker of Brandon; Cathy Behr of Willmar; Michael Burak of Battle Lake; DeAnn Ebert of Fairmont; Cheryl Isder of Little Falls; (middle row): Paul Feakes of Motley; Steve Waling of Grygla; Baizhou Chen of Xiamen, China; Cameron Brauer of Ellendale, ND; (back row):  Jim Myers of Woodbury; Kim Pinske of Gary; Rebecca Locke of Bemidji; Jill Anderson of Newfolden; Dan Oberg of Isanti; (not pictured): Kelly Bisek of Mahnomen and Jean Korkowski of Brandon.

From that group, two students were recognized with the year’s top academic, service and leadership award:  “Man and Woman of the Year.”  The UMC Man and Woman of the Year for 2003 are Dan Oberg, a senior majoring in wildlife management, and Cheryl Isder, a junior double majoring in water resource management and natural resource management.  Paul Eickhof, representing the Crookston Noon Day Lions, presented Oberg and Isder each with a cash award of $100 for their achievements.  Oberg is the son of Alan and Peggy Oberg of Isanti, Minnesota, and Isder is the daughter of Ken and Arlene Isder of Little Falls, Minnesota.

UMC Chancellor Don Sargeant, UMC Man of the Year Dan Oberg, UMC Woman of the Year Cheryl Isder, and Paul Eickhof, representing the Crookston Noon Day Lions

Students also honored selected faculty and staff members with special awards.  These awards are significant in that the entire UMC student body votes to select the award recipients.  Faculty and staff awards were presented in four categories: 
Outstanding Educator—Phil Baird, associate professor of natural resources; Outstanding Service to Students—Michelle Christopherson, assistant to the director, Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources; Most Creative Use of Technology—Jerry Knutson, associate professor of biology; and Most Supportive of Students—Jerry Knutson.

Phil Baird, Michelle Christopherson, and Jerry Knutson

Other individuals receiving awards included: 

Academic Excellence (students maintaining a 4.0 cumulative GPA with 24 or more credits): Debbie Abar of East Grand Forks; Vanessa Armstrong of Fisher; Crystal Cook of Deer River; Wesley Hanson of Ada; Shana Johnson of Thief River Falls; Cristi Kurtz of Fergus Falls; Katie Mullen of Grand Forks; Earl Nowacki of Royalton; Sonia Ovando of Crookston; Jessica Sathoff of Dunnell; Jesse Watson of Las Vegas, NV; Christine Winch of Rochester; Eliesha Bertils of Crookston

Vanessa Armstrong, Crystal Cook, Sonia Ovando, Christine Winch, pictured with Dan Svedarsky, UMC Professor of Natural Resources and member of the University of Minnesota Academy of Distinguished Teachers

Outstanding Student Tutors (from left): Kelly Bisek of Mahnomen; Teng Yang of St. Paul; Ryan Strelau of Circle Pines;  Rebecca Locke of Bemidji; and Baizhou Chen of Xiamen, China;

Outstanding Service to Students with Disabilities (from left):  Fran Chihanski, teaching specialist for math, and Jesse Anderson of Fessenden, ND, pictured with Laurie Wilson, counselor and assistant education specialist

Outstanding UMC Ambassador:  Priscilla Dahlen of Twin Valley

Cooperative Campus Ministry Service Awards:  Ben Loll of Campbell and Jody Ramberg of Crookston
 

Outstanding First-Year Biology Student:  Vanessa Armstrong of Fisher, pictured with Bonnie Boyle, UMC biology instructor

Outstanding Achievement in Math-Physics:  Sonia Ovando of Crookston, pictured with David DeMuth, UMC assistant professor of math and physics

Excellence in Early Childhood Education:  Laura Knox (not pictured) of Grand Forks and Darcy Hegg of Ada, with Marilyn Grave, Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education

Pankratz Memorial Conservation Award:  Cheryl Isder of Little Falls, pictured with Dan Svedarsky, UMC Professor of Natural Resources

John Polley Soil and Water Conservation Award:  Tyler Janke of Frazee, pictured with John Polley (left) and Dan Svedarsky (right)

Outstanding Equine Program Student: Andrew Hinrichs of Eagle Bend, pictured with Jonathon Holland, teaching specialist for equine science

Rodeo Club Awards:  Laura Lysing of Vergas and Erin Ring of Darwin, pictured with Rae French, Rodeo Club adviser

Horticulture Club Service Award: Rebecca Locke of Bemidji, pictured with Melinda McVey McCluskey, assistant professor of horticulture

Outstanding Turf Management Students:  Angela Fremling of Benson and Andy Weadge of Janesville, WI, pictured with Alex Ellram, assistant professor of golf facilities and turf systems

Outstanding Business Management and Marketing Student:  Tim Adams of Eleva, WI, pictured with Steve Shirley, assistant professor of marketing

Best Student Organization Websites 2002: 
First place – International and Multicultural Club, webmaster: Shashanka Acharya, Nepal
Second place –Ten Percent Society, webmaster: Cameron Brauer, of Ellendale, ND
Third Place – Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, webmaster: Judy Maki of Crookston

Outstanding Help Desk Service Award: Erica Franklin of Grand Forks, pictured with Peg Sherven, information technology professional 

Dale Knotek Community Service Award:  Horseman’s Association, represented by Andrew Hinrichs, pictured with Mike Christopherson, assistant director of service learning

President’s Student Service Award:  Dina VanDorsten of Harwick, pictured with Mike Christopherson, assistant director of service learning

Outstanding Student Volunteer Award:  Amanda Willger of Rice Lake, WI, pictured with Mike Christopherson, assistant director of service learning

Outstanding Music Awards:  Anders Berggren of Karlstad, Dan Webster of McIntosh, and Paul Feakes of Motley

Outstanding Theater Awards:  John Oketch of Fridley and Marissa Koppy of Big Lake

Outstanding First Year Student Award:  Gavin Leake of Lebanon, WI, pictured with Kami Mattson, director, First Year Experience

Student Programmer Award:  Jonathan Roffers of Green Bay, WI

Outstanding Crookston Student Association (CSA) Senator:  Kyle Rollness of Langdon, ND

Outstanding Crookston Student Association (CSA) Student Voting Delegates:  Pete Kvien of Roseau, Allison Stone of Burnsville, Nick Wild of Edinburg, ND, and Adam Wink of Cyrus

Student Athlete All Academic Team Awards:
Members must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or better and have lettered in the same sport at UMC for two years.

Members of the All Academic Team include, Back row from left:  Jamie Wolff, Trevor Berneking, Adam Koplin, Troy Berneking, Shawn Carlson;  middle row from left:  Mike Olsonawski, Ben Perkins, Jay Tupa, Brandy Thaler, and Allison Kluck;  front row from left:  Kim Pinske, Rachel Stark, Cathryn Moe, Mary Plumb, and Cathy Behr.

Baseball: Aaron Johnson of Dumont; Travis Scheving of Crookston; Curtis Ungerecht of Northome

Football: Trevor Berneking of Grand Marais; Troy Berneking of Grand Marais; Adam Koplin of Campbell; Mike Olsonawski of Hallock

Hockey: Theran Bauer of Spooner, WI; Shawn Carlson of Two Harbors; Ben Perkins of New Brighton; Jay Tupa of Fargo

Men’s Golf: Vance Harren of Crookston MN

Women’s Basketball:  Cathleen Behr of Willmar; Tanya Erickson of Fertile; Tiffany Hasbrouck of Crookston; Mandy Hraban of Two Harbors; Allison Kluck of Hawley; Amy Kuznia of Stephen; Karen Siira of Brandon

Equestrian: Juli Maurice of Crookston; Cathryn Moe of Springfield, MN; Mary Plumb of Byron; Rachel Stark of Larimore, ND

Softball:  Jean Korkowski of Brandon

Women’s Golf: Jennifer Orcutt of Conrad, MT

Soccer: Jennifer Johnson of Park Rapids

Volleyball:  Sara Ard of Urbana IL; Allison Kluck of Hawley; Vicki Kristjanson of Edinburg ND; Kim Pinske of Gary; Brandy Thaler of LaGrange, WY; Jamie Wolff of Inver Grove Heights

 

Additional awards presented to non-students:

Builder of Diversity Award:  Claudia Barton, program advisor, Student Support Services

Student Support Services Awards:  Bonni Buchmeier, teaching specialist for math, Center for Learning Foundations, pictured with UMC student tutor Casey English

Distance Education Service Award:  Hilary Bertsch, program associate, Center for Adult Learning

UMC Advocate Awards (from left):  Ben Sandell of the Crookston Daily Times and Tom Dennis of the Grand Forks Herald, pictured with Andrew Svec, UMC's director of communications

 

 

Posted  04/17/2003
Contact: Andrew Svec, 218-281-8435

Back to News and Notices
UMC Home | Top of Page