2015 BSU Alumni Award Winners

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Katrina Jorene Maliamauv ’07

Maliamauv-Katrina-2015Katrina Jorene Maliamauv was always encouraged to get the most from every educational opportunity — including study abroad at BSU for her senior year. She remembers the peacefulness of the setting and the importance of feeling “seen” and “respected” by her professors.

She earned a bachelor of science degree in psychology, worked in New York and then returned to Malaysia to work as a human rights activist. She works for Tenaganita, an organization that upholds and defends the rights of migrants, refugees, trafficked persons and other marginalized communities. Inspired by her mother, the late Dr. Irene Fernandez, who founded the organization in 1991, Maliamauv advocates for and intervenes for individuals on matters of labor rights, arrest and detention, gender-based violence and at the intersections between issues and rights.

A Chevening Scholarship recipient, Maliamauv is pursuing a master’s degree in Applied Human Rights from the University of York in the United Kingdom and will return to Malaysia upon completion of her degree. She is a feminist, a believer in the power of hope, radical love, and collective action to reimagine and create a more inclusive, just and equal world for all.

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Sandra Anderson ’82

Anderson-Sandra-2015Sandra Anderson is chief legal officer for Great Clips, Inc. in Minneapolis. She advises the organization on a broad range of complex legal, business and strategic issues including regulatory compliance, corporate business conduct, marketing and advertising law, negotiations, contracts and employment law.

With 25 years of experience in franchising, she has implemented legal best practices to ensure the success of the company/franchisee relationships for Great Clips. She joined Great Clips in 2000 and was promoted from vice president and general counsel to her current position in 2011.

As a student, Anderson went to London and Munich as part of Eurospring, which inspired a love of travel. She graduated from Bemidji State University with a bachelor of arts in English and went on to earn a doctor of jurisprudence from the William Mitchell College of Law in 1987.

A member of the Hennepin County, Minnesota and American bar associations, Anderson also finds time to volunteer for the “Great Needs/Great Deeds” program, Habitat for Humanity, a women’s mentorship program and other efforts.

She lives in Eden Prairie and enjoys spending time with her adult children, Nicole and John.

Joseph Grabowski ’80

Grabowski-Joseph-2015Joseph Grabowski is CEO of Wenck Associates in Maple Plain. Throughout his 34-year career, Grabowski has been committed to the consulting engineering field specializing in the investigation and remediation of hazardous waste sites.

With 27 of those years at Wenck Associates, he has advised industrial clients on environmental regulatory issues, provided expert testimony in county, state and federal court. He has lectured and published in the field and led the cleanup of more than 50 national and state Superfund Hazardous Waste Sites. After earning a bachelor of science in aquatic biology with a minor in chemistry at Bemidji State University, Grabowski went on to earn a master of science in water resources from the University of Wyoming in 1982. He furthered his post-graduate learning with additional studies in industrial hygiene and he completed his mini-MBA through the University of St. Thomas.

Grabowski and his wife, Patty ‘81, met at BSU. They live in Plymouth and have twin adult children, Ben and Katie.

Roger Reierson ’74

Reierson-Roger-2015Roger Reierson joined the Flint Agency in 1976, when it employed 13 people, and has since expanded the operation to include agencies in Grand Forks, Duluth and St. Cloud, plus AdFarm offices in Calgary, Guelph, Kansas City and Sacramento, that have more than 175 employees. He is also the chairman and CEO of AdFarm, one of the largest agri-marketing firms in North America.

Reierson holds a bachelor of science degree in marketing and finance from Bemidji State University. He has a high-profile presence in community and professional associations and other organizations, including the Greater North Dakota Chamber Association, Agricultural Bioscience International Association and Village Family Services Foundation. In 2011, he was named NAMA National Agri-Marketer of the Year. He has gone beyond his work in international communications to develop agribusiness and microbusiness opportunities in Africa.

Reierson also has served on the Roundtable on Higher Education, Higher Learning Commission—North-Central Association, Xcel Energy advisory board, National Plains Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. He has chaired the Fargo Downtown Business Association, Fargo Chamber of Commerce, Greater North Dakota State Chamber Association and the North Dakota New Economy Committee.

Reierson and his wife, Arlene, live in Fargo. They have two adult children, Andy and Alissa.

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Richard Siegert ’67

Siegert-Richard-2015Richard Siegert earned business and education degrees at Bemidji State University and began teaching in Wyandotte, Mich. He moved back to Bemidji and into the lodging industry.

Siegert’s 44 years as a business and community leader includes 30 years as a board member (past president) of the Minnesota Association of Innkeepers (now Minnesota Lodging Association). He also is a member of Bemidji Chamber of Commerce, Bemidji Curling Club and the First Lutheran Church Board, Bemidji Visitors & Convention Bureau (BVCB) Board (past president) and Bemidji Lions Club (past president), among others. He has supported BSU as a Beaver Pride member and BSU Foundation Board member and officer. Since 1988, he has led the Paul Bunyan Expressway Coalition, as co-chair and now chair. He has been recognized by the Governor’s office for the “Bemidji Area Business Gives.” A recipient of the Outstanding Service Award from BVCB, he earned the Chairman’s Award from the Minnesota Lodging Association for industry involvement and service.

Siegert and his wife, Joyce, live in Bemidji and have adult children, Mindy and Christopher.

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Jeffrey Kemink

Kemink-Jeffrey-2015Jeffrey Kemink became familiar with Bemidji State University during his early years in Bemidji with Wells Fargo Bank. His career progressed, necessitating a move from the Bemidji area in 2009. Nevertheless, his interest in and support for BSU has continued to grow.

In 2005, Kemink joined the BSU Foundation Board of Directors, and in 2012 he was elected board president. He fulfilled this leadership role for two years, providing additional service on the executive, strategic planning and personnel committees. Now, as past president, he continues on the board by providing guidance on several committees and is the foundation liaison to the Alumni Association Board. This exemplary contribution has required countless volunteer hours and expenses necessary for traveling to campus. In addition, he has personally supported BSU as a financial contributor.

Foundation Board President Carol Russell says, “He is a respected voice strategically and as a true friend to our university.”

Kemink lives in Bloomington, where he serves as national crop manager for Wells Fargo. He has two adult children, Andrea and Austin.