BSU Awards of Excellence | Office of the President

About the Awards

After consultation with campus stakeholders, President Faith Hensrud initiated a new annual employee awards program, the Awards of Excellence, in 2017. The awards, identified below, recognize and celebrate the dedicated work and service of Bemidji State University faculty, staff and administrators, both over the previous year and across employees’ entire careers at the university.

Distinguished Service

This award will be presented to a member of the Bemidji State University faculty or staff who has been employed at BSU for at least five years. The recipient will have an ongoing record of superlative performance and professional excellence combined with significant personal impact in the areas of student success, civic engagement, diversity, sustainability and/or public service.

Recipients:

2022 – Diane Backer, executive assistant to the president
2022 – Dr. Joann Fredrickson, professor of business administration
2021 – Beth Jensen, eLearning management analyst
2021 – Lesa Lawrence, director of Financial Aid
2021 – Dr. John Gonzalez, professor and chair of psychology
2020 – Cancelled due to COVID
2019 – Jean Lanners, office & administrative specialist for finance & administration
2018 – Carol Nielsen, professor emerita of business administration
2018 – John Swartz, university photographer
2017 – Dr. Sandra Kranz, professor of accountancy

Excellence in Teaching

This award will be presented to a member of the Bemidji State University faculty. The recipient will have demonstrated teaching excellence through evidence of exceptional learning outcomes and quality student advising.

Recipients:

2022 – Dr, Brian Hiller, professor of biology
2022 – Dr. Kjerstin Owens, associate professor of biology
2021 – Dr. Angie Kovarik, associate professor of business administration
2021 – Dr. Donna Pawlowski, professor of communication studies
2020 – Cancelled due to COVID
2019 – Dr. Pat Donnay, professor of political science
2018 – Dr. Andy Hafs, associate professor of biology
2017 – Dr. Glen Richgels, professor emeritus of mathematics

Outstanding Contribution

This award will be presented to up to three individual members of the Bemidji State University faculty or staff. The recipient(s) will have gone above and beyond expectations to contribute to the university in the areas of student success, civic engagement, diversity, sustainability and/or public service.

Recipients:

2022 (individual) – Bev Hodgson, assistant registrar
2022 (team) – Housing and Residential Life
2021 (individual) – Travis Barnes, director of facilities
2021 (individual) – Teresa LaFriniere, office manager for the School of Technology, Art and Design
2021 (team) – COVID-19 contract tracing team
2021 (team) – BSU Athletics coaches and Staff
2020 – Cancelled due to COVID
2019 -Paul Ekhoff, facilities building and maintenance supervisor
2019 -Misty Wilkie, associate professor of nursing
2019 – Jim Stone, assistant professor of human health performance sport and health and head women’s soccer coach
2019 (team) – Student Center for Health and Counseling counselors
2018 – Sandra Beck, facilities services supervisor
2018 – Dr. Shannon Norman, assistant professor of human, performance, sports & health
2018 – Dr. Tom Beech, professor of political science
2017 – Bill Blackwell, Jr., executive director, American Indian Resource Center

Spirit of BSU

This award will be presented to one or more individuals and/or members of a team, such as the staff of an office or department. Recipient(s) will be people whose positive attitude and infectious enthusiasm embody the Spirit of BSU through active support of students, student-athletes, coworkers and/or community members.

Recipients:

2022 (individual) – Lori Deering, office and administrative specialist, Departments of Accountancy and Business Administration
2022 (individual) – Dr. Amber Fryklund, assistant professor of human performance, sport and health
2022 (individual) – Bridget Tews, transfer enrollment adviser
2022 (team) – Gillett Recreation and Outdoor Program Centers
2022 (team) – Public Safety
2021 (individual) – Dr. Travis Ricks, associate professor of psychology
2021 (individual) – Theresa Eckstein, tech support analyst
2021 (team) – eLearning support
2021 (team) – Human Resources
2021 (team) – Information Technology support
2020 – Cancelled due to COVID
2019 (individual) – Chris Haley, printing services
2019 (team) – A.C. Clark Library staff
2018 (individual) – Angie Gora, summer program director
2018 (team) – BSU facilities snow removal team
2017 (individual) – Diane Renken, administrative and technical specialist in the Office of Admissions
2017 (team) – The Student Achievement Conference planning committee

Shared Fundamental Values Award

This award will be presented to a member or group of Bemidji State University’s faculty and/or staff. The recipient or recipients will have contributed in an unusually positive way to advancing the university’s collaborative engagement beyond the campus for the betterment of Bemidji and/or the broader community.

Community Engagement

2022 – Ashley Charwood, assistant professor of social work
2021 – Veronica Veaux, assistant professor of business administration

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

This award will be presented to one or more individuals and/or members of a team, such as the staff of an office or department. Recipients will be people who have demonstrated sustained support for diversity, equity and inclusion; raised awareness of diversity, equity and inclusion; and/or served as a catalyst for change in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion.

2022 – Dr. Ye “Solar” Hong, director of diversity, equity and inclusion
2021 – Dr. David Frison, assistant professor of business administration
2021 – Dr. Kathryn Klement, assistant professor of psychology