2023 Award Winners

Mid Career Service  – Penny Nester, Bowman County Extension ANR Agent
State Meritorious Support Service Award– Torie Piehl, LaMoure County Administrative Assistant
Friend of Extension – Representative Tracy Boe
Friend of Extension – Mark Birdsall, Sate Board of Agricultural Research and Education
Friend of Extension - Senator Rich Wardner

2022 Award Winners

Distinguished Service –  Dan Folske, Burke County Extension ANR Agent 
Early Career Service –  Rachel Wald, Bottineau County Extension ANR Agent
Mid Career Service  – Karla Meikle, Morton County Extension 4-H Youth Development Agent
Continued Excellence Award – Andrew Thostenson, Pesticide Program Specialist
Administrative Leadership Award  – Lynette Flage, Extension Associate Director
State Meritorious Support Service Award– Jon Fry and Jerry Ranum, IT Systems Specialists
Friend of Extension – Jim Sailer
Friend of Extension – Senator Joan Heckaman

2021 Award Winners

Distinguished Service –  Dr. Janet Knodel
Early Career Service –  Dr. Anitha Chirumamilla
State Meritorious Support Service – Nancy Smith
Friend of Extension – Sheyenne Valley Technical Rescue Team
Friend of Extension – Diane Schultz
Friend of Extension – Barry Medd
Friend of Extension – ND Senator Larry Robinson

2020 Award Winners

Distinguished Service – Mohamed Khan
Distinguished Team Aware - Acacia Stuckle, Andrea Bowman and Jodi Bruns
Early Career Service –  Lindy Berg
State Meritorious Support Service – Lisa Braton, Heather Tomlinson, Diane Herding and LeAnn Beck
Friend of Extension – Tim Courneya, Executive Director of Northarvest Bean Growers Association

2019 Award Winners

State Meritorious Support Service – Robbi Hopkins, Extension Administrative Assistant | Ransom County
Early Career Service –  Angie Johnson, Extension Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources | Steele County
Mid-Career Service – Meagan Scott, Assistant Professor and 4-H Youth Development Specialist
Distinguished Service – Marcia Hellandsaas, Extension Agent, Family and Community Wellness | McKenzie County
Visionary Leadership – Julie Garden-Robinson, Professor and Food and Nutrition Specialist
International Service - Marie Hvidsten, Rural Leadership Specialist and RLND Program Director
Friend of Extension – North Dakota Association of Counties and North Dakota County Commissioners Association
Friend of Extension – Tom Knudsen, retired vice president of agriculture at Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative
Friend of Extension – Farm Forum

2018 Award Winners

Bios and photos of winners are available on the 2018 ESP Awards page. 

State Meritorious Support Service – Cindy Entze, Extension Administrative Assistant | Mercer County
State Meritorious Support Service – Jan Hanson, Extension Administrative Assistant | McLean County
Early Career Service – Andrew Friskop, Plant Pathologist
Mid-Career Service – Carrie Knutson, Extension Agent, Horticulture | Grand Forks County
Distinguished Service – Dean Aakre, 4-H Youth Development Specialist
Visionary Leadership – Vanessa Hoines, Extension Agent, Family and Community Wellness | Morton County
Administrative Leadership – Jim Gray, West District Director
Friend of Extension – Chris Boerboom, Retired NDSU Extension Director
Friend of Extension – Michael Miller, Director and Bibliographer, NDSU Libraries and Germans from Russia Heritage Collection
Friend of Extension – Kendall Nichols, Director of Research, N.D. Soybean Council

2017 Award Winners

Bios and photos of winners are available on the 2017 ESP Awards page. 

State Meritorious Support Service – Dawn Alderin, Administrative Assistant, Oliver County
State Meritorious Support Service – Vicki Miller, Administrative Office Manager, Center for Community Vitality
Early Career Service – Esther McGinnis, Assistant Professor and Horticulturist
Mid-Career Service – Marie Hvidsten, Rural Leadership Specialist
Distinguished Service – Andrew Thostenson, Pesticide Program Specialist
Visionary Leadership – Greg Endres, Area Cropping Systems Specialist
Administrative Leadership – Charlie Stoltenow, Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Leader
Friend of Extension – Bill Davis, Acting State Director for USDA Rural Development
Friend of Extension – Dale Ihry, Executive Director, North Dakota Corn Utilization Council and North Dakota Corn Growers Association
Friend of Extension – Renae Korslien, General Manager, North Dakota State Fair

2016 Award Winners

Meritorious Support Service Award – Aimee Thapa
Mid-Career Service Award – Donna Anderson
Administrative Leadership Award – Deb Gebeke
Distinguished Service Award – Ken Hellevang
Visionary Leadership Award – Carmen Rath-Wald
Continued Service Award – John Kringler
Friends of Extension – Joe Breker, Arlene Dura, Durward & Phyllis Otterness, and Russ Tweiten

2015 Award Winners

Meritorious Support Service Award – Jayne Aukland & Linda Schuster
Early Career Service Award – Karla Meikle
Mid-Career Service Award – Janet Knodel
Administrative Leadership Award – Gerald Sturn
Distinguished International Service Award – Mohamed Khan
Distinguished Service Award – Brad Brummond
Visionary Leadership Award – Brad Cogdill
Friends of Extension – Jesse Handegard and Rodney Howe

2014 Award Winners

Meritorious Support Service Award - Jeralyn Fischer and Cindy Olson
Mid-Career Service Award - Jodi Bruns
Meritorious Service Award - Marcia Hellandsaas
Administrative Leadership Award - Chris Boerboom
Distinguished International Service Award - Charlie Stoltenow
Distinguished Service Award - Willie Huot
Distinguished Team Award - Tri-County Tourism Alliance
Friends of Extension - Reinhard Hauck and Myron & Muriel Johnsrud

2013 Award Winners

Meritorious Support Service Award - Kari Presler
State Early Career Award - Marie Hvisten
State Distinguished Service Award - Kathy Tweeten
Continued Excellence Award - Duane Hauck
Visionary Leadership Award - Lynette Flage
Administrative Leadership Award - Jay Fisher
Distinguished Team Award - Julie Garden-Robinson, Peggy Anderson, Mary Froelich, Bill Hodous, Dena Kemmet, Lionel Olson, Calli Thorne
Friends of Extension Award - Allan & Leah Burke, Julie & Chad Ellingson and Michael O'Keeffe

2012 Award Winners

Meritorious Support Service Award - Claudia Dean and Kris Holt
State Early Career Award - Roxanne Johnson
State Mid-Career Award - Rick Schmidt
State Meritorious Service Award - Julie Garden-Robinson
State Distinguished Service Award - Peggy Anderson
Continued Excellence Award - Marcia McMullen
Visionary Leadership Award - Marie Hvidsten
Administrative Leadership Award - Brad Cogdill
Distinguished Team Award - Kenneth Hellevang, Lori Scharmer, and Debra Pankow
Friends of Extension Award - Ray Morrell, Phillip Mueller and Steve Wollmuth

2011 Award Winners

State Early Career Service Award -Sharon Smith
State Meritorious Service Award - Jackie Buckley
State Distinguished Service Award - Kathleen Tweeten
State Friend of Extension Award - Connie Sprynczynatyk and Bob and Helen Weed
Meritorious Support Service Award - Cheryl Dew

2010 Award Winners

State Mid-Career Service Award - Debra Gebeke
State Meritorious Service Award - Mohamed Khan
State Friend of Extension Award - Carol Goodman & Craig Larson
Meritorious Support Service Award - Val Entringer

2009 Award Winners

State Early Career Service Award - Jodi Bruns
State Meritorious Service Award - Brad Cogdill
State Distinguished Service Award - Linda Hauge
State Friend of Extension Award - Julie Burgum, Jerry Effertz, and Mick Kjar
Meritorious Support Service Award - Holly Halvorson and Sharon Lane
Retirees Service Award - Gary Moran
State Administrative Leadership Award - Becky Koch

2008 Award Winners

State Early Career Service Award - Lori Scharmer
State Mid-Career Service Award - Rachelle Vettern
State Meritorious Service Award - Karla Monson and Debb Pankow
State Distinguished Service Award - Terry Gregoire
Diversity and Multicultural Award - Margaret Tweten
State Friend of Extension Award - Paul Govig and Mark Johnson
Meritorious Support Service Award - Diane Greicar

2007 Award Winners

State Early Career Service Award - Barb Holes-Dickson
State Mid-Career Service Award - Lynette Flage
State Meritorious Service Award - Terry Lykken and Willie Huot
State Distinguished Service Award - Marcia McMullen
State Friend of Extension Award - Roger Johnson and Sandy Holbrok
Meritorious Support Service Award - Nancy Smith, Hope Eppler and John Grindahl
Retirees Service Award - Sharon Anderson
State Visionary Leadership Recognition Award - Brad Brummond
State Administrative Leadership Award - Duane Hauck

2006 Award Winners

State Early Career Service Award - Janet Knodel
State Mid-Career Service Award - Rita Ussatis
State Meritorious Service Award - George Flaskerud
State Distinguished Service Award - Elroy Haadem
State Friend of Extension Award- Marcy Hansen, Doug Vannurden and Tom Archbold
Meritorious Support Service Award - Alice Amundson
Retirees Service Award - Walt Mattson
State Visionary Leadership Recognition Award - Debb Pankow

2005 Award Winners

State Early Career Service Award - Bruce Sundeen
State Mid-Career Service Award - Dwain Barondeau
State Meritorious Service Award - Greg Endres, Becky Koch and John Kringler
State Distinguished Service Award - Duane Hauck
25 Year Tenure Recognition Award - Jackie Buckley and Brad Cogdill
State Friends of Extension Award- Corene Vaughn and Mark Conlon
Meritorious Support Service Award - Blair Johnson and Virginia Lund
State Visionary Leadership Recognition Award - Jay Fisher
Retirees Service Award - Ruth Gulbranson
State Retirement Certificate- Jerry Larson

2004 Award Winners

State Early Career Service Award - Dave Franzen
State Mid-Career Service Award - Marcia Hellandsaas
State Meritorious Service Award - Marcia McMullen, Dale Siebert and Clint Gienger
State Tenure 25-Year Recognition Award - Ron Beneda, Eunice Sahr and Jay Fisher
State Distinguished Service Award - Gene Elhard
State Friend of Extension Award - Jody Hauge, Neal Fisher and Wayne Ulven
Meritorious Support Service Award - Betty Bodine, Sandy Erickson and Kim Neprash
Retirees Service Award - Wayne Hankel
Visionary Leadership Recognition Award - Roger Egeberg
State Retirement Certificates - Sharon Anderson and Morris Davidson

2003 Award Winners

State Early Career Service Award - Nels Peterson
State Mid-Career Service Award - Debb Pankow
State Meritorious Service Award - Kurt Froelich, Julie Hassebroek and June Kraft
State Distinguished Service Award - Jerry Larson
State Friend of Extension Award - Cornelius P. Grant, Steve Metzger and Gary Nelson
Meritorious Support Service Award - Deb Evenson, Stanna Flom, Dena Kemmet and Marlys Novotny
Retirees Service Award - Harry Hecht
Visionary Leadership Recognition Award - Terry Gregoire

2002 Award Winners

State Early Career Service Award - Lynette Flage
State Mid-Career Service Award - Bruce Schmidt
State Meritorious Service Award - Gerald Strun and Karen Zotz
State Distinguished Service Award - Anita Rohde
State Friend of Extension Award - Alon Wieland, Ryan Brooks, Bismarck-Mandan Convention and Visitors Bureau
Meritorious Support Service Award - Sandy Osborne, Marilyn Geiszler, Connie Job and Monte Kelly
Retirees Service Award - Morris Holm
Visionary Leadership Recognition Award - Linda Crow

2001 Award Winners

Sate Early Career Service Award - Julie Garden-Robinson
State Mid-Career Service Award - Verona Lechler
State Meritorious Service Award - Peggy Anderson, Eugene Elhard and Kathy Tweeten
State Distinguished Service Award - Art Lamey
State Friend of Extension Award - Sharon and Mick Anderson, Robert Anderson and Tim G. Bryan
Meritorious Support Service Award - Lesa Wilm and Patty Flaagen
Retirees Service Award - Ron Anderson
Visionary Leadership Recognition Award - Linda Narum

2000 Award Winners

State Early Career Service Award - Carmel Miller
State Mid-Career Service Award - Roger Egeberg
State Meritorious Service Award - Dean Aakre, Ron Beneda and Terry Gregoire
State Distinguished Service Award - Darnell Lundstrom
Sate Friend of Extension Award - Gladys Cairns, Edwin Schmidt and Scott Stofferahn
Meritorious Support Service Award - Teresa Luck, Mary Beth Odegaard and Agnes Vernon
Visionary Leadership Recognition Award - Vernon Hoffman

1999 Award Winners

State Early Career Service Award - Becky Koch
State Mid-Career Service Award - Jackie Buckley
State Meritorious Service Award - Julie Hudson-Schenfisch, Jay Fisher, Linda Hauge and George Maher
State Distinguished Service Award - Connie Weed
State Friend of Extension Award - Kathy Hogan, Bill Pietsch and Burdell Johnson
Meritorious Support Service Award - Gail Hokenson, Ellen Boekes and Lori Lymburner
Retirees Service Award - Banks and Evelyn Sieber
Visionary Leadership Recognition Award - Duane Hauck

1998 Award Winners

State Early Career Service Award - Richard Zollinger
State Mid-Career Service Award - Marcia McMullen
Sate Meritorious Service Award - Arthur Lamey and Dave Rice
State Distinguished Service Award - Linda Crow
State Friend of Extension Award - Scott Hennen, Melana Howe and Steve Wennblom
Meritorious Support Service Award - Ardis Carvell, Kaye Jessen and Faye Klein
Retirees Service Award - Jim Berg
Visionary Leadership Recognition Award - Rhonda Conlon

1997 Award Winners

State Friend of Extension Award - Joel Janke, Mikkel Pates, Donavan Eck

1996 Award Winners

State Friend of Extension Award - Kevin Pifer, Wayne Colberg, Rod Burgad

1995 Award Winners

State Friend of Extension Award - Jerry Doan, Mike Hergert, Paul Langseth

1994 Award Winners

State Friend of Extension Award - Wendell Herman, Vernice Johnson, Gary Puppe

1993 Award Winners

State Friend of Extension Award - No honoree-no conference held

1992 Award Winners

State Friend of Extension Award - Mel Maier, Bill Drummond, Lorren Henke

1991 Award Winners

State Friend of Extension Award - Dean Thurow, Gerald Iverson, Luther Berntson

1990 Award Winners

State Friend of Extension Award - Dave Borlaug, Larry Ristvedt, Nancy Jo Bateman

1989 Award Winners

State Friend of Extension Award - Kathleen Braaten and James Marsden

1988 Award Winner

State Friend of Extension Award - Raymond Schnell

1987 Award Winners

State Friend of Extension Award - Delbert Moore and Keith Bjerke

1986 Award Winners

State Friend of Extension Award - Jack Dahl, Jean M. Guy, Merlind (Bud) Lannoye

1985 Award Winners

State Friend of Extension Award - Lois Jones and Bernie Johnson

1984 Award Winners

State Friend of Extension Award - Stanley Bale, Clair Michels, Lois Sullivan

1983 Award Winners

State Friend of Extension Award - Judy DeWitz and Don Kenna, Sr.

1982 Award Winners

State Friend of Extension Award - Elvira Thiel, Kyle Miller, Clarence Sande

1981 Award Winners

State Friend of Extension Award - Arthur and Grace Link

1980 Award Winners

State Friend of Extension Award - Wilma Galegher, Clark Jenkins, Alvin Kramer

1979 Award Winners

State Friend of Extension Award - Arden Burbidge, Al Gustin, George Mikkelson

1978 Award Winners

State Friend of Extension Award - Royal Berstler, Kathy Coyle, Arlene Sagnessn

 

Dean has been with NDSU Extension since 1983. He served as assistant county agent and county agent in Stutsman County, 4-H activity coordinator and 4-H youth specialist. He has coordinated the 4-H division of the North Dakota State Fair for 30 years. Dean leads Real Colors for new staff orientation and co-coordinated two Real Colors training/certification sessions in North Dakota. He says his greatest joy in Extension has been the opportunity to witness youth grow and develop into community-minded adults who give generously of their time and talents for benefit to others.