ABERDEEN, S.D. — Northern State University recognized outstanding faculty and staff during its annual Employee Service Awards luncheon held Friday, April 17.
The event celebrated the dedication, professionalism and impact of employees across campus, highlighting both milestone years of service and exceptional performance in a variety of roles.
Employee Performance Awards were presented to individuals and teams nominated by their colleagues, with recipients selected through a voting process. These honors recognize employees who go above and beyond in their daily work, demonstrate leadership and make meaningful contributions to the university community and beyond.
This year's Employee Performance Award recipients include:
- Vicki Evans, tutoring center director, Student Service Award – Support Services
- Shelley Coats, technology integration specialist, Excellence in Performance
- Jeremy Iverson, computer support analyst; Keith Griebel, director of media services; and Mike Haggerty, communications network analyst, Teamwork Award
- Bea Smith, Northern Innovation and Startup Center director, Community Leader Service Award
- Amy Johnson, simulation lab/clinical coordinator, Excellence in Management
In addition to performance honors, Northern State University recognized 50 employees with Service Awards, representing a combined 625 years of employment with the state of South Dakota.
- 5 Years of Service: Alan Frazier, Cassandra Maillet, Sarah Meirose, Eman Momeni, Christopher Near, Daniel Shannahan, Salvador Villegas, Sean Blackburn, Lisa Foreman, Tracy Moody, Russell Entzel, John Isakson, Brandon Kusler, Stacy Bauer, Zachary Neer, Michael Abu-Sirriya, Michael Ishmael, Kiera Ball, Christina Shilman and Edwin Ruiz
- 10 Years of Service: Michael Bertsch, Kristi Brownfield, Amber Henderson, Audrey Miller, Tetiana White, Timothy Moffett, Paula Krueger and John Long
- 15 Years of Service: Ashley Gauer, Jessica Ness, Jerome Brandner, Britt Lorenz, Andrew Doerfler, Douglas Leidholt, Krista Bau, Darrell Stein, Jon Mitchell, George Nora, Rebecca Jensen and Laci Hettick
- 20 Years of Service: Lindsey Huber, Kami Fischbach, Steven Usitalo, Steven Gough and Keith Griebel
- 25 Years of Service: Jeremy Iverson
- 30 Years of Service: Bonnie Henjum, Julie Burckhard, Lysbeth Benkert, Ric Dias and Madia Droppers
These awards acknowledge years of commitment and dedication to public service, celebrating employees whose long-standing careers have helped shape the university and positively impact generations of students.
Employees who are retiring were also honored during the ceremony, recognizing their years of service and lasting contributions to the university community.
"Today we celebrate the people who make Northern a special place," said Dr. Alan LaFave, president of Northern State University. "Their dedication to students, colleagues and the broader community is what drives our success."
To view photos, visit https://nrthn.com/q5JHrl