UMC Golden Eagle News Archive:
June 6, 2006 - July 1, 2009

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CROOKSTON, Minn. (April 23, 2007) – The University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) recently honored students with achievement and service awards at the annual Student Awards Reception. 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.

Eleven 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 Debra Altepeter, Crookston, Minn.; Mark Belanger, Pequot Lakes, Minn.; Jessica Berglund, East Grand Forks, Minn.; Theresa Crance, Timber Lake, Wisc.; Alyssa Cunningham, Huxley, Iowa; Cory Detloff, Bertha, Minn.; Nicole Erickson, Starbuck, Minn.; Amanda Fickes, Sebeka, Minn.; Erin Flynn, Bloomer, Wisc.; Mary Jo Geldert, Annandale, Minn.; James Irrgang, Grand Forks, N.D. ; Micah Meyer, Parkers Prairie, Minn.; Craig Roerick, Upsala, Minn.; Rich Stangle, Hastings, Minn.; April Thorstad, Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D.; and Chris Zellmer, Oakdale, Cali..

From that group, two students were named "Man and Woman of the Year," the year's top academic, service and leadership award. Honors go to UMC Man of the Year Mark Belanger, a junior majoring in information technology management and business management; and Woman of the Year Theresa Crance, a junior majoring in biology and pre-medicine.  

Belanger is the son of Jan and Leo Belanger of Pequot Lakes, Minn. Crance is the daughter of  Roy and Ann Crance of Timber Lake, SD. Each student received a monetary award of $100.

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 as follows:

Most Creative Use of Technology: Pam Elf, Ph.D.; assistant professor of biology
Outstanding Educator: Kevin Thompson, Ph.D.; assistant professor of communication
Most Supportive of Students: Lisa Samuelson, director of student activities / Student Center
Outstanding Service to Students: Kenneth Johnson, instructor of business

Additional achievement and service awards were given in the following categories:

Crookston Student Association
Trent Senenfelder, Walker, Minn.; Katie Jeremiason, Marshall, Minn.; Rich Stangle, Hastings, Minn.; Patrick Dreher, St. Paul Park, Minn.; Jill Leoni, Gilbert, Minn.; Jordan McCormick, San Leandro, Calif.; James Irrgang, Grand Forks, N.D.; Erin Flynn; Bloomer, Wis.; Matt Scheerer, Vancouver, Wash.; Joe Nelson, West Fargo, N.D.

Outstanding Tutor Awards
Michelle Blocker, Zim, Minn.; Lei Sun, Bejing, China; Shirley Osborne, Crookston, Minn.

Student Support Services Scholars
Mark Moreno, Bell, Calif.; Ken Armstrong, Fisher, Minn.; Jason Raupp, Reedburg, Wis.; Susan Turner, Granite Falls, Minn.

UMC Student Ambassadors
Jared Hendricks, Owatonna, Minn.; Dani Harris, Stewartville, Minn.; Cindy Young, Pierz, Minn. Admissions Counselor and Advisor Amanda Neubauer, Jessica Schein, Cannon Falls, Minn.; Amanda Munch, Beltrami, Minn.; Amanda Peterson, Rochester, Minn.

Outstanding Ambassador
Amanda Munch, Beltrami, Minn.

Cooperative Ministry and Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Nicole Erickson, Starbuck, Minn.; Theresa Crance, Timber Lake, S.D.

Outstanding Achievement in Math and Physics
Jacalyn Keller, Crookston, Minn.; Hee Eun Kim, Seoul, South Korea

First Year Biology Award
Jessica Klassen, Morden, Manitoba, Canada

Excellence in Early Childhood Education
Alyssa Cunningham, Huxley, Iowa

Outstanding Business Management and Marketing Students
Achievement: April Thorstad, Grand Forks, N.D.
Achievement: Jessica Berglund, East Grand Forks, Minn.
Leadership: Kiira Wilcox, Hudson, Wis.

Business Activities Day-Special Award
Erin Kappes, Ada, Minn.

Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Leadership Awards
Theo Powell III, Oshkosh, Wisc.

Hotel Restaurant and Institutional Management
Lydia Hegge, Mentor, Minn.; Kishor Regmi, Pekhara Kaski, Nepal
Cheryl Schob, Thief River Falls, Minn.

Outstanding Communication Student
Beth Jacobson, Fargo, N.D.

Horticulture Club Service Award
Scott Hoffman, Worthington, Minn.

Norman Pankratz Memorial Conservation Award
Mary Jo Geldert, Annandale, Minn.; Micah Meyer, Parkers Prairie, Minn.

Outstanding Animal Science Student
Craig Roerick, Swanville, Minn.

Outstanding Equine Science Student
Courtney Sonnek, Minnesota Lake, Minn.

Outstanding Dedication to the UMC Agriculture Department
Melissa Herbst, Birnamwood, Wisc.

Outstanding Achievement in Music and Theater
Music: Micah Meyer, Parkers Prairie, Minn.; Rebecca Gerla, Climax, Minn.
Theater: Sonia Glasgow, Duluth, Minn.; Deborah Halstad, Fertile, Minn.

Computer Help Desk Award
Mark Belanger, Pequot Lakes, Minn.

Amanda M. Fickes Outstanding Tutor of the Year Award
Amanda Fickes, Sebeka, Minn.

Study Abroad Awards
Annika Ekholm, Walker, Minn.; Dauline Menze, Starbuck, Minn.

International Student Outstanding Achievement Award
Subok Kim, Kwang Ju, South Korea

Excellent participation by a First Year International Student
Kishor Regmi, Pekhara Kaski, Nepal

Outstanding Contribution to the Office of International Programs
Donna Hartel, Crookston, Minn.; Dana Trickey, Mentor, Minn.

Outstanding Student Volunteer of the Year
Nicole Erickson, Starbuck, Minn.

Presidential Student Service Award
Tiffany Benning, Eagle Bend, Minn.; Mark Belanger, Pequot Lakes, Minn.; Jill Leoni, Gilbert, Minn.; Sasha McCargar, LeSueur, Minn.

UMC Mentoring and Caring
Kayla Knopp, Fargo, N.D.; James Irrgang, Grand Forks, N.D.; Amber Hemmerlich, Webster City, Iowa; Alyssa Cunningham, Huxley, Minn.; Tiffany Benning, Eagle Bend, Minn.; Joe Nelson, West Fargo, N.D.; Greg Summers, Beatrice, Neb.; Susan Turner, Granite Falls, Minn.; Jessica Schein, Cannon Falls, Minn.; Stephanie Onken, Round Lake, Minn.

Dale Knotek Community Service Award
Natural Resources Club
Pictured: Kristen Fritz, Fairmont, Minn.; Alisha Maves, Frazee, Minn.; Holly Sandberg, Rochert, Minn.; Tamara Saxton, Rush City, Minn.; Mary Jo Geldert, Annandale, Minn.; Luke Klawitter, Crookston, Minn.; Luke Anderson, Crookston, Kevin Anderson, Spring Grove, Minn.; Micah Meyer, Parkers Prairie, Minn.;


UMC Athletic Dept. All Academic Team (3.2 grade point average or higher)
Athletic All Academic Awards
Front row: Cleon Melsa, faculty athletic representative, Lisa Steinbrecher, volleyball, Seward, Alaska; Lincoln Messner, baseball, Winthrop, Minn.; Kristen Fritz, softball, Fairmont, Minn.; Stephanie Helgeson, athletic director

Back Row: Aaron Smith, men’s basketball, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Erin Flynn, Volleyball, Bloomer, Wisc.; Theresa Crance, volleyball and women’s basketball, Timber Lake, S.D.; Jordan McCormick, football, San Leandro, Cal.

Not pictured:
Baseball: Caleb Kreklau, Sebeka, Minn.; Shawn Motl, Staples, Minn.; Kyle Nyquist, Cokato, Minn.; Brett Wright, Cortland, N.Y.; Mark Wright, Grand Forks, N.D. Equestrian: Ashley Fraase, Buffalo, N.D.; Danika Kent, Lancaster, Minn.; Kristi Santerre, Chugiak, Alak.; Brittney Skoien, Wannaska, Minn. Football: Christopher McMullen, Anchorage, Alaska; Christopher Zellmer, Oakdale, Cal. Hockey: Brett Shelanski, Monticello, Minn. Soccer: Jacqueline Creelman, Rogers, Minn.; Amber Erdmann, Crookston, Minn.; Athena Mussenden, Kenosha, Wisc.; Becky Thorbjornsen, Rapid City, S.D. Softball: Kayla Kappes, Ada, Minn.; Jessica Klassen, Morden Manitoba, Canada; Lorelei McGee, Moose Lake, Minn. Volleyball: Stefanie Rude, Halstad, Minn. Volleyball/Softball: Britney Winkelman, Foley, Minn.; Cassie Yates, Buffalo, Minn. Women’s Golf, Amy Schwartz, Monticello, Minn.

Outstanding Student Programmer Award
Jill Leoni, Gilbert, Minn.

Outstanding Crookston Student Association (CSA) Senator
Patrick Dreher, St. Paul Park, Minn.

Outstanding Club Representative
Jessica Beach, Sebeka, Minn.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. UMC is dedicated to helping students and the region aim higher, reach further and dream bigger dreams. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.