About the Awards
After consultations with campus stakeholders, Former 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 Northwest Technical College faculty, staff and administrators, both over the previous year and across employees’ entire careers at the college.
Distinguished Service
This award is presented to a member of the Northwest Technical College faculty or staff who has been employed at NTC 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 — Doreen Kuhrke, administrative assistant
2021 — Jeff Brower, plumbing & HVAC faculty
2020 — Event not held
2019 — Sue Sutton, medical coding
2018 — Pam Stowe, child care faculty
2017 — Gary Sorenson, accounting faculty
Excellence in Teaching
This award is presented to a member of the Northwest Technical College faculty. The recipient will have demonstrated teaching excellence through evidence of exceptional learning outcomes and quality student advising.
Recipients
2022 — Gwen Oster, electrical faculty
2021 — Kaci Peterson, health care administrative support faculty
2021 — Sammi Davidson, health care administrative faculty
2020 — Event not held
2019 — Brenda Henriksen, nursing
2018 — Julie Beevor, nursing
2017 — Pete Thul, electrical construction
Outstanding Contribution
This award is presented to up to three individual members of the Northwest Technical College faculty or staff. The recipient(s) will have gone above and beyond expectations to contribute to the college in the areas of student success, civic engagement, diversity, sustainability and/or public service.
Recipients
2022 — Peter Thul, electrical faculty
2021 — plumbing, HVAC & commercial refrigeration faculty (team)
2021 — Judy Rinkenberger, accounting officer (individual)
2020 — Event not held
2019 — Sandy Thole, nursing lab assistant
2018 — Lisa Hanson, admissions
2017 — Doreen Kuhrke, administrative assistant
Spirit of NTC
This award is 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 irresistible enthusiasm embody the Spirit of NTC through active support of students, student-athletes, coworkers and/or community members.
Recipients
2022 — NTC OneStop (team)
2022 — Heather Sutherland, early childhood education faculty (individual)
2021 — General maintenance – building utility team (team)
2021 — Tyler Peterson, director of the student success center (individual)
2020 — Event not held
2019 — Nursing faculty (team)
2019 — Shane Jensen, IT (individual)
2018 — Grace Ferdinandt, financial aid
2017 — Sarah Plahn, enrollment services