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

NTC Distinguished ServiceThis 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

NTC Excellence in Teaching AwardThis 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

NTC Outstanding Contribution AwardThis 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

NTC Spirit of NTC awardThis 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