Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

Jerry worked for six years with two international accounting firms.  In the mid-sixties, he bought into the Austin CPA firm of Bowlby Anfinson.  The firm grew from five employees to 75 employees eventually merging with Larson Allen.

In addition to Jerry’s professional accomplishments, he also shared his talents and experience in public service:  He helped create the Development Corporation of Austin and Apex-Austin (a group whose efforts led to the creation of a Welcome Center and other programs targeted at assisting new residents who moved to Austin from all over the world).  He also served previously on the Worlein Funeral Home board.

Jerry retired in 1995 and spends the majority of his time with wife Carol, who was a Riverland Foundation Board Member 1992-98, in Naples, Florida.  He currently serves as President of the Wilderness Condominium Association, Inc. and the Wilderness Country Club, Inc.  Distance is no obstacle because Jerry’s commitment to Austin remains strong:  Jerry serves as Treasurer of the Hormel Foundation Board.  His continued support of our college and the community of Austin earned Jerry the 1991 Distinguished Alumnus Award from Riverland Community College.

When asked what advice he has for students today, Jerry shared the following, “You can continue to create value, talent, and skills for yourself by continuing your education.  Never give up on educating yourself, because your current or future employer will ultimately pay you for the added talent and expertise you gain with additional education.”

A nationally recognized authority on plant physiology of agricultural crops, Nelson has co-authored five books and published more than 200 research papers. He received the University of Minnesota's Siehl Prize for Excellence in Agriculture in 2004 for extraordinary contributions to food production and the alleviation of hunger and the national Outstanding Alumni Award from the American Association of Community Colleges in 2007.

Growing up on a farm in southern Minnesota, Nelson's academic career began at Austin Junior College (now Riverland Community College), which he chose largely for economic reasons. "That was the one I could afford," said Nelson. "And I could stay at home and continue working for area farmers. It gave me a great foundation for a rewarding career."

Nelson maintains close ties with Riverland Community College, consulting frequently with college leadership and establishing two Jerry and Barbara Nelson Endowed Scholarships in memory of his wife. He also led his Lyle High School class of 1957 to donate a scholarship to Riverland. The scholarships have no restrictions. "We left them wide open," said Nelson. "Some may use it as a steppingstone to a four-year university. Others may want to learn skills to  improve their employment and be more involved with governance and societal development of the area; that will contribute a tremendous amount, too."

Ardell Brede became Mayor of Rochester, Minnesota on January 6, 2003.  Prior to being elected, Mayor Brede held numerous positions at the Rochester Methodist Hospital and the Mayo Clinic of Rochester.

Riverland Community College honored Brede with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2006.   Brede addressed Riverland graduates as the Commencement keynote speaker.

Born in Austin, Minnesota, Brede received an Associate degree in commerce from then Austin Junior College (now Riverland Community College) in 1959 and took several graduate courses in the University of Minnesota Extension Division program.  Brede has also attended Management classes and seminars at Brigham Young University and the Rochester Methodist Hospital/Mayo Rochester.

Brede is married to Judy Brede and they have three children, Leslie Kennedy, Scott Brede, and Jennifer Brede.  Under his leadership as Mayor, Rochester has consistently ranked among the top ten most livable cities in the nation and has been named Star City, All America City, and Money Magazine's "#1 Best Place to Live in America."

Judge Mott grew up in Albert Lea, Minnesota, graduated with an A.A. from Austin State Junior College (now Riverland Community College) in 1970, and received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota in 1972.  He obtained his J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law in 1976.  He practiced law in St. Paul as a sole practitioner and part-time Assistant Ramsey County Public Defender from 1976 until his appointment to the District Court bench by Governor Rudy Perpich in 1988.  He was subsequently elected in 1990, 1996, 2002, and 2008. 

With encouragement from several faculty members at ASJC, Judge Mott became involved in politics during his college years.  He worked on various local and state campaigns starting in 1970, was a delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention, and served on the campaign staff of presidential candidate Sen. George McGovern in that year.  In 1974, he was elected as Secretary of the Minnesota State DFL Party and served in that position for many years.

He has taught in various capacities in the William Mitchell clinical program and legal practicum, as well as the law enforcement program at Century College.  Judge Mott served as the Assistant Chief Judge for the 2nd Judicial District, Ramsey County, from 1998 to 2002, and as Chief Judge from 2002 to 2004.  From 2001 to 2004, he was the Chair of the Conference of Chief Judges for the State of Minnesota dealing with budget and policy issues for the trial courts in Minnesota.  Chief Justice A. M. Keith assigned all asbestos-related cases in the State of Minnesota to Judge Mott.  He handled these cases for eight years.  He was also appointed to the national Mass Tort Litigation Committee formed by the Conference of Chief Justices of the United States.  He also chaired the Race Data Collection Work Group, which was responsible for developing and implementing a system to collect race census information on all criminal, traffic, and juvenile cases in the Minnesota State Courts.

Judge Mott has been a leader on various Judicial Branch committees dealing with technology issues in the courts including serving as a member of the Policy Group of CriMNet, which is Minnesota's effort to establish electronic information sharing among criminal justice agencies.  He has lectured on complex civil litigation, criminal case calendaring systems, case management, the insanity defense, sentencing sex offenders, as well as courtroom and courthouse design.  In 2007, he was an invited presenter at the 6th International Conference on Courthouse Design sponsored by the American Institute of Architects.

In 2000, the Minnesota District Judges Association gave him the Outstanding Service Award for contributing to the improvement of the judicial system.

Shortly after its formation, Judge Mott was assigned to preside over Ramsey County's DWI Court as part of his judicial duties.  He was instrumental in developing DWI Court into a successful program that has dramatically reduced the re-offense rate of people with multiple DWIs.  In 2008, he was given one of the Statewide Recognition Awards from MADD for his work on the DWI Court.  Judge Mott has served in the Family, Criminal and Civil Divisions of the District Court during his career.  He also currently serves on various judicial committees.

Among others, his community and professional involvements have included:

• Member, Ramsey County Community Corrections Advisory Board
• Board of Directors, Criminal Defense Services Project
• Board of Directors - Summit-University Teen Center
• Board of Directors - Canabury Square Condominium Association
• Board of Directors - Community Associations Institute
• Member, CriMNet Task Force
• Court Transformation Work Group – Appointed by Chief Justice Blatz to recommend a new governance structure for the Minnesota Judicial Branch following the change from county to state funding of the Courts
• Member, Weighted Caseload Committee
• Member, Minnesota State Court System Inter-Court Committee
• Member, Court Technology Planning Committee
• Member, Minnesota State Court System Strategic Planning Committee
• Member, Supreme Court Guardian Ad Litem Task Force
• Chair, Ramsey County Committee that developed and implemented the Fast Track Drug Program
• Chair, Ramsey District Court Criminal Calendar Committee responsible for revising the criminal trial schedule in Ramsey County and taking it from the slowest in the state to the fastest
• Faculty - New Judge Orientation Program, Minnesota Supreme Court Continuing Education

Scott Richardson graduated from Austin Central High School in 1965. He attended Austin Junior College (now Riverland Community College), and obtained an A.A. degree in June of 1967. He attended the University of Minnesota and graduated in June of 1969 with a B.A. degree in history.

Richardson enlisted in the United States Army for two years and served as a Correctional Officer at Fort Riley, Kansas stockade.

He graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School in June of 1974 and was admitted to the practice of law in the state of Minnesota in 1974. He has been practicing law in Austin since 1974. Richardson is also authorized to practice law in the Minneapolis/St. Paul District of the Federal District Courts.

He and his wife, Cathy, were married in 1969. She is a social worker employed by the Austin School District. They have two children.

Richardson is currently a member of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, a member of the Austin Noon Lions Club, the Austin US Bank Advisory Board, the Austin Community Scholarship Foundation, and the local and state bar associations.

• Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services
• Minnesota State Bar Association
• Hormel Historic Home
• Sacred Heart Hospice
• Agape Halfway House
• Austin Youth Hockey
• Austin Area Chamber of Commerce

• Austin Community College Scholarship Foundation
• Saint Augustine’s Parish Council
• 10th District Lawyer’s Ethic/Disciplinary Committee
• Legal Services Advisory Committee
• Austin Junior College Student Council (vice president)