Riverland Community College honored current and outgoing faculty and staff at the College's annual Riverland Awards and Recognition Ceremony on May 15 at the Riverland Austin Campus West Building.

Riverland gathered to acknowledge staff members for their achievements through out the year including those who reached milestones of years of service, Faculty Awards of Excellence, and this year's retirees.

Riverland Nursing Program Director Danyel Helgeson was acknowledged as the Riverland nominee for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees Award for Excellence in Teaching. The nomination recognizes an individual faculty member for their superior professional accomplishment and teaching.

The College also acknowledged employees who received a "Moment of Greatness" award over the past academic year. The "Moment of Greatness" award provides employees the opportunity to encourage and recognize other employees for their contribution to the College's day-to-day successes.

In addition, the College awarded Susan Grove, a retired faculty member, the title of Emeritus Faculty. She received this award for her outstanding and long-term service to Riverland in the years 1977 – 2008.

Retirees: Virgil Eggers – General Maintenance Worker, 1995 - 2009; Mary Jemming – Customized Training Secretary, 1987 - 2009; Roger Panzer – Auto Mechanics Faculty, 1978 - 2009; Jo Ann Haynes – Financial Aid Officer, 1979 - 2008; Jim Kelm – Farm Business Management Faculty, 1969 - 2009; Kay Zahradnik – Bookstore Coordinator, 1983 – 2008.

One-year Awards: Ahmed Abdirahman, Jill Chao, Melissa Diegnau, Olle Gladso, David Greenfield, Judy Hanscom, Jim Jensen, John Johnson, Kendra Larson, Katrina Nagel, Juliana Sammon, John Sievers, Jennifer Smith, Pauline VanNurden, David Wentworth.

Five-year Awards: Myrle Asper, Maureen Carver, Eric Deters, Charlotte Elvebak, Ellen Goslee, Danyel Helgeson, Terry Leas, Mel Morem, Sandy Nauman, Jennifer Palma.

Ten-year Awards: Tom Andrist, Kari Busch, Jason Dibble, Kasey Finnegan, Kris Gullord, Paulette Long, Sandy Roe, Deb Schnell, Julie Stadheim, Marlene Wipplinger

Fifteen-year Awards: Terry Bue, Al Erdahl, John Hobert, Tim Jones, Linda Wasmoen.

Twenty-year Awards: Linda Balk, Sheryl Barton, Steve Bowron, Brad Doss, Dan Hoffman, Nolan McConnell, Lois Nelson, Ron Wangen.

Twenty-five-year Awards: Kathy Buker, Jerry Noland, Mary Peterson, Dan Rayman, Janelle Unverzagt.

Thirty-year Awards: Sue Jech, Charlie Uthke.

Thirty-five-year Awards: Pat Parsons.

Faculty Awards For Excellence: Walt Alms, John Berke, Rhonda Besel, Maryann Bush, Melissa Diegnau, Alan Erdahl, Kristin Flatness, Kim Hansen, Danyel Helgeson, Barb Houle, Sharon Hyland, Howard Kittleson, Lora Low, Jerry Noland, Jon Olseth, Cindy Olson, Pat Parsons, Gary Peterson, Stacey Rosenberg, Heidi Schara, Pamela Selmecki, Pamela Tranby, Carolyn Veldman, Stephen Wald, Vennie White.

"Moments of Greatness" Awards: Julie Anderson, Tom Andrist, Mindi Askelson, Lisa Baudler, Rich Bauer, Doug Blom, Scott Brechtel, Cindy Brimacomb-Whiteaker, Terry Bue, Kathy Buker, Maryann Bush, Sarah Camerer, Nancy Chrisopherson, James Douglass, Bill Dowden, Kelly Downey, John Drees, Charlotte Elvebak, Cindy Enfield, Judy Enright, Amanda Fett, Todd Fjeldberg, Miguel Garate, Ellen Goslee, Kris Gullord, Beth Hackenmiller, Kris Hanson, Danyel Helgeson, Patty Hemann, Annette Huffman, Mary Jemming, Stephanie Kamp, Sue Knoll, Cory Loecher, Shawn Martin, Nolan McConnell, Sue McCormick, John Merchlewitz, Mel Morem, Renee Njos, Jerry Noland, Brenda O'Connor, Cindy Olson, Pat Parsons, Terry Pelovsky, Page Petersen, Karen Richter, Sandy Roe, Stacey Rosenberg, Debbie Sauke, Holly Sherman, Tom Slack, Kathy Spinler, Julie Stadheim, Brian Staska, Wanda Staska, Sharon Stiehm, Karen Vanderploeg, Carolyn Veldman, Ricki Walters, Ron Wangen, Al Wesely, Mary Kay Wilson, Marlene Wipplinger, BJ Witts, Nel Zellar, East Bldg. Maintenance.