Mount Marty College Holds Annual Recognition Banquet

YANKTON — Mount Marty College (MMC) held its annual end-of-the-year Recognition Banquet on the evening of Thursday, May 9, 2019. The yearly event is a time to pause as MMC administrators, faculty, and staff gather to relax, eat, and celebrate the end of another successful academic year.

Awards given at the ceremony include years-of-service awards, retirement awards and various individual recognitions for service, hospitality, leadership, and achievement.

This year the following people received five-year awards; Daniel Haubrick, Brooke Steffen-Kleinschmit, Ashley Gullikson, Jennifer Oakes, Ashley Dimmer, and Kevin Staples. Ten-year awards were presented to Erin Riibe and Carol Stewart. Awards for 15 years of service were given to Amy Heimes, Jay Scoblic, and Chun Wu. Kevin Neuhalfen was recognized for 20 years of service, Larry Dahlen for 25, S. Bonita Gacnik and Richard Lofthus for 30, and James Sullivan received an award for 35 years of service. Finally, Kathy Harens was presented with an award to recognize her retirement from MMC and several members of the MMC Board of Trustees were honored for their service and the culmination of their terms including Dan Specht, S. Louise Marie Goettertz, O.S.B., Dr. Richard Foster, and S. Mildred Busch, O.S.B., and Father James Bream.

Individual awards were presented to recognize faculty and staff who’s exemplary performance makes them stand out from the crowd. Candidates for these awards are nominated for recognition by their peers.

This year’s Distinguished Teaching Award was presented to Dr. Candice Climer. Recipients of the Distinguished Achievement Awards were Mary Abbott (staff) and James Hovland (faculty). Jordan Foos was given the Distinguished Service Award for staff members, and Charlie Gross received the Distinguished Service Award for faculty. The Distinguished Leadership Team award was presented to the Business Office, the Bishop Marty Hospitality Award went to Cindy Sohler, and Dr. Rich Lofthus was presented with the James Award..

The event ended with a drawing for prizes and a message of gratitude for MMC President, Dr. Marc Long who thanked the MMC community for their commitment to the MMC mission and each other.