MAFAA Awards

MAFAA is grateful for the contributions made by it's members and constituents. As such, MAFAA recognizes significant achievements each year at the spring conference.

MAFAA Presidents

2008-2009   Kathy Ruby
2007-2008    Scott Roelke
2006-2007    John Pogue
2005-2006    John Pogue
2004-2005    Pam Engebretson
2003-2004   Jeff Olson
2002-2003   Jayne Dinse
2001-2002   Herald Johnson
2000-2001   Susan Neppl
1999-2000   Patty Holycross
1998-1999   David Dahlen
1997-1998   Cathy Lund-Ziebarth
1996-1997   Pat Berktold
1995-1996   Jim Schmidt
1994-1995   Karen Knighton
1993-1994   Christopher Halling
1992-1993   Daniel C. Nelson
1991-1992   Ronald V. Kraft
1990-1991   Herald Johnson
1989-1990   Roger O. Wiger
1988-1989   Dale Thornton
1987-1988   Robert I. Misenko
1986-1987   Gary Ness
1985-1986   Michael R. White
1984-1985   R. Blake Crosby
1983-1984   Paul G. Aasen
1982-1983   Frank E. Loncorich
1981-1982   Gordon J. Trisko
1980-1981   Orlo Austin
1979-1980   Richard D. Battig
1978-1979   Sister Anne Elise Tschida
1977-1978   Jon A. Griepentrog
1976-1977   Donald L. Johnson
1975-1976   John Schullo
1974-1975   Thomas Levig
1973-1974   James Hausman
1972-1973   Robert E. Frazey
1971-1972   David H. Anderson
1970-1971   Robert Matuska
1969-1970   Robert Matuska
1968-1969   Bruce Gray

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President's Award

The President's Award is presented to the MAFAA member who enabled the president to effectively perform the duties of the association president. Support provided could include clerical activities, special projects, or special committee assignments that benefit the association. The MAFAA president selects the winner.

2007-2008   Lois Larson
2006-2007    Emily Dowdle, Ellen McCullough, Lynn Mens
2005-2006    Tom Hansen, Marcia Hubner, Jessica Sidla
2004-2005    Dick Battig
2004-2005    Carol Dockendorf
2003-2004   Chad Nosbusch
2002-2003   Karen Kraft
2001-2002   Lynette Wahl
2000-2001   Jim Stiner
1999-2000   Jane Williams
1998-1999   Patricia Klicka
1997-1998   Patricia Fischer
1996-1997   Cal Johnson
1995-1996   Carolyn Zehren
1994-1995   Patty Holycross, Karen Knighten, Dan Nelson
1993-1994   Kay Grabarkewitz
1992-1993   Linda Lindseth
1991-1992   Christine Heiting
1990-1991   Christopher Halling
1989-1990   Daniel Nelson
1988-1989   Reed Carpenter
1987-1988   Sharon Harris
1986-1987   Shirley Buerkle
1985-1986   Paul Aasen
1984-1985   Patty Holycross
1983-1984   Mary Hershberger

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Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award is presented to a MAFAA member whose years of service, highlighted by contributions made this past year, warrant recognition by this association. Nominations are sought from MAFAA members. A committee, comprised of the past five Distinguished Service Award recipients and chaired by the most recent recipient, reviews the contributions of nominees and selects the recipient.

2008 Carol Dockendorf
2007  John Pogue
2006  David Dahlen
2005  Susan Brady
2004  JoAnn Haynes
2003 Kay Rindal
2002 Karen Kraft
2001 Robert Krueger
2000 Jane Williams
1999 Karen Knighton
1998 Cal Johnson
1997 Diane Borchardt
1996 Kay Grabarkewitz
1995 Dale Thornton
1994 Daniel Nelson
1993 Shirley Buerkle
1992 Herald Johnson
1991 Dianne Danov
1990 Michael White
1989 Frank Loncorich
1988 Gary Ness
1987 Patty Holycross
1986 Paul Aasen
1985 Allen Rasmussen
1984 Donald Johnson
1983 Jon Griepentrog
1982 Sister Anne Elise Tschida
1981 Richard Battig
1980 Robert Matuska
1979 Robert Frazey

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Executive Council Award

The Executive Council Award is presented to a MAFAA committee whose exemplary performance served MAFAA in good stead the past year. Contributions benefiting the association, the financial aid community and constituents are evaluated. The MAFAA Executive Council selects the winner.

2008 Conference Planning committee, co-chaired by Michelle Ahrendt and Nichole Lien.
2007  Diversity task force, Debbie Velasco, Chair
&
Leadership committee, David Vikander, Chair
2006  Corporate Support committee, David Dahlen, Chair
&
Professional Development committee, Scott Roelke, Chair
2005  Early Awareness committee, Susan Prater, Chair
2004  Corporate Support committee, David Dahlen, Chair
2003 Government Issues committee, Pam Engebretson, Chair
2002 Development committee, Richard Blatchley, Chair
2001 Professional Development committee, JoAnn Haynes, Chair
2000 Public Relations committee, Chad Nosbusch, Chair
1999 Government Issues committee, Paul Aasen & Susan Brady, Co-Chairs
1997 Professional Development committee, David Dahlen, Chair
1996 Public Relations committee, Carol Swenson, Chair
1995 Professional Development committee, Jeannette Maynard, Chair
1994 Association Services committee, Kay Grabarkewitz, Chair
1993 Government Issues committee, Jim Schmidt, Chair
1992 Conference Planning committee, Barbara Kowal, Chair
1991 Newsletter committee, Kay Rindal, Chair
1990 Budget and Finance committee, Michael White, Chair
1989 Federal Legislative committee, Larry Sonnek, Chair
1988 Archives committee, Herald Johnson, Chair
1987 Professional Development committee, Jane Williams, Chair
1986 Public Relations committee, Robert Misenko, Chair

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Special Recognition Award

The Special Recognition Award is presented to a person affiliated with the financial aid community other than a practicing financial aid administrator, who has consistently provided outstanding service to MAFAA in recent years. The fact that this award is not presented annually underscores it significance. The MAFAA Executive Council selects the recipient.

2008 LuGail Hamel, TCF Bank
2007  Ken Wallace, Education Assistance Corporation
2006  Ann Scott, Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc.
2005  Carol Swenson, Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc.
2004  Richard Battig, Academic Funding Group
2003 Joe Aitken, Minnesota Indian Scholarship Programs
2002 Clark Wold, Education Assistance Corporation
2001 Ginny Dodds, MHESO
2000 Jamie Malone, U.S. Department of Education, Region V
1999 Tom Hansen, Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation
1997 State Representative Lyndon Carlson
1996 Jan Borra, MAFAA List Serv Developer;
State Representative Gene Pelowski
1995 Congressman Tim Penny;
State Senator Steve Murphy
1994 Kurtis Kindschi, American College Testing
1991 Richard Leighninger, MHECB
1989 Dan Reyelts, TCF Bank
1988 William Howie, Higher Education Assistance Foundation
1984 Milt Hilary, American College Testing
1983 Martin Jagodensky, Higher Education Assistance Foundation

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Special Achievement Award

The Special Achievement Award is presented to a person, committee, task force or other entity that has made a significant contribution to the financial aid profession in Minnesota. The fact that this award is not presented annually underscores its significance. The MAFAA Executive Council selects the recipient.

2008 Corporate Support Committee, chaired by Jayne Dinse, South Central College
2007 Frank Loncorich, St. Cloud State
Patty Holycross, Itasca Community College
2006 College Goal Sunday Task Force, Judy Swanson, Chair
2005 John Gust, St. Cloud State
2004 Fin Aid / Admissions Relations Task Force, Lu Gail Hamel, Chair
2003 Financial Structure Task Force, John Pogue, Chair
2002 Futures Committee, Patty Holycross, Chair
2001 Early Awareness Task Force, Brad Riebel & Sandy Sundstrom, Co-Chairs
Technology Task Force, Tim Lehmann, Chair
2000 Barb Fahnhorst, Membership Coordinator
1998 Technology Task Force, Nate Emerson, Chair
Distance Learning Task Force, Fran VanSlyke-Zeslofsky, Chair
1995 Leadership Symposium Development Team, Jim Schmidt, Chair
1994 Shared Responsibility Task Force, Daniel C. Nelson & Chris Halling, Co-Chairs
1992 Kennon Rothchild, Northstar Guarantee Inc
1991 Student Loan Task Force, Dianne Danov, Chair

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Outstanding Young Professional Award

The recipient of this award must have made outstanding contributions to his/her institution, the financial aid profession, and the Minnesota Association of Financial Aid Administrators. The criteria are based on significant contributions over a period of time and are not typically given for a single contribution. The recipient must hold regular membership in MAFAA and have been in the financial aid profession for less than 5 years. The MAFAA Executive Council selects the recipient.

2008 Kerry Lurken
2007  Jarod Paulson
2006  Nichole Lien
2005  Dan Vega
2004  Jessica Sidla

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NASFAA State Awards Won by MAFAA

There are four categories in which state awards are given. They are: Service to the Financial Aid Profession; Service to Other Constituencies; Service to Parents and Students; and Service to Advancing the Goals of Access and Diversity. These awards are presented by NASFAA to recognize individual state associations that have developed outstanding projects that contribute to the financial aid profession.

2006 Service to Students, Parents and Families,
Early Awareness Committee,  Susan Prater, Chair
2003 Service to the Profession,
Master's Leadership Task Force, Dan Nelson, Chair
1996 Service to Other Constituencies,
Professional Development Committee, David Dahlen, Chair
1994 Service to the Profession,
Leadership Symposium Development Team, Jim Schmidt, Chair
1993 Service to Other Constituencies,
Government Issues Committee, Jim Schmidt,  Chair
1990 Service to Other Constituencies,
Professional Development Committee, Dianne Danov, Chair
1988 Service to the Profession,
Professional Development Committee, Dianne Danov, Chair

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