OUTSTANDING OFFICER AWARD
Gina Burtness, Valley City State University
The Outstanding Officer Award is given to an officer on the NDSA Executive Team that the General Assembly believes has gone above and beyond expectations in service to the NDSA and the students of North Dakota.
Gina Burtness graduated double majoring in Business Administration (with a concentration on accounting and finance) and Software Engineering at Valley City State University. During her time as Vice President of Finance and Operations, Gina chaired the Strategic Plan Task Force and served as the student representative on the Academic Affairs Council. Gina has helped to lead the way in strengthening NDSA’s internal functioning and organizational structure as well as charting out its future through the development of the strategic plan.
Past Recipients: Casey Orvedal (UND, 2017-2018), Sovi Herring (DSU, 2018-2019), Taylor Toso (UND, 2019-2020), Faith Wahl (UND, 2020-2021), Christian Walth (NDSU, 2021-2022)
OUTSTANDING HEAD DELEGATE AWARD
Tucker Bercier, Mayville State University
The Outstanding Head Delegate Award is given to the NDSA Head Delegate that has best represented their institution through their commitment to the NDSA and who has worked diligently to foster a strong delegation throughout the academic year.
Tucker Bercier is a senior majoring in Social Science Education at Mayville State University and is planning to start a master’s program at the University of North Dakota in the fall of 2024. Tucker has been a familiar face in the Internal Affairs Committee and has lent his skills as an incredibly details-oriented and outcome-focused person to contribute to the organization as a whole. Tucker engaged in many conversations that proved to be incredibly consequential to the organization and advocated firmly for the interests of students.
Past Recipients: Madison Nelson-Gira (NDSCS, 2017-2018), Miranda Petrich (UND, 2018-2019), Dawson Dutchak (UND 2019-2020), McKenna Warcken (NDSU 2020-2021), Makai Bashir (North Dakota State College of Science)
MOST DEDICATED DELEGATE AWARD
Celeste McCash, Lake Region State College
Connor Ferguson, University of North Dakota
The Most Dedicated Delegate Award is given to two NDSA delegates that the General Assembly believes have been the most committed to the organization throughout the academic year.
Past Recipients: Kevin Gilgallon (MiSU, 2016-2017), Gracie Lian (UND, 2017-2018), Taylor Toso (UND, 2018-2019), Mason Rademacher (NDSU, 2019-2020), Christian Walth (NDSU, 2020-2021), Garret Fettig (VCSU, 2021-2022)
STUDENT ADVOCATE AWARD
Mike Nathe, North Dakota State Legislature
The Student Advocate Award is given to any individual – student or non-student – that the General Assembly believes has made a significant, positive improvement to higher education in North Dakota during the academic year.
Representative Mike Nathe pushed for the tuition freeze for institutions across North Dakota for the next two years and played a very significant role in increasing access to resources for students who are single parents across the entire NDUS.
Past Recipients: Jared Melville (NDSU, 2016-2017), Lisa Johnson (NDUS, 2017-2018), Kaleb Dschaak (UND, 2018-2019), Eric D. Olson (NDUS, 2019-2020), Mark Sanford (R-North Dakota House of Representatives District 17, 2020-2021), Katie Fitzsimmons (2021-2022).
NDSA LEGACY AWARD
Garret Fettig, Valley City State University
The NDSA Legacy Award is given to a student graduating from the North Dakota University System who will not be able to vote in future meetings. The General Assembly must believe that this delegate has made a powerful, positive, and reoccurring contribution to the students of North Dakota and higher education throughout their time at the NDSA.
Past Recipients: Ayaka Ohi (MiSu, 2017-2018), Jared Melville (NDSU, 2018-2019), Mike Moen (MaSU, 2019-2020), Kevin Gilgallon (NDSCS, 2020-2021), Gracie Lian (UND, 2021-2022)