A strong tradition honoring its members for their outstanding service.
AWARDS AND
HONORS
The South Dakota Higher Education Association has a strong tradition of honoring its members for their outstanding service. The many recipients of the Patrick Merrigan Award for Distinguished Service and the Marcus Boesen Memorial Award represent some of the best South Dakota has to offer in the field of Student Affairs.
We have been proud to call these individuals members and friends throughout the years and are honored to continue offering these prestigious awards.
Our 2025 Award nominations are currently closed until Summer 2025.
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Patrick Merrigan Award for Distinguished Service
This award is presented to a member of SDHEA who has exhibited outstanding leadership within the individual’s institution and area of responsibility and who has significantly contributed to the profession and to SDHEA. Individuals are nominated by the general membership.
Marcus Boesen Memorial Award
This award is made to a SDHEA member who shows outstanding contributions to the overall development of students, to their educational institution and to SDHEA and student affairs. Candidates must be employed in their first four years in a student personnel related profession at a South Dakota post-secondary institution. Individuals are nominated by the general membership.
Past Recipients
2024
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Laura Plowman
SDSU
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Bryce Nussbaum
SDM
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
2022
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Amanda Williams
SDSU
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Carla Anderson
SDSU
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
2020
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Nicole Peshong
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Nicole Bowen
DSU
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Beth Wahlstrom
Additional Honors
2018
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Katelyn Romsa
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Mandy Hendrix
DSU
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Cassandra Morgan
DSU
Additional Honors
2016
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Megan Reder-Schopp
SDSMT
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Darrell Sawyer
SDSMT
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Abbilene Sudtelgte
Additional Honors
2014
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Jessica Lewis
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Julie Hart-Schutte
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Jacob Ailts
Additional Honors
2012
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
John Geske
BHSU
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Grant Uecker
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Konefesi Vaisiagno
Additional Honors
2010
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Mike Keegan
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Maureen "Reeny" Wilson
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Crystal Savage
Additional Honors
2008
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Kristiaan Rawlings
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Bob Courtney
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
2006
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Travis Sieber
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Brandi Tschumper
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
2004
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Cheryl Holt
SDSMT
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Chuck Colombe
SDSMT
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
Graduate Student Award | Tracy Pease (SDSU)
2002
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Shad Durgen
USF
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Grant Uecker
Mitchell Tech
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
Graduate Student Award | Cindy Welle (SDSU)
2000
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
C.D. Douglas
SDSU
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Gwenda Koch
DWU
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
Graduate Student Award | Jarrod Meyers (SDSU)
1998
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Missy Herr-Valburg
DWU
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Terry Ryan
DSU
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
Graduate Student Award | Lorien Kendorski (SDSU)
1996
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Jon Eng
Augustana
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Judy Larson
BHSU
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
Graduate Student Award | Rebecca Glynn (SDSU)
1994
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Jenica Bohlen (posthumously)
Augustana
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Rhonda Britzman
SDSU
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
Graduate Student Award | K. Bornbach & M. Aschenbrener (USD)
1992
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
James Pedersen
SDSU
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
1990
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
William Williams
SDSU (New Professional Award renamed to Marcus Boesen Outstanding Young Professional Award)
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Dean Schueler
Agustana
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
1988
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Mary Utpadel
DSU (New Professional Award)
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Dee Candia
Augustana (Making a Difference Award renamed to Patrick Merrigan for Distinguished Service Award in 1989)
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
2023
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Paul Techo
DSU
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Christy Osborne
SDSU
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
2021
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Katie Grayson
SDSU
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Kayte Haggerty
SDSU
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
McKenzie Hassebroek
NSU
Additional Honors
Spirit of Change Award | Joseph Avanzado (SDSU)
2019
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Jordan Schuh
DSU
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
2017
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Bryce Nussbaum
DSU
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Lois Flagstad
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
2015
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Melissa Ochsner
SDSU
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Nancy Hartenhoff-Crooks
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Anna Haydock
Additional Honors
2013
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Stephanie Brown
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Dr. Karen Card
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Reece Yeadon
Additional Honors
2011
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Linde Murray
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Dr. Pat Mahon
SDSMT
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Mackenzie Kabrick
Additional Honors
2009
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Rae Getz
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Dr. Marie Lohsandt
DSU
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
2007
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Susie Hadrick
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Peggy Schlechter
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
2005
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Heather Johnson
WDT
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Dr. Kathie Erdman
SDSU
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
Graduate Student Award | Amy Pedersen (SDSU)
2003
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Jody Owen
SDSU
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Dr. Ruth Harper
SDSU
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
Graduate Student Award | Michelle Frye (SDSU)
2001
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Dr. Jacqueline Bolman
SDSMT
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Tim Edwards
Mitchell Tech
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
Graduate Student Award | Lorelyn Kuechle
1999
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Derek Solheim
Augustana
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Clarence Pederson
DWU
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
Graduate Student Award | Julie Biehl (SDSU)
1997
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Stephanie Hoffman
Mount Marty
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
LuAnn Strait
Lake Area Tech
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
Graduate Student Award | Kristie Armstrong (NSU)
1995
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Laura Miller
DWU
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Lori Lincoln
Mount Marty
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
Graduate Student Award | Tami Petersen (SDSU)
1993
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Jeff Dittman
DSU
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Paula Tacke
Mount Marty
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
Graduate Student Award | Teresa Bertness (SDSU)
1991
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Janet Reiman
Mount Marty
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Gene Schlekeway
BHSU
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
1989
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Linda Allen
Rapid City School of Nursing
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors
1987
Marcus Boesen Award Recipient
Patrick Merrigan Award Recipient
Doug Noteboom
Augustana (Making a Difference Award)
Robert J. Courtney Award Recipient
Additional Honors