First Decade Award

First presented in 1968, the First Decade Award was established to recognize two individuals for early professional achievement by graduates of the 10th anniversary class. Criteria appropriate to selection shall include the difficulty of accomplishment; quality, creativity, and distinctiveness of performance; recognition by professional peers; and lasting contribution to the world of ideas and affairs.

First Decade Award Winners
Class Year First Name Maiden Last Name Year Awarded
2013 Andre Creighton 2023
2012 Steve Groskreutz 2022
2012 Nara Higano 2022
2011 Sam Grace Grace 2021
2011 Maya Jayawardena 2021
2010 Amber Hanson Glaeser 2020
2010 Gee Ouedraogo Ouedraogo 2020
2009 Asitha Jayawardena 2019
2009 Mikka McCracken 2019
2008 Mike Marcotte 2018
2008 Esther Mulder Widmalm-Delphonse 2018
2007 Ben Levy 2017
2007 Krista Cruse Meierbachtol 2017
2006 Dorea Ruggles 2016
2006 Matt Swenson 2016
2005 Paul Fraser 2015
2005 Kelly Younge Paradis 2015
2004 Luke Benoit 2014
2004 Emily King Meserve 2014
2003 Semonti Mustaphi Stephens 2013
2003 Hans Sviggum 2013
2002 Mike Bland 2012
2002 Amy Brown Schlegel 2012
2001 Jon Poole 2011
2001 Kirsten Cullen Sharma 2011
2000 Brian Smith 2010
2000 Christine Torborg 2010
1999 Brian North 2009
1999 Tammy Williams VanDeGrift 2009
1998 Miho Ihara 2008
1998 Jason Smerdon 2008
1997 Alex Hill 2007
1997 Jennifer Pleuss Spande 2007
1996 Rebecca Konrad 2006
1996 Milo Martin 2006
1995 Joe Gaugler 2005
1995 Debbie Lightly Mascaro 2005
1994 Nathan Funk 2004
1994 Susan Haddox 2004
1993 Deanna Koepp 2003
1992 Kirsten Tollefson Rockwell 2002
1992 Amit Shah 2002
1991 Philip Hotchkiss 2001
1991 Stacy Vezina 2001
1990 Liesl Batz 2000
1990 Steven Stratton 2000
1989 Kurt Elling 1999
1989 Angela Witt Prehn 1999
1988 Annette Boman 1998
1988 Pat Kirtland 1998
1987 Brian Mueller 1997
1987 Kristi Multhaup 1997
1986 Andra Ibrahim Ibrahim-Duncan 1996
1986 Jim Wade 1996
1985 Chad Olinger 1995
1985 Allison Rosati 1995
1984 Steve Andreasen 1994
1984 Lori Lackman Zeman 1994
1983 Cindy Zaine Karos 1993
1983 Tim Peterson 1993
1982 Steve Heitzeg 1992
1982 Debby Becker Stone 1992
1981 Scott Dee 1991
1981 Sharon Pridal Hunt 1991
1980 Woody Ediger 1990
1980 Colleen Seifert 1990
1979 Kevin Kling 1989
1979 Patricia Pellikka 1989
1978 Patty Mertz Esswein 1988
1978 Mark Thomsen 1988
1977 John Himle 1987
1977 Patricia Walker 1987
1976 Kim Erickson 1986
1976 Bob Warner 1986
1975 Tom Annesley 1985
1975 Jeanne Bauleke Blake 1985
1974 Dennie Gordon 1984
1974 Thomas Hietala 1984
1973 Deborah Jean Templin 1983
1973 Rick Webb 1983
1972 Chester Fuller 1982
1972 Joyce Tesarek 1982
1971 Nan Mizuhata 1981
1971 Norman Quinn 1981
1970 Talmadge King 1980
1970 Lee Pedersen 1980
1969 Greg Lupfer 1979
1969 Anita Stauffer 1979
1968 Jerome Del Pino 1978
1968 Gloria Floreen 1978
1967 Beverly Rathcke 1977
1967 Tom Toftey 1977
1966 Cheryl Downey 1976
1966 Bob Therien 1976
1965 Luther Luedtke 1975
1965 Marlyce Pedersen 1975
1964 Dan Johnson 1974
1964 Deanna Nelson 1974
1963 Abby Arthur Johnson 1973
1963 Tom Lindell 1973
1962 Jeanette Palmquist Momot 1972
1962 Paul Peterson 1972
1961 Karen Halvorson Carlson 1971
1961 Paul Hanson 1971
1960 Cy Kruse 1970
1960 Muriel Woods 1970
1959 Bruce Carlson 1969
1959 Floie Vane 1969
1958 Roberta Anderson Gardner 1968
1958 James McPherson 1968