NDSU Extension Service staff were honored at the recent Extension/Research Extension Center fall conference in Fargo.

Epsilon Sigma Phi Extension Honorary Awards

• Meritorious Support Service Award -- Kari Presler, administrative assistant, Morton County, Mandan
• Early Career Service Award -- Marie Hvidsten, rural leadership specialist
• Distinguished Service Award -- Kathleen Tweeten, Center for Community Vitality director and community economic development specialist, Bismarck
• Continued Excellence Award -- Duane Hauck, retired Extension Service director, Fargo
• Visionary Leadership Award -- Lynette Flage, northeast Extension district director, Cavalier
• Administrative Leadership Award -- Jay Fisher, Fort Berthold Extension district director and North Central Research Extension Center director, Minot
• Distinguished Team Award -- Be Sun Savvy: Reduce Your Risk for Skin Cancer -- Julie Garden-Robinson, food and nutrition specialist, NDSU; Peggy Anderson, Burke and Divide County Extension agent; Mary Froelich, Williams County Extension agent; Bill Hodous, Ramsey County Extension agent; Dena Kemmet, Mercer County Extension agent; Lionel Olson, Grand Forks County Extension agent; Calli Thorne, McKenzie County Extension agent
• Friends of Extension -- Allan and Leah Burke, owners, publishers and editors of the Emmons County Record, Linton; Julie and Chad Ellingson, North Dakota Stockmen's Association executive vice president (Julie) and ranch family, St. Anthony; Michael O'Keeffe, chief executive officer, Farm Credit Services of Mandan

Program Excellence Awards Sponsored by Farm and Ranch Guide

• Grow It, Try It, Like It! -- Jean Noland, Extension agent, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program; Carrie Knutson, Extension agent, 4-H youth development; Donna Bernhardt, Extension Agent, family and consumer sciences; Linda Kuster, nutrition education assistant, Family Nutrition Program; Katie Johnke; Betsy Thompson; Jennifer Krieger; and area Boy Scouts, all of Grand Forks County
• Horticulture and Forestry Training for Extension Agents -- Joe Zeleznik, Extension forester, NDSU; Steve Sagaser, Grand Forks County horticulture Extension agent; Jackie Buckley, Morton County agriculture and natural resources Extension agent; Tom Kalb, Extension horticulturist, Bismarck; Todd Weinmann, Cass County Extension horticulturist; Esther McGinnis, Extension horticulturist, NDSU; and Kim Holloway
• Outdoor Activities for Youth: An Outreach Opportunity -- Kari Helgoe, family and consumer sciences Extension agent, Walsh County; Tara Sondeland, Family Nutrition Program Extension agent, Walsh and Pembina County; Samantha Lahman, agriculture and natural resources Extension agent, Pembina County; Helen Volk-Schill, family and consumer sciences Extension agent, Pembina County; Amy Chally, administrative assistant, Walsh County; Marty Eggeland; Travis Bennett; Kori Hodek; Tim Hodek; and Gary Rankin
• Teens Serving Food Safety -- Julie Garden-Robinson, food and nutrition specialist, NDSU; Kimberly Beauchamp, food safety/food entrepreneur specialist, NDSU; Stacy Wang, Extension associate, NDSU; and Scott Swanson, electronic media specialist, NDSU

Communicator of the Year sponsored by the Agriculture Communication Department and Association for Communication Excellence

• Glenn Muske, Extension rural and agribusiness enterprise development specialist, Bismarck

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.