NDSU staff received five awards at the Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, known as NASPA, Region IV-West conference held Nov. 8-12 in Beaver Creek, Colorado.

NDSU President Dean L. Bresciani; Timothy A. Alvarez, vice president for student affairs; Hailey Goplen, assistant director for service learning and civic engagement; Christopher Held, Student Success Programs for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention; and Katie Martinez, assistant Weible Hall director, were recognized.

The Presidential Excellence Award was presented to Bresciani for his consistent focus on and support of students. He is the first NDSU president to provide a seat on the President’s Cabinet for the student body president to ensure students are represented at the highest levels of NDSU.

The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Alvarez for his service to the student affairs profession and his commitment to mentoring students and staff. He has volunteered with the organization since 1999 and recently served as the NASPA IV-West regional director.

Rising Star awards are presented to new staff and students considered role models in the profession. Goplen received the New Professional Rising Star Award, Held was honored with the Graduate Student Rising Star Award and Martinez was recognized with the Undergraduate Rising Star Award.

NASPA is the leading student affairs organization with more than 15,000 members.

As a student-focused, land-grant, research university, we serve our citizens.