Deb Hofer earned the prestigeous Mary McCannel Gunkelman Recognition Award.

Deb Hofer, manager of NDSU Dining’s Minard Coffee Shop, was honored with NDSU’s prestigious Mary McCannel Gunkelman Recognition Award during a ceremony on Wednesday, May 3, at the Harry D. McGovern Alumni Center.

The Gunkelman Award was established in January 1987 by the late John L. Gunkelman and his family in memory of Mary Gunkelman. The annual award goes to the student, staff member or faculty member who best makes the campus a welcoming, friendly place.

Hofer was selected for her care for others and her unwavering service to the NDSU community.

“In a year with the highest number of nominations we've seen in years (88 nominees), it was difficult to pick just one winner,” said Amolia Schumacher, Thompson Hall director and member of NDSU Staff Senate. “What stood out about Deb was the kindness she showed to students, staff and faculty at NDSU through the simple act of service. She cares enough to remember people's names, orders and follow up when they've mentioned big tests or meetings coming up. Deb had many nominators, each one sharing a different fond memory of their interactions with her. Deb is altruistic in her care for others and she makes it known that each person on campus has at least one person that cares for them: her.”

Gunkelman was a 1942 graduate of the College of Home Economics. She was dedicated to the principle that a student is more apt to attain his or her full potential in an enjoyable environment. Throughout her life, Gunkelman’s greatest expression and satisfaction was in creating an atmosphere of happiness for others to enjoy.

“The Mary McCannel Gunkelman Recognition Award is all about celebrating the people who make NDSU smile,” Schumacher said. “During the ceremony, Mary's son shared that Mary was the light of every room and always had time to stop and chat for a while. Mary made people feel cared for, and the nominees of this award do the same thing.”

The complete list of Gunkelman Award nominees included:

Students

• Josie Anderson – Medical Lab Science
• Jake Arason – Architecture
• Taiton Axtman – Animal Science
• Shashi Bhushan – Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
• Zhi Wei Blaubach – Strategic Communication
• Katie Bye – Pharmacy
• Garrett Byron – Psychology
• Connor Dilse – Mechanical Engineering
• Warrick Dilse – Agriculture
• Shan Donovan – Biology
• Iris Dukart – Agriculture Education
• Dani Eissinger – Psychology
• Bradley Erickson – Agriculture Economics
• Hunter Feigum – Agriculture Economics
• John Fink – Electrical Engineering
• Ian Foster – Architecture
• Lauren Gietzen – Nursing
• Leah Hermanson – Nursing
• Emma Honeyman – Agricultural Economics
• Isaac Huber – Agriculture
• Jennifer Hurlbert – Animal Sciences
• Windy Jacobson – Animal Science
• Patrick Kirkpatrick III – Environmental Engineering
• Jared Lovro – Education
• Breanna Metzenhuber – Veterinary Technology
• Zachary Quirk – Environmental Engineering
• Kylie Schwoch – Exercise Science
• Wyatt Severson – Exercise Science
• Noah Sirvio – Architecture
• Tyler Thilmony – Construction Management and Engineering
• Talha Tufaique – Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
• Bryce Van Vleet – Human Development and Family Science
• Karl Vanhorsen – Pharmacy
• Hannah Wiebold – Construction Engineering

Staff

• Amber Bach-Gorman – Counseling Center
• Becky Bahe – Career and Advising Center
• Jennifer Carney – Agribusiness and Applied Economics
• Peggy Cossette – Dean’s Office, Human Science and Education
• Brenda Deckard – Plant Sciences
• Stephanie DeSimini – Plant Sciences
• Sharon Dunkel – Student Health Services
• Darin Eisinger – Plant Sciences
• Stacey Eklund – Facilities Management
• Angela Evans – Residence Life
• Jill Greives – Biological Sciences
• Robert Gritzer – Residence Life
• Diane Gudding – Dining
• Jean Hagen – Aerospace Studies; AFROTC
• Holly Halvorson – Center for 4-H Youth Development
• Francisco Hidalgo – Information Technology Services
• Heather Higgins-Dochtermann – Office of the Provost
• Deb Hofer – Dining
• Kathy Hoovestol – Office of Teaching and Learning
• Tara Hoyme – Health, Nutrition and Exercise Science
• David Huber – Division of Performing Arts
• Bonnie Hurner – Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Ihsan Khan – Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute
• Nancy Moberg – Health, Nutrition and Exercise Science
• Gail Nelson – Registration and Records
• Rob Sailer – Mechanical Engineering
• Linnett Schmidkunz – NDSU School of Nursing Library
• Justin Swank – Agribusiness and Applied Economics
• Shannon Ueker – Extension Plant Sciences
• Ruth Wirtz – Military Science

Faculty

• Adnan Akyuz – Meteorology/Climatology
• Eric Berg – Animal Sciences
• James Caton – Agribusiness and Applied Economics
• Danielle Condry – Microbiological Sciences
• Devin Cunningham – Animal Sciences
• Edward Deckard – Plant Sciences
• David Englund – Agribusiness and Applied Economics
• Sulaymon Eshkabilov – Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
• Jerry Gao – Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Eric Gjerdevig – Management and Marketing
•  Kirk Howatt – Plant Sciences
• Xinhua Jia – Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
• Dmitri Kilin – Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Maxx Kureckzo – Mathematics
• Chiwon Lee – Plant Sciences
• Blaine Novak – Animal Sciences
• Matthew Olhoft – Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
• Frayne Olson – Extension Agribusiness and Applied Econ.
• Jessie Rock – Earth, Environmental and Geospatial Sciences
• Mark Strand – Pharmacy Practice
• Tara Swanson – Animal Sciences
• Eric Syvertson – Visual Arts
• Brooke Thiel – School of Education
• Cheryl Wachenheim – Agribusiness and Applied Economics