The Founders' Excellence Award
Founders’ Excellence is an award to deserving individuals in honor of their
professional accomplishments, loyalty and service that have enhanced the
development of Montana State University-Northern.
In 1976, Founders’ Day was added as an NMC tradition. At the first Founders’ Day event, a letter was read from Mrs. G.H. Vande Bogart reviewing
experiences from the beginning of the college. Succeeding Presidents Dr.
L.O. Brockmann, Dr. J.R. Crowley, and Dr. Duane Leech were present and
spoke on the development of the college. A picture of the recently retired
Dr. Crowley was placed in the main hallway of Cowan Hall joining those of
his predecessors. The Founders’ Excellence Award presentation banquet
has continued on a nearly annual basis for the past 49 years, and has been
traditionally included as a part of the Spring Commencement activities.
Excerpted from A Northern Reflection (2001), by Louis W. and Antionette R. Hagener.
2026 Winners
We are pleased to announce that the 2026 award recipients are William “Bill” Lanier, Kyle Leeds and a posthumous award for Terry “T-Bone” Mohn.
2025 – Wayne Koepke & Renelle Braaten, Don Holst and Arnold & Joy Hokanson
2024 – Pam & Dave Wilson, Fran Baultrusch, Vickie Clouse
2023 – Kurt Johnson, Pam Veis
2022 – Dr. Joseph Callahan, Clyde R. Thomas, Jr.
2021 – Patsy Divish, Paulette Cronk
2019 – Janice Brady, Dr. Leslie Ruyle
2018 – Patricia Holman, William Crandal
2017 – Dr. Margarette Campbell, Gail Rader
2016 – Tom Baker, Dr. George Bandy
2015 – Mike Tilleman, Gerry Veis
2014 – Tom Patrick
2013 – Dave Clausen, David Leeds
2012 – Larry Romo, Gail Reynolds
2011 – Dr. Alex Capdeville, Linda Vaughey
2010 – Richard “Dick” Clark, Dr. David Abbott, Lyndon Pomeroy
Special Award “Chancellor’s Distinguised Service” – Dr. Joseph Callahan
2009 – Charles Nelson, Gary Funk, Mary Franklin
2008 – Greg Jergeson, Tony Preite
2007 – Larry Brubaker, Kristine Kline, Ross Seger
2006 – Bob Bachini, Jim Hall, Dr. Kirk J. Miller
2005 – Dr. Roger Barber, Wilbur Hensler, Lou Lucke
2004 – Judy Greenwood, Gordon Obie, Raymond Watson
Special Award “Chancellor’s Excellence” – Emmett Willson
2003 – Norm Gorder, John Kuhr, Karen Myers, Ken Myers
2002 – Gerald Bekker, John Facey, Robert Kiesling, Joseph Mcdonald
2001 – Dr. Harold E. Kleinert, Dr. August “Gus” Korb, Dr. Donald L. Stainsby
Special Award “Chancellor’s Excellence” – Turk Lords
2000 – Robert T. Bricker, Edith Scheid, George Staudacher
1998 – Martha Anne Dow, Donald E. Rathbone, President Bill Daehling
1997 – Cynthia Bryson, Don Vaupel
1996 – Mary A. Blew, Wells Lamey, Carol Linebarger Robertson
1995 – Florence A. VandeBogart, Dr. Gar F. Wynne
1994 – Irene Ruyle Baker, Edith P. Gronhovd, Tom Reynolds
1993 – Tillie Patterson, Robert Hockett, Murton McCluskey
1992 – John Lloyd, James Athearn, Joseph Lutz
1991 – Robert Morrison, Louis Goller
1990 – Dave Greenwood, Bill Fuglevand, Kirk Miller, Bill Lisenby
1989 – Dr. Clark Grimm, Carl Vender, Toni Hagener, Mike Allen
1988 – Lyle Leeds, Ruth Gagel, Dr. Jim Elliot
1987 – President L.O. Brockmann, Helen Kiesling, Vicke A. Schend
1986 – Senator Stan Stephens, Professor Louis Hagener
1985 – President James Erickson, Francis Yeager, Lorraine Hockett, Roger Pugh
1984 – Vern Sedlacek, Anton Bryant, Irene Damschen, President G.H. VandeBogart
1983 – Keith Clawson, Margaret Heberly, Jim Magera
1982 – Wilbur Swenson, Rolland Sullivan, Carl Gunderson
1981 – Dr. Harrison Lane
1978 – Joseph S. Wright
How to Nominate
Nominations for the Founders’ Excellence Award 2027 are open! Please send your nomination letter to alumni@msun.edu. Candidates must be associated with MSU-Northern and meet one or more of the criteria below. Your nomination letter must speak to how the nominee fits the criteria and must list the individual’s achievements. Nominations are accepted at any time throughout the year but to be considered for the 2027 Founders’ Excellence Award, letters must be submitted by December 31st, 2026.
Once made, nominations are kept and carried forward to subsequent years at the discretion of the committee. If you have any questions about how to nominate someone, contact the Foundation.
Criteria for Nominees
Association
Candidates for Founders’ Excellence must be an alum, administrator, former faculty or staff, or friend of MSU-Northern who have made a significant contribution to the development of Northern or to their chosen profession.
Local leadership
Nominees may be someone who has…
- Offered significant ideas and actions to make change in the local community
- Been a benefactor of Northern by giving moral support and service
- A person who has enabled the growth of the college through legislation
State or national impact
Nominees may be someone who…
- Gave original ideas, creations, or contributions to an academic field, particularly in a degree area offered by MSU-Northern
- Gave dedicated and long-lasting contributions to a particular field or activity
- Is a person of notoriety by virtue of office Service
- Is a person who has held an important position, published material, made an important discovery or invention, made a contribution to an academic field, or has given significant direction or service to MSU-Northern for a minimum of 25 years, particularly if he/she is or was an alumnus, faculty, staff, or administrator of Northern
- Gave direct financial contributions to the MSUN Foundation for buildings, scholarships, research, faculty development, program development, etc.