Meghan Yerhot, a graduate student in developmental science, has been recognized with the 2019 Mary McCannel Gunkelman Recognition Award. She was honored during a ceremony May 3 at the Harry D. McGovern Alumni Center.
Yerhot is a graduate assistant in TRIO programs.
The annual award recognizes the person who creates an atmosphere of happiness and enjoyment for NDSU students.
One letter of nomination said, “The nominee is a walking smile. To provide an example of how much light this person brings to campus, she recently re-worked the lyrics to a very popular song among undergraduates, sung by Drake. The new lyrics on their TRIO door, with photos of Drake pointing at the camera read, ‘Students, are you reading? Are you writing? Are you down with knowledge? Cause I want ya, and I need ya... to succeed in college.’
Another nominator wrote, “The nominee is one of the kindest people I have ever met, and she is relentless in her efforts to ensure the happiness and success of others around them. She is a third-year doctoral student here at NDSU and works in the NDSU TRIO program providing advising to undergraduate students. Each year the program hosts an interview day for perspective students. The nominee plays a huge role in not only organizing the day, but also in making sure that our interviewees feel welcome.”
“The nominee brings joy to everyone around her,” wrote a third nominator. “In class she is not only bright and inquisitive, but she has a deep ability to understand and help her peers. She brings out the best in any student, encouraging them to share their perspective and providing a listening ear and compassionate smile. The nominee is always there to cheer the loudest for her peers, whether it’s in victory or as a pick-me-up.”
Yerhot said she was touched by the nominations. "It means so much to me," she said of the award. "I care a lot about the students."
A total of 80 employees and students were nominated this year. In addition to Yerhot, they include:
Name Department or college
Adele Malone College of Science and Mathematics
Adnan Akyuz AES Continuing Appointments-Soil Science
Alexa Braaten College of Science and Mathematics
Alexis Rusch College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Amanda Reil Career Center
Amy Montebello College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Angeline Walswick Allied Sciences
Apryl Schroeder Mechanical Engineering
Arup Dey College of Engineering
Brady Kuta College of Business
Briana Lewis College of Human Development and Education
Calum Evoniuk College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Caren Blaschke College of Human Development and Education
Carin Engler Residence Life
Casondra Rutschke College of Business
Claire Longley College of Health Professions
Dana Davis Dean’s office, College of Health Professions and College of Human Development and Education
Daniel Erichsen Information Technology Services
Diane Harrison NDSU Card Center
Anne Braaten Apparel Design and Hospitality Management
Jill Zuber Accounting and Information Services
Mark Strand Pharmacy Practice
Ed Deckard AES Plant Science
Ethan Geisness College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Greg Morgenson AES Plant Science
Jack Norland School of Natural Resources
Jack Radtke College of Engineering
Janet Fleming-Halmrast Computer Science
Jenna Grabinski Wellness Center
Jessie Rock Geosciences
John Weitzel Facilities Management
Joshua Schroetter Residence Life
Kelsey Young College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Kenard Booker TRIO
Kimberly Booth Biological Sciences
Leretta Smith Sociology and Anthropology
Lindsey Pouliot College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Liz Frannea Dean’s office, Health Professions
Margaret Latterell Performing Arts
Marilyn Dowdy International Student and Study Abroad Services
Megan Bouret Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, Mathematics
Megan Girard College of Engineering
Melissa Selders-Ortez Graduate School
Muhabbat Yakubova College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Patrick Pochant College of Engineering
Rachel Goodman Residence Life
Ryan Brinkman Residence Life
Sara Cramer College of Business
Sarah Freitag College of Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources
Sean Burt History, Philosophy and Religious Studies
Shannon Ueker Ext. Plant Science and College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Sharon Dunkel Student Health Service
Stephanie Jensen College of Human Development and Education
Ty Brooks College of Science and Mathematics
Loren Baranko Animal Science, College of Human Development and Education
Logan John College of Science and Mathematics
David Roberts AES Agribusiness and Applied Economics
Elizabeth Hilliard Health, Nutrition and Exercise Science
Erik Hanson AES Agribusiness and Applied Economics
Grant Anderson College of Engineering
John Creese Sociology and Anthropology
Linda Ficker Dean’s office, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Maggie Duggan Athletics and College of Business
Nathan Block NDSU Dining
Patti Sebesta Dean’s office, Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources
Wendy McCrory Information Technology
Cheryl Wachenheim AES Agribusiness and Applied Economics
Julie Bietz AES Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Rhonda Axtman NDSU Dining
Enrico Sassi Graduate Center for Writers
Larry Kstrinos Facilities Management
Dale Cardwell Facilities Management
Pat Mattson NDSU Dining
Lorna Olsen Information Technology Services
Nathaniel Tohm College of Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources
Alan Zuk Plant Sciences
Sandra Scott NDSU Dining
Jeremy Straub Computer Science
Jordan Jorde College of Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources
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