Borealis Night of Excellence 2023

Thursday, April 20, 5 p.m.
RSVP by April 13 (Award recipients: RSVP by April 10)

An annual event, Borealis Night of Excellence recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the college and community. The CFANS Alumni Society, Undergraduate Student Board, Graduate Student Board , Postdoc Board and members of the Honors and Awards Committee come together to celebrate these exceptional alumni, students, staff, faculty and friends. The awards presented hold great honor in the CFANS community. In 2017, the the Borealis Circle was formed to further recognize key individuals who have brought everlasting honor to the college.

The 2023 Borealis Night of Excellence event will be held on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 5 p.m. in the St. Paul Student Center. Professional headshots will be offered during the event for all attendees.

17th Annual Borealis Night of Excellence
Thursday, April 20, 2023 | North Star Ballroom
5:00 p.m. Reception and complimentary professional headshots
5:45 p.m. Awards program 
2nd floor, St. Paul Student Center

The 2023 award recipients are:

  • Student Leadership Award — Undergraduate Student — Ashley Hagenow, Senior, Agricultural Communications and Marketing
  • Student Leadership Award — Graduate Student— Hailey Shanovich (MS ’19 Entomology, PhD ’23 Natural Resources Science and Management)
  • Exemplary Undergraduate Student Organization — Lambda Delta Phi Sorority
  • Exemplary Graduate Student Organization — Applied Plant Sciences Graduate Student Association
  • Outstanding Club Advisor — Mary K. Schmidl, Food Science & Nutrition, Phi Tau Sigma Advisor
  • Exemplary Staff — Kristen Opitz, Plant Pathology and Agronomy & Plant Genetics
  • Exemplary Faculty — (less than 5 years)— Matthew Petersen, Entomology
  • Exemplary Faculty — (more than 5 years)— Kumar Mallikarjunan, Food Science & Nutrition
  • Little Red Oil Can (individual or group of individuals) —Libby (Elizabeth) Silverman, CFANS Academic Advising Center
  • Cultivating Future Leaders (New) — Megan Brown, Fillmore Central High School
  • Outstanding Friend — Elaine Christiansen
  • Community Builder — Eric Ness (BS ’85 Agricultural Engineering)
  • Rising Star — Joe Ramstad (BS ’19 Agricultural Education, Agricultural Communications and Marketing)
  • Alumni Service — Kari Schwab (BS ’10 Agricultural and Food Business Management)
  • Distinguished Alumni — Merlin Lindemann (BS ’77 Animal Science, PhD ’81 Animal Science)
  • Lifetime Achievement — Edward Terry (BS ’68 Agricultural Education)