Awards and Honors - South Dakota

Awards and Honors
received by
South Dakota State Employees and State Agencies

Agency/Employee(s)

Award/Awarded By

Explanation

Many state employees have been recognized for their outstanding work and contributions to the people of South Dakota. Listed below are the employees or agencies recently receiving awards or honors for their excellence. Links to previous years' lists are located at the bottom of this page.

2008 Awards and Honors

*Agency/Employee(s)*	*Awards and Honors*
Department of Revenue and Regulation Executive Secretary Larry Eliason	Gaming Commission Executive Secretary Larry Eliason has been named Chairman of the Model Rules Committee of Racing Commissioners International. The Model Rules Committee meets periodically to develop model regulations governing horse and greyhound racing, track operation, licensing, tote company standards, pari-mutuel wagering and security, off-track betting and advanced deposit wagering. With Larry’s more than 25 years of experience as a racing regulator, he is a great choice for the position
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Sol Brich	The Rotary Foundation’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for business people and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. Sol Brich was awarded a Rotary Group Study Exchange with Brazil.
Bureau of Information and Technology	SDPB won six regional Edward R. Morrow Awards given out by the RTNDA. They won overall excellence for the second year in a row!
Department of Health Chris Carlson	Chris Carlson, Senior Microbiologist in the Public Health Laboratory, has been asked to be an instructor for the Epi Ready courses that are sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Environmental Health Association. NEHA is building a roster of people across the country that are able to teach 1 or 2 courses per year, starting in 2009. It is definitely an honor to be chosen as an instructor for this course and certainly reflects well on the caliber of our laboratory staff.
Department of Revenue and Regulation	The Division of Insurance received an excellent score from the NAIC audit for financial solvency review and was awarded re-accreditation for another five years from the NAIC. This is an important certification for the division and for its domestic insurers as they will continue to benefit through reciprocity with other accredited states that they write business in.
Department of Corrections	Penitentiary Unit Manager Troy Ponto (right) received the Law Enforcement recognition award from the Sioux Falls Optimist Club in May. Officer Tom Heilman from the Yankton Minimum Unit received the Officer of the Year Award from the Yankton Lions Club in May. Dennis Wheeler, Mobridge JCA, received the Annual Team Member Award at the Juvenile Community Corrections training session in Pierre May 7th. Linda Bias, Rapid City JCA, received a Youth Service award from Behavior Management Systems May 27th for her work with juvenile offenders and their families.
Department of Corrections	The South Dakota State Penitentiary has been nominated for the most prestigious employer support award from the National Guard. The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given to an employer for their support of their employees who also serve in the National Guard and Reserve. Nominations must come from a Guard or Reserve member who is employed by the organization they are nominating.
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs	Three Airmen of the 114th Logistics Squadron, South Dakota Air National Guard, are among the nation's first to receive the recently authorized Air Force Combat Action Medal. A medal presentation ceremony honoring Master Sergeant Dana S. Storm, Crooks, SD, and Staff Sergeant Luke A. Cunningham, Vermillion, SD, was held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 2, at Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls. A third medal for the late Tech. Sergeant Keith J. Fuerst, Parkston, SD, was presented posthumously to his family. Fuerst lost his life in a civilian motor-vehicle accident in December 2006. First Sergeant Diann Deyo, management analyst for the South Dakota National Guard Surface Maintenance Office, was awarded Service Technician of the Year on May 16, 2008, for her displayed excellence in job performance. Second Lieutenant Patrick J. Schnieder of the Air Guard's 114th Maintenance Squadron received the prestigious Lt. Col. John J. Steele Award on April 25-26, 2008. Schnieder is currently the maintenance officer for the Equipment Maintenance Flight where he is responsible for munitions storage, aerospace ground equipment, non-destructive inspection, fabrication and phase maintenance. Chief Warrant Officer Brett Anderson was awarded the CW4 Michael F. O'Conner Award on April 25-26, 2008. Anderson joined the National Guard during his senior year at Riggs High School in Pierre in 1989. Two years later, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served as an artilleryman with the 1st Battalion, Second Marine Division. During his four-year tour, Anderson served in support of Operation Restore Hope in Somalia in 1993. Returning in 1995, he rejoined the 147th Field Artillery Brigade, South Dakota Army National Guard, and began working full-time for the Guard in 1997. Anderson is currently serving as the property management officer for the United States Property and Fiscal Office at Camp Rapid.
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs	Risking his life to help save his neighbor’s house that caught on fire last summer, Staff Sergeant Troy Spear, Black Hawk, was awarded the South Dakota Ribbon of Valor during a ceremony on June 10 at the Range Road Armory.
Bureau of Information and Technology	SDPB’s Charles Michael Ray received a national Edward R. Morrow Award in Hard News Feature category—his second one in the last four years.
Department of Game, Fish, and Parks	George Vandel received the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife President’s Award for his many years of dedicated service, leadership, and vision for fish and wildlife across South Dakota and western states.
Department of Game, Fish, and Parks	Eileen Stukel Dowd received The Wildlife Society’s Jim McDonough Award. The award is presented annually to a certified wildlife biologist who has made solid contributions to the wildlife profession without major recognition. Eileen was chosen for the award based on her work with the Teaming with Wildlife initiative, other grant programs, work on action plans for endangered species, bird conservation and bat management, and work on a number of books, trail guides and technical reports. The award will be presented to Eileen when The Wildlife Society has their annual meeting in Miami, FL, in November.
Department of Game, Fish, and Parks	Hughes County Conservation Officer John Murphy was selected as the 2007 Boating Safety Officer of the Year. This award is presented on behalf of the National Association of Boating Law Administrators and the National Association of Boating Administrator.
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs	Tammy Chase, Sisseton, received the prestigious AMVETS PNC John S. Lorec National Guard Volunteer of the Year award at the National Guard Family Program conference in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 23. This national award recognizes volunteers for exceptional service to military and family members and to their community. Chase was also awarded $1,000 for her unit's family readiness group.

You can also view awards from previous years:

1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001| 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005| 2006 | 2007

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