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FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State University director of athletics Matt Larsen and longtime football and basketball radio announcer Scott Miller were among the award winners announced Monday, April 25, during the NDSU athletic department's second annual Green and Gold Gala at the Fargo Theatre.

Larsen, in his 19th month as the athletic director, was selected for the Student-Athlete Choice Award, which is designated by the Student-Athlete Advisory Council to recognize an athletic department staff member who makes a major contribution to student-athlete or team success.

Longtime friend and colleague Daryl Ritchison accepted the Bison Impact Award on behalf of Miller, who passed away in February after a four-year battle with melanoma and would've celebrated his 58th birthday at the gala.  Miller joined the NDSU broadcast team in 1996 and also hosted the weekly "Bison Feedback" call-in show and read the inductions for the annual Bison Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony.

Men's track and field thrower Alex Renner was named Male Athlete of the Year, a tightly contested award which needed two re-votes to determine the winner.  Renner was the field events MVP at the Summit League indoor championship, where he won the shot put and was runner-up in the weight throw.  He finished the indoor season ranked 23rd nationally in the shot put and ranks 15th nationally outdoors for a Bison throwing squad that ranks No. 2 nationally in the shot put.

Other finalists for Male Athlete of the Year were Kory Brown, basketball; Nick DeLuca, football; Joe Haeg, football; Brian VanderWoude, baseball; and Hayden Zillmer, wrestling.

Women's track and field and cross country runner Erin Teschuk was named Female Athlete of the Year for the second straight season by a unanimous vote.  Teschuk won four more first team All-America honors since the inaugural Green and Gold Gala.  She was named Midwest Region Cross Country Athlete of the Year and Summit League Athlete of the Year in outdoor track and field, cross country and indoor track and field.  She ranks second nationally in the 5,000 meters and seventh in the 1,500 meters.

Other finalists for Female Athlete of the Year were Sierra Bonham, soccer; Jenni Fassbender, volleyball; Lauren Miller, soccer; Logan Moreland, softball; Natalie Roth, golf; and Marena Whittle, basketball.

Football quarterback Easton Stick was named Male Rookie of the Year after going 8-0 in a backup role while leading North Dakota State to its fifth straight Missouri Valley Football Conference championship and an appearance in the national title game.  Stick was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer Team and finished as NDSU's third leading rusher with 498 yards and five touchdowns.  He passed for 1,144 yards and 13 TDs.  Other finalists were Bruce Anderson, football; Ryan Enerson, track and field; and Khy Kabellis, basketball.

Women's soccer forward Britney Monteon was named Female Rookie of the Year.  She was the Summit League Freshman of the Year after scoring four goals, all game-winners, and dishing out five assists for 13 total points.  Her four game-winning goals ranked second in The Summit League.  Other finalists were Brittany Brownotter, track and field/cross country; Emma Groom, golf; and Julia Luciano, softball.

Men's basketball forward Chris Kading and softball catcher Alyssa Reina were recipients of the Bison Pride Award, which is nominated by coaches and awarded to one male and one female student-athlete for their contributions to the team's success withholding on-field performance.  Other male finalists were Jedre Cyr, football; Colin Paarmann, track and field; and Hayden Zillmer, wrestling.  Other female finalists were Morgan Milbrath, track and field; Emily Milligan, volleyball; and Amy Yang, soccer.

The NDSU women's basketball team won the Bison Cup, the team service award presented by the Student-Athlete Advisory Council to one athletic team for its outstanding community service.

Several academic awards were also presented, including the Bison Academic Performance Award, Bison Academic Achievement Award, Bison Academic Excellence Award, Bison Most Valuable Scholar Athletes Award, National Consortium for Academics and Sports Student-Athlete Day Award, Thundering Herd Male and Female Team Academic Awards, Presidential Most Improved Team Academic Award and Presidential Team Academic Award.

Bob 95 FM radio personality Chris Hanson served as master of ceremonies for the event.