Photo Gallery

FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State University senior woman administrator Colleen Heimstead and assistant dean of student life Michael Harwood were among the award winners announced Wednesday, May 3, during the NDSU athletic department's third annual Green and Gold Gala at the Fargo Theatre.

Heimstead, a senior associate director of athletics in her 12th year at NDSU, 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.

Harwood has been an influential supporter of Bison Athletics since coming to NDSU as the director of residence life in 2008 and currently oversees both residence life and dining services in his role as assistant dean of student life. He was honored with the Bison Impact Award.

Football senior offensive guard Zack Johnson was named Male Athlete of the Year after earning consensus first team All-America honors and an invite to the East-West Shrine Game.  Other finalists for Male Athlete of the Year were Will Holmgren, golf; Paul Miller, basketball; Ben Petersen, baseball; Alex Renner, track and field; and Josh Rodriguez, wrestling.

Women's track and field senior Rose Jackson was voted Female Athlete of the Year after an All-America performance in the indoor pentathlon and three Summit League indoor championships in the pentathlon, long jump and 200-meter dash.  Other finalists for Female Athlete of the Year were Holly Enderle, soccer; Mikaela Purnell, volleyball; Natalie Roth, golf; Jacquelyn Sertic, softball; and Taylor Thunstedt, basketball.

Wrestling national qualifier Cam Sykora was named Male Rookie of the Year following a 26-8 season in which he went 12-0 in dual meets and placed third at the Big 12 championships.  Other finalists for Male Rookie of the Year were Bennett Hostetler, baseball; Andrew Israelson, golf; Tony Ukkelberg, track and field; and Tyson Ward, basketball.

Women's soccer goalkeeper Monica Polgar was named Female Rookie of the Year after leading The Summit League with six shutouts and nine wins in goal for the league-champion Bison.  She was a second-team All-Summit League honoree.  Other finalists for Female Rookie of the Year were Macy Denzer, track and field; Alex Erickson, volleyball; Sarah Jacobson, basketball; and Stephanie Soriano, softball.

Football running back Chase Morlock and women's track and field sprinter Morgan Milbrath 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 Mitch Friedman, wrestling; Kevin Folman, baseball; Landon Jochim, track and field; and Dexter Werner, basketball.  Other female finalists were Natalie Fenske, soccer; Trisa Hutchinson, golf; Ali Moody, volleyball; and Jacquelyn Sertic, softball.

The NDSU softball 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.

Bison 1660 radio personality and NDSU play-by-play announcer Jeff Culhane served as master of ceremonies for the event.