Over 100 nominations were submitted for the 10 categories of awards. Congratulations to the following award recipients.

College President of the Year

Dr. Mary Davenport, Rochester Community and Technical College

“Dr. Mary Davenport was chosen because of her deep commitment to the students on her campus. She always makes decisions through the lens of how this will help students succeed. She has a deep understanding of the needs of students because she would literally walk in their shoes. During her time as President, she would switch roles for a day with the student senate president by running a senate meeting and attending class. Then she would flip roles and have the student senate president sit in her chair for a day by holding office hours, chairing a cabinet meeting and even attending a faculty meeting.

President Davenport embodies everything that is great about the Minnesota State community. She goes to work everyday with the goal of making an impact on student lives, she does not seek accolades or praise, but she provides a critical service like a firefighter or nurse that truly changes lives.”

Dr. Mary Davenport

Student Leader of the Year

Guadalupe Lira-Jimenez, Hennepin Technical College-Brooklyn Park

“LeadMN not only advocates for college affordability and other issues students are facing, LeadMN also gives students the tools they need to become personally successful. Guadalupe has realized her potential. She was once shy and had difficult time speaking in front of 15 people but recently she had over 200 people on their feet and in tears when she spoke at our Scholarship Gala. Guadalupe embodies what a Student Leader of the Year is and does.”

Guadalupe Lira-Jimenez

Instructor of the Year

Maran Wolston, Minneapolis Community and Technical College

"Maran Wolston recognizes the monopolization of information by textbook publishers, and she’s directly fighting back, by actively trying to get the faculty to leave them, and use creative commons course materials instead. She herself is one of the first to be certified by the creative commons nonprofit institution. Her sabbatical project is to explore the possibility of, and build a model, by which MCTC could offer students a pathway to complete a liberal arts AA degree, without having to pay for a textbook throughout the whole process. It’s simply a matter of time before Maran achieves this goal. She’s a machine that learns the pathways needed to implement change, and lays them brick by brick."

Maran Wolston

Student Senate of the Year

North Hennepin Community College

“The North Hennepin Community College Student Senate leaders have set a great example of how to make connections matter. Not only is the student senate active on campus but they also ensure the other clubs on campus have what they needed to thrive.”

North Hennepin Community College Student Senate

Governing Council Member of the Year

Shane Motschenbacher, Minnesota State Community and Technical College-Wadena

“Shane has faced adversity in the version of all senate members turning over and has had to recreate the wheel. Once the wheel was created by teamwork and communication, Shane became a Champion. A champion of the campus food pantry, by having successful Campus Cupboard fundraisers. A champion of running a successful GOTV campaign. A champion of implementing several awards on campus to recognize instructors and faculty members. A two-time commencement speaker and two term Student Government Association President. Shane is what a Governing Council member should strive to be.”

Shane Motschenbacher

Platform Committee Member of the Year

Cecilia Morales, Minnesota State Community and Technical College-Wadena

"Cecilia is an outspoken and energetic person. Her focus, drive and commitment are on a level that I strive to be. She goes the extra mile to make students feel comfortable and welcome in every way. With her hard work ethic she still managed to build relationships with students from all across MN, many of them trust her as a friend but also trust her as a leader."

Cecilia Morales

Advisor of the Year

Anna Voight, Dakota County Technical College

"Anna has impacted so many people’s lives her warmth and kindness, and creates an environment that everyone wants to be around. A student from DCTC said, 'We can always count on not only her, but her quality of work, attention to detail and overall her commitment to the students of DCTC.'"

Anna Voight

Minnesota State Committee Member of the Year

Kate Lawrence, North Hennepin Community College

“Kate is working every day to make sure that every student across the state has a voice. She served on the Sexual Assault Taskforce, where she is not afraid to speak up and to ensure that our first priority is students.”

Kate Lawrence

Intern of the Year

Frankie Becerra, Century College

"Frankie has demonstrated, over a significant period of time, dedication to promote equity and inclusion within our organization, combined with a strong sense of communities and making sure that every dreamer has a change in the world. It has been said, that Frankie puts his whole heart and soul into his work."

Frankie Becerra

Alumni of the Year

Heather Darby

"Not everyone has what it takes to be a LeadMN Alumni. To show up when you don’t live near the office and on your own personal time is not something most people want to do. Showing up for the fun stuff is easy, showing up for the work is, well work. Heather has been a huge help to what goes on behind the scenes from reading hundreds of scholarship applications to getting donors and assisting with our annual scholarship gala. I can only hope to be half as good as our Alumni of the Year!"

Heather Darby