Awards

The Minnesota Wastewater Operators Association Award categories: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, Collection System Awards SA, SB, SC, SD, Laboratory, Maintenance, Rookie of the Year and Special Recognition.

Application Deadline:
Applications must be submitted to your Section Director by May 1 each year.

Questions? Contact the Awards Chairperson:
Tim Gratke
tgratke@hutchinson.gov

View the full history of Award Recipients.

2023 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class A	Brandon Huston, Albert Lea – Southeast
Class B	Steven Schlichter, Chatfield – Southeast
Class C	Matt Hatzinger, Wilmar – Central
Class D	Tanner Tantrick, ALASD – Central
Class SA	No Nominations
Class SB	Keith Kramer, ALASD – Central
Class SC	Nathan Besse, Marshall – Southwest
Class SD	Matt Radde, Mound – Metro
Laboratory	Erin Haverkamp, Detroit Lakes PU – Northwest
Rookie of the Year	Cavit Wobschall, Albert Lea – Southeast
Maintenance	Allen Schueler, Wilmar – Central
Special Recognition	Andrea Moore, Hutchinson Public Schools – Central

2022 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class A	Andrew Fischer – Southeast
Class B	Shanna Czeck – Central
Class C	Jacob Ethen – Central
Class D	Joe Thulien – Southwest
Class SA	Jed Petersen – Southeast
Class SB	N/A
Class SC	N/A
Class SD	Nathan Ibeling – Southeast
Laboratory	Matthew Larson – Southeast
Rookie of the Year	Matthew Keller – Central
Maintenance	Michael Reed – Southeast
Special Recognition	Rick Ashling – Southeast
Loyal Service	N/A

2021 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class A	N/A
Class B	N/A
Class C	Chris Weber, City of St. Cloud (Central)
Class D	N/A
Class SA	N/A
Class SB	N/A
Class SC	Travis Welch, City of Marshall (SW)
Class SD	N/A
Laboratory	Debra Paulson, City of Hutchinson WWTF (Central)
Rookie of the Year	Logan Peterson, City of Red Wing (SE)
Maintenance	John Kent, City of Hutchinson WWTF (Central)
Special Recognition	Todd Carlson, City of Duluth (Retired) (NE)
Special Recognition	Al Parrella, WLSSD
Loyal Service	Linda Mullen, MWOA

2020 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class A	Steve DeBates, City of Marshall (SW)
Class B	Charles Dappen, Peoples Service (SE)
Class C	Mitchell Irish, City of Chatfield (SE)
Class D	Nathan Besse, City of Marshall (SW)
Class SA	N/A
Class SB	N/A
Class SC	N/A
Class SD	Joseph Adams, City of Mantorville (SE)
Laboratory	Darrel Ykema, City of Luverne (SW)
Rookie of the Year	Tommas Willman, City of Bloomington, (Metro)
Maintenance	Jeremy Hilleshiem, City of New Ulm/New Ulm PUC (SW)
Special Recognition	Sherry Bock, MPCA-Brainerd

2019

2019 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class A	Charlie Bradford, City of Kasson (SE)
Class B	Jacob Berndt, City of Hoyt Lakes (NE)
Class C	Dustin White, City of Albert Lea (SE)
Class D	Randy Firchau, City of St. James (SW)
Class SA	Pat Conrad, City of Bloomington (Metro/Suburban)
Class SB	Dan VanEde, Worthington Public Utilities (SW)
Class SC	Brian Page, City of Marshall (SW)
Class SD	Ryan Granlund, City of Duluth (NE)
Laboratory	Jennifer Guziak, City of Rochester (SE)
Rookie of the Year	Garrett Jones, City of Owatonna (SE)
Maintenance	Glenn Duitsman, Worthington Public Utilities (SW)
Special Recognition	Dan O’Connor, City of New Ulm/New Ulm PUC (SW)

2018

2019 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class A	Richard Olson – City of Owatonna
Class B	Earl Allen – City of New Ulm, New Ulm Public Utilities
Class C	Ivan Kooiker – City of Luverne
Class D	Dwane Jemmings – Peoples Service – City of Morgan
Class SB	Adam Thene, City of Bloomington
Class SC	Larry Polfliet – City of Marshall
Laboratory	Jim Archer – City of Mankato-Public Utilities
Rookie of the Year	Taylor Nesmoe – Mountain Lake Utilities
Maintenance	Tom Thiesse – City of Mankato-Water Resource Recovery Facility

2017

2017 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class A	Steve Bushman (WHKS)
Class B	Tom Connor, City of St. Peter
Class C	Andrew Fischer, City of Owatonna
Class D	Jim Plumhoff, City of Ceylon
Class SA	Chuck Prickett, City of Forest Lake
Class SB	Chad Bauer, City of Bloomington
Class SC	Kevin Werner, City of Forest Lake
Class SD	N/A
Laboratory	Kelsey Van Deusen, City of Red Wing
Rookie of the Year	Brian Zabel, City of St. Peter
Maintenance	Ray Kemmer, City of Bloomington
Special Recognition	Linda Mullen, City of Burnsville

2016

2016 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class A	Harold McAloney, Black & Veatch
Class B	Daniel Steinborn, City of Le Center
Class C	Mike Kosak, City of Marshall
Class D	Amy Schreader, UC Laboratory
Class SA	Howard Jacobson, City of Duluth
Class SB	Jeff Dionisopoulos, City of Stillwater
Class SC	Roger Cauwels, City of Marshall
Class SD	Krystal Lingofelt, City of St. Cloud Public Utilities
Laboratory	Tim Tuominen, Western Lake Superior Sanitary District
Rookie of the Year	Cody DeNucci, City of Stillwater
Maintenance	Derek Goddard, City of Golden Valley
Special Recognition	Todd Arlander, Stantec
Scholarship	Hunter Breidenbach
Scholarship	Jason Belair
Scholarship	Bryan Harp

2015

2015 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

CLASS A	Colleen Thompson – Willmar
CLASS B	Greg Rud – Hayfield
CLASS C	Emma Larson – Saint Cloud
CLASS D	Bradford Bennett – Peopleservice/Virginia
CLASS SA	Todd Carlson – Duluth
CLASS SB	Jack Walters – Woodbury
CLASS SC	Robert Sogge – Green Lake SSWD
CLASS SD	Tom Templer – Willmar
LABORATORY	Gregg Kropp – Brainerd
MAINTENANCE	Brian Page – Marshall
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR	Ben Doerr – Bloomington
SPECIAL RECOGNITION	Jerry Balbach – MVTL
LOYAL SERVICE	Randy Poore – Bloomington

2014

2014 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

CLASS A	Scott Truedson – Marshall
CLASS B	Nathan Emmerson Reed – GLSSWD
CLASS C	John Hank – St. Peter
CLASS D	Daniel VanEde – Worthington
CLASS SA	Linda Mullen – Burnsville
CLASS SB	David Adams – Stillwater
CLASS SC	Daniel Nelson – MCES
CLASS SD	Joshua Jensen – Apple Valley
LABORATORY	Erin McMahon – St. Cloud
MAINTENANCE	Brian Schoenecker – St. Cloud
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR	Joshua Iten – Worthington
SPECIAL RECOGNITION	Jorja Dufresne – MPCA

2013

2013 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

CLASS A	Butch Hybbert – Fairmont – SW
CLASS B	Tanya Schmidt – Cold Spring – Cen
CLASS C	Wayne Getz – Altura – SE
CLASS D	No submittals
CLASS SA	Peter Exley – MCES – Met/Sub
CLASS SB	Nate Behlen – Edina – Met/Sub
CLASS SC	Ryan Lee – MCES – Met/Sub
CLASS SD	Matt Chumley – Burnsville – Met/Sub
LABORATORY	Renee Oelrich – LeSueur – SE
MAINTENANCE	Jerry Neabour – Bloomington – Met/Sub
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR	Andrew Bartkowicz – Grey Eagle – Cen
Special Recognition	Kay Curtin
Loyal Service	Steve Duerre

2012

2012 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

CLASS A	Les Lange – Willmar – Cen
CLASS B	Scot Peterson – St. Peter – SW
CLASS C	Donald Solt – Worthington Ind. (EML) – SW
CLASS D	Darren Braegelman – Belgrade – Cen
COLLECTION SYSTEM	Richard McCorison – Duluth – NE
LABORATORY	Bill Nygaard – Litchfield – Cen
MAINTENANCE	Eric Moore – Hutchinson – Cen
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR	Justin Johnson – Bloomington – Met/Sub
Special Recognition	Steve Lipinski
Loyal Service	Dianne Navratil
Past President	Linda Mullen

2011

2011 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

CLASS A	SE Ron Bruzek – New Prague
CLASS B	SE Pat Kaderli – Le Center
CLASS C	SE John Frame – Faribault
CLASS D	Cen Tony Olson – Belgrade
COLLECTION SYSTEM	Cen Marvin Schreifels – St. Cloud
LABORATORY	SW Rachel Cunningham – New Ulm
MAINTENANCE	Cen Paul Marcus – Willmar
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR	Cen Luke Thole – GLSSWD
SPECIAL RECOGNITION	Bill Spain

2010

2010 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class A	Robert VanMoer – Marshall-SW
Class B	Gene Tupy – New Prague – SE
Class C	Tina Nolden – Pequot Lakes – Cen
Class D	Robert Gruber – Rich Prairie SWD -Cen
Collection System	Tom Connor – St. Peter – SW
Laboratory	Rene Sol -St. Cloud – Cen
Maintenance	Jeremy Hillesheim – New Ulm – SW
Rookie of the Year	Chad Bednar – Duluth – NE
Loyal Service Award	Pat Mayer
Past President’s Plaque	Robert VanMoer
SPECIAL RECOGNITION	James Miller

2009

2009 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class A	Rick Ashling – Albert Lea – SE
Class B	Paul Stock – Order of St. Benedict – Cen
Class C	Jeremy Braaksma – Worthington – SW
Class D	Paul Grant – Wilmont – SW
Collection System	Keith Maas – Owatonna – SE
Laboratory	Jen Thorson – St. Peter – SW
Maintenance	Robert Rierson – Becker – Cen
Rookie of The Year	Mark Napiorkowski – Woodbury – Metro/Sub
Loyal Service Award	Dean Nelson
Past President’s Plaque	Pat Mayer
SPECIAL RECOGNITION	Joe Rubbelke – Infratech

2008

2008 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class A	Al Parella – WLSSD – NE
Class B	Darold Nienhaus – Winnebago – SE
Class C	Richard Mauris – Winnebago – SE
Class D	Brad Winter – Darling International – SE
Collection System	Anthony Talamantez – Mankato – SE
Laboratory	Troy Zwilling – Hutchinson – Cen
Maintenance	Dave Kirchner – Bloomington – Metro/Sub
Rookie of the Year	Chris Kleist – Duluth – NE
Loyal Service Award	Tim Polipnick
Past President’s Plaque	Keith Redmond

2007

2007 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class A	Dean Nelson – Owatonna – Southeast
Class B	Ron Mergen – Paynesville – Central
Class C	Don Wirtz – Marshall – Southwest
Class D	Dave Watkins – Mt. Lake – Southwest
Collection System	Todd Carlson – Duluth – Northeast
Laboratory	Dan O’Connor – New Ulm – Southwest
Maintenance	Mike Mies – Hutchinson – Central
Rookie of the Year	Tom Connor – St. Peter – Southwest
Special Recognition	Dale Tranter – Bonestroo
Loyal Service Award	Rick Ashling
Past President’s Plaque	Randy Poore
Scholarship Awards

2006

2006 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class A	Clay Watson – Gold’n Plump Poultry – Central
Class B	Wayne Anderson – MCES – Metro/Suburban
Class C	Tanya Schmidt – Cold Spring – Central
Class D	Craig Novotny – Montgomery – Southeast
Collection System	Ken Novack Jr. – Woodbury – Metro/Suburban
Laboratory	Patti Mettler – Mankato – Southeast
Maintenance	Patrick Conrad – Bloomington – Metro/Suburban
Rookie of the Year	Ben Whitcomb – Bloomington – Metro/Suburban
Special Recognition	Sandra Mass – Duluth
Loyal Service Award	Joel Schmidt
Past President’s Plaque	Rick Ashling
Scholarship Awards

2005

2005 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class A	Mark Saunders – WLSSD – NE
Class B	Byron Hayunga – Montevideo – Cen
Class C	Robert Sogge – GLSSWD – Cen
Class D	Bruce Frandle – Faribault – SE
Collection System	Greg Guerrero – Duluth – NE
Laboratory	Bob Jahn – Marshall – SW
Maintenance	Marvin Hossalla – MCES-Empire – Metro/Sub
Rookie of the Year	Scott Przybilla – Marshall – SW
Special Recognition	Gene Erickson – MPCA
Loyal Service Award	Bob Van Moer
Past President’s Plaque	Dean Nelson
Scholarship Awards	Sam Arnzen Jim Thelen Matthew Chilson John Greene

2004

2004 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class A	Lawrence Hiles – MCES – Seneca
Class B	Doug Kammerer – Watertown
Class C	Harold Carstens – Hector
Class D	Steven Griep – Jordan
Collection System	Linda Mullen – Apple Valley
Laboratory	Glenn Bauer – Melrose
Maintenance	Rick Phelps – Rochester
Rookie of the Year	Joe Adelmann – Bloomington
Special Recognition	Jerry Balbach – MVTL
Loyal Service	Steve Lipinski – Duluth

Membership Awards

40 Years
Ray Anderson
Rick Ashling
Steve Kleist
James Miller
David Wire

35 Years
Gene Erickson
Byron Hayunga
Allen Holtberg
Rick Lohmann
John Seuer
John Smith
Charles Tibbetts
Jim Wawra
Allen Young

30 Years
Dennis DuChene
Mary Fralish
Dale Riihiluoma
Tom Roushar
Robert Sogge
Jeff Waddel
Thomas Zajac

25 Years
John Harren
John Lincicome
Pete Moulton
Tim Olson
Marlin Reinardy
Mark Sauer
Robert Staydohar

20 Years
Douglas Bergerson
Steven Bushman
Jim Demuling
Glen Gerads
Northern Dewatering
Randy Rieken
Brian Rupp
Dan Wahlberg

15 Years
Pete Albu
Bob Guggenberger