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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: brickyard_tim@msn.com

View the full history of Award Recipients.

Apply Now

2024 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class A Foster Transburg, Le Sueur – Southeast
Class B John Brogan, Dover Eyota St. Charles Area Sanitary District – Southeast
Class C Brett Hampel, Rochester – Southeast
Class D Sam Lungstrom, Willmar – Central
Class SA Brad Timm, Alexandria Lakes Area Sanitary District – Central
Class SB Chad Emmons, Rochester – Southeast
Class SC No Nominations
Class SD No Nominations
Laboratory Rachel Cunningham, New Ulm – Southwest
Rookie of the Year Mike Bolster, Kasson – Southeast
Maintenance No Nominations
Special Recognition Gregg Kropp, St. Cloud Technical and Community College – Central

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 ASteve DeBates, City of Marshall (SW)
Class BCharles Dappen, Peoples Service (SE)
Class CMitchell Irish, City of Chatfield (SE)
Class DNathan Besse, City of Marshall (SW)
Class SAN/A
Class SBN/A
Class SCN/A
Class SDJoseph Adams, City of Mantorville (SE)
LaboratoryDarrel Ykema, City of Luverne (SW)
Rookie of the YearTommas Willman, City of Bloomington, (Metro)
MaintenanceJeremy Hilleshiem, City of New Ulm/New Ulm PUC (SW)
Special RecognitionSherry Bock, MPCA-Brainerd
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)

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 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 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 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 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

CLASS AScott Truedson – Marshall
CLASS BNathan Emmerson Reed – GLSSWD
CLASS CJohn Hank – St. Peter
CLASS DDaniel VanEde – Worthington
CLASS SALinda Mullen – Burnsville
CLASS SBDavid Adams – Stillwater
CLASS SCDaniel Nelson – MCES
CLASS SDJoshua Jensen – Apple Valley
LABORATORYErin McMahon – St. Cloud
MAINTENANCEBrian Schoenecker – St. Cloud
ROOKIE OF THE YEARJoshua Iten – Worthington
SPECIAL RECOGNITIONJorja Dufresne – MPCA

2013 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

CLASS AButch Hybbert – Fairmont – SW
CLASS BTanya Schmidt – Cold Spring – Cen
CLASS CWayne Getz – Altura – SE
CLASS DNo submittals
CLASS SAPeter Exley – MCES – Met/Sub
CLASS SBNate Behlen – Edina – Met/Sub
CLASS SCRyan Lee – MCES – Met/Sub
CLASS SDMatt Chumley – Burnsville – Met/Sub
LABORATORYRenee Oelrich – LeSueur – SE
MAINTENANCEJerry Neabour – Bloomington – Met/Sub
ROOKIE OF THE YEARAndrew Bartkowicz – Grey Eagle – Cen
Special RecognitionKay Curtin
Loyal ServiceSteve Duerre

2012 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

CLASS ALes Lange – Willmar – Cen
CLASS BScot Peterson – St. Peter – SW
CLASS CDonald Solt – Worthington Ind. (EML) – SW
CLASS DDarren Braegelman – Belgrade – Cen
COLLECTION SYSTEMRichard McCorison – Duluth – NE
LABORATORYBill Nygaard – Litchfield – Cen
MAINTENANCEEric Moore – Hutchinson – Cen
ROOKIE OF THE YEARJustin Johnson – Bloomington – Met/Sub
Special RecognitionSteve Lipinski
Loyal ServiceDianne Navratil
Past PresidentLinda Mullen

2011 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

CLASS ASE Ron Bruzek – New Prague
CLASS BSE Pat Kaderli – Le Center
CLASS CSE John Frame – Faribault
CLASS DCen Tony Olson – Belgrade
COLLECTION SYSTEMCen Marvin Schreifels – St. Cloud
LABORATORYSW Rachel Cunningham – New Ulm
MAINTENANCECen Paul Marcus – Willmar
ROOKIE OF THE YEARCen Luke Thole – GLSSWD
SPECIAL RECOGNITIONBill Spain

2010 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class ARobert VanMoer – Marshall-SW
Class BGene Tupy – New Prague – SE
Class CTina Nolden – Pequot Lakes – Cen
Class DRobert Gruber – Rich Prairie SWD -Cen
Collection SystemTom Connor – St. Peter – SW
LaboratoryRene Sol -St. Cloud – Cen
MaintenanceJeremy Hillesheim – New Ulm – SW
Rookie of the YearChad Bednar – Duluth – NE
Loyal Service AwardPat Mayer
Past President’s PlaqueRobert VanMoer
SPECIAL RECOGNITIONJames Miller

2009 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class ARick Ashling – Albert Lea – SE
Class BPaul Stock – Order of St. Benedict – Cen
Class CJeremy Braaksma – Worthington – SW
Class DPaul Grant – Wilmont – SW
Collection SystemKeith Maas – Owatonna – SE
LaboratoryJen Thorson – St. Peter – SW
MaintenanceRobert Rierson – Becker – Cen
Rookie of The YearMark Napiorkowski – Woodbury – Metro/Sub
Loyal Service AwardDean Nelson
Past President’s PlaquePat Mayer
SPECIAL RECOGNITIONJoe Rubbelke – Infratech

2008 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class AAl Parella – WLSSD – NE
Class BDarold Nienhaus – Winnebago – SE
Class CRichard Mauris – Winnebago – SE
Class DBrad Winter – Darling International – SE
Collection SystemAnthony Talamantez – Mankato – SE
LaboratoryTroy Zwilling – Hutchinson – Cen
MaintenanceDave Kirchner – Bloomington – Metro/Sub
Rookie of the YearChris Kleist – Duluth – NE
Loyal Service AwardTim Polipnick
Past President’s PlaqueKeith Redmond

2007 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class ADean Nelson – Owatonna – Southeast
Class BRon Mergen – Paynesville – Central
Class CDon Wirtz – Marshall – Southwest
Class DDave Watkins – Mt. Lake – Southwest
Collection SystemTodd Carlson – Duluth – Northeast
LaboratoryDan O’Connor – New Ulm – Southwest
MaintenanceMike Mies – Hutchinson – Central
Rookie of the YearTom Connor – St. Peter – Southwest
Special RecognitionDale Tranter – Bonestroo
Loyal Service AwardRick Ashling
Past President’s PlaqueRandy Poore
Scholarship Awards 

2006 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class AClay Watson – Gold’n Plump Poultry – Central
Class BWayne Anderson – MCES – Metro/Suburban
Class CTanya Schmidt – Cold Spring – Central
Class DCraig Novotny – Montgomery – Southeast
Collection SystemKen Novack Jr. – Woodbury – Metro/Suburban
LaboratoryPatti Mettler – Mankato – Southeast
MaintenancePatrick Conrad – Bloomington – Metro/Suburban
Rookie of the YearBen Whitcomb – Bloomington – Metro/Suburban
Special RecognitionSandra Mass – Duluth
Loyal Service AwardJoel Schmidt
Past President’s PlaqueRick Ashling
Scholarship Awards 

2005 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class AMark Saunders – WLSSD – NE
Class BByron Hayunga – Montevideo – Cen
Class CRobert Sogge – GLSSWD – Cen
Class DBruce Frandle – Faribault – SE
Collection SystemGreg Guerrero – Duluth – NE
LaboratoryBob Jahn – Marshall – SW
MaintenanceMarvin Hossalla – MCES-Empire – Metro/Sub
Rookie of the YearScott Przybilla – Marshall – SW
Special RecognitionGene Erickson – MPCA
Loyal Service AwardBob Van Moer
Past President’s PlaqueDean Nelson
Scholarship AwardsSam Arnzen
Jim Thelen
Matthew Chilson
John Greene

2004 MWOA AWARD WINNERS

Class ALawrence Hiles – MCES – Seneca
Class BDoug Kammerer – Watertown
Class CHarold Carstens – Hector
Class DSteven Griep – Jordan
Collection SystemLinda Mullen – Apple Valley
LaboratoryGlenn Bauer – Melrose
MaintenanceRick Phelps – Rochester
Rookie of the YearJoe Adelmann – Bloomington
Special RecognitionJerry Balbach – MVTL
Loyal ServiceSteve 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