Legends and Legacy

The annual Legends and Legacy banquet honors Dakota State University's most generous contributors. Annual and lifetime donors are recognized for their ongoing generosity to DSU. The Philanthropist of the Year award honors donors who have inspired others through their support of DSU.

Faculty are also honored at the Legends and Legacy Banquet for their service to DSU.  The final award of the evening is presented to a Faculty Legend. The Faculty Legend Award is given to a faculty member who personifies the tradition of excellence that defines Dakota State University.

Dr. Ernest Teagarden Award for Excellence in Teaching
The Dr. Ernest Teagarden Award for Excellence in Teaching is sponsored by Dr. Cecelia Wittmayer, Vice President of Academics at DSU. Dr. Ernest Teagarden was a long-time faculty member at Dakota State and was named Professor Emeritus of Business upon his retirement in 1993.  Over the years Dr. Teagarden served as Chair of the Social Science and Business Education Division and later of the Division of Business, Industry and Public Administration. Dr. Teagarden passed away in 2007. The Ernest and Pauline Teagarden Endowed Scholarship was established to honor the Teagarden’s years of service to Dakota State and the community.  

2009-Dr. Dale Droge

2008-Dr. Justin Blessinger

2007-Dr. Nancy Moose

2006-Dr. Dan Weinstein

Merrill Hunter Award for Excellence in Research
The Merrill Hunter Award for Excellence in Research is sponsored by Jon Hunter and the Hunter family in honor of Jon’s late father Merrill. Merrill was a long-time South Dakota newspaper publisher with one of the last independent daily newspapers in the state, the Madison Daily Leader. He was a World War II and Korean War veteran, active in the community and was serving as president of the Dakota State University Foundation at the time of his death in 1990.  Over the years the Hunter family has been generous supporters of Dakota State through scholarships, including the establishment of the Hunter Lab on the campus.  

2009-Dr. Kevin Streff

2008-Dr. Xinwen Fu

2007-Dr. Rich Avery

2006-Dr. Mark Hawkes

DeWayne Mork Award for Excellence in Service
The DeWayne Mork Award for Excellence in Service is sponsored by DeLon Mork in honor of his father DeWayne.  DeWayne Mork was a Madison business man, philanthropist, and community leader. He and his wife Joann purchased the Dairy Queen in 1964, and along with son DeLon built it into a family run business that won them recognition as SD Retailer of the Year in 2002.  DeWayne passed away in 2004. DeLon and his family have established a scholarship fund at Dakota State to continue his father’s commitment to education and the community. 

2009-Dr. Maureen Murphy

2008-Dr. Jack Walters

2007-Dr. Vicki Sterling

2006-Dr. Judy Dittman

Alexander “Sandy” Davidson Award for Excellence in Advising
The Alexander “Sandy” Davidson Award for Excellence in Advising is sponsored by the DSU Foundation in grateful recognition for the years of friendship and service from Alexander “Sandy” Davidson.  Sandy Davidson is remembered by students at General Beadle and Dakota State, having served in various positions including Dean of Students and director of counseling.  He retired from Dakota State in 1985, but remained active on campus and in the community. In 2005, Sandy set up the Davidson/DeForest Nontraditional Student Endowed Scholarship to benefit students who were at least four years out of high school.  Sandy passed away in 2006. 

2009-Dr. Gabe Mydland

2008-Deana Hueners-Nelson

2007-Dr. Rick Puetz

2006-Dr. Don Wiken

Faculty Legend Award

The Faculty Legend Award is given to a former faculty member who personifies the tradition of excellence that defines Dakota State University. 

2009-Dr. Robert Oas

2008-Joseph Habeger

2007-Dr. Ernest Teagarden