Transportation Institute Holds 11th Annual Awards Banquet
More than 250 people attended the UGPTI's 11th Annual Awards Banquet Oct. 5, 2006, at the Fargo Holiday Inn.
The event featured recognition for several individuals who have provided leadership in the transportation industry in the region and have made significant contributions to transportation programs at NDSU.
The Institute's highest award, the Agrey Award, was presented to Lloyd Thompson. Thompson is chairman of the board for Border States Paving, Inc. of Fargo. He founded the company in 1973. Under his direction the company performed some of the first asphalt recycling projects in North Dakota and has done a significant amount of asphalt paving in the region. Thompson was also instrumental in establishing a curriculum in construction management and engineering at NDSU.
The Chairman's Award recognized three individuals who helped develop NDSU's new Masters of Military Logistics program. Lt. Gen. Claude Christianson is director of logistics at the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C. Lt. Gen. Jerry Sinn is military deputy for budget for the Assistant Secretary of the Army. Maj. Gen. Michael J. Haugen is the recently retired adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Kenneth Casavant, a professor in agricultural economics at Washington State University and an adjunct professor at NDSU. Casavant earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in agricultural economics from NDSU in 1965 and 1967. He is recognized internationally for his expertise in agricultural transportation, marketing and policy.
Scholarship winners were also recognized at the banquet. The $1,500 scholarships are funded by the Mountain-Plains Consortium through a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The Transportation Engineering Scholarship recognizes academic performance and interest in the area of transportation. Recipients were Amy Hardy and Jason Mayfield. Hardy is a junior at NDSU, from Ellendale, ND, pursuing a degree in civil engineering. She is an intern at UGPTI's DOT Support Center (DOTSC). Mayfield, of Fargo, is a senior at NDSU majoring in civil engineering. He has worked as an intern with the Ward County, ND Highway Department and with the City of Maplewood in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
The Paul E.R. Abrahamson Transportation Scholarship recognizes individuals demonstrating academic achievement and leadership as well as an interest in the areas of agricultural transportation and logistics. The scholarship is given in honor of Paul Abrahamson, a pioneer in the North Dakota Wheat Commission who served as its first administrator. Recipients were Kimberly Spear and Chris Duchsherer. Spear is a senior at NDSU from Drake, ND, majoring in agribusiness and applied economics. Duchsherer is a senior at NDSU from Minot, ND, also majoring in agribusiness and applied economics.
