FARGO, N.D. - The NDSU athletic training and strength and conditioning staffs were among the award winners announced Wednesday, May 5, during the NDSU athletic department's sixth annual Green and Gold Gala. The event, previously held at the Fargo Theatre, was staged in the Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex.

Director of sports medicine Mike Kjellerson accepted the Bison Impact Award on behalf of the athletic training staff, which was recognized for their work in COVID-19 testing and related responsibilities with contact tracing and a safe return to play for all 16 intercollegiate sports during the 2020-21 season. The award winner is nominated and selected by the Green and Gold Gala committee.

Director of athletic performance Jason Miller accepted the Student-Athlete Choice Award on behalf of the strength and conditioning staff, which provided at-home workout routines during quarantine periods and adapted to new safety protocols and non-traditional schedules to train student-athletes at the highest level possible for competition. The award is designated by the Student-Athlete Advisory Council to recognize major contributions to student-athlete or team success.

The lifetime achievement award was presented to Pat Fredrickson, who retired in December 2020 after more than 42 years in the NDSU Athletics business office. Fredrickson worked for four athletic directors and two interim athletic directors and successfully managed a budget that grew from approximately $400,000 in her first year to just over $26 million this year. 

Baseball shortstop Bennett Hostetler was selected as Male Athlete of the Year with a Summit League-leading .352 batting average, .495 on-base percentage and 38 RBIs. Other finalists for Male Athlete of the Year were James Kaczor, football; Rocky Kreuser, basketball; Alex Talley, men's track and field; and Luke Weber, wrestling.

First-team All-America track and field thrower Akealy Moton was voted Female Athlete of the Year after being named USTFCCCA Midwest Region Field Athlete of the Year and Summit League Indoor Field Athlete of the Year. Other finalists were Heaven Hamling, basketball; Ali Hinze, volleyball; Maddy Nilles, track and field; and Stephanie Soriano, softball.

Basketball forward Grant Nelson was named Male Rookie of the Year after earning Summit League Sixth Man of the Year and All-Newcomer Team honors. Other finalists for Male Rookie of the Year were Cade Feeney, baseball; Jack Johnson, men's golf; Eli Mostaert, football; and Owen Pentz, wrestling.

Volleyball outside hitter Ali Hinze, the Summit League Freshman of the Year and an All-Summit League performer, was voted Female Rookie of the Year. Other finalists were Michaela Hawkins, track and field; Abby Schulte, basketball; and Olivia Lovick, soccer.

Cole Jacob from football and Emily Dietz from women's basketball were recipients of the Bison Pride Award, which is nominated by coaches and awarded to one male and one female student-athlete for their contributions to the team's success withholding on-field performance. Other male finalists were Nate Deziel, golf; Charley Hesse, baseball; Tony Ukkelberg, track and field; Tyler Witz, basketball; and Cole Witzig, wrestling. Other female finalists were Kara O'Byrne, softball; Annika Rotvold, women's track and field; Maggie Steffen, volleyball; Dani Stuber, soccer; and Alexis Thomas, golf.

Several academic awards were also presented, including the Bison Academic Performance Award, Bison Academic Achievement Award, Bison Academic Excellence Award, Bison Most Valuable Scholar Athletes Award, National Consortium for Academics and Sports Student-Athlete Day Award, Thundering Herd Male and Female Team Academic Awards, Presidential Most Improved Team Academic Award and Presidential Team Academic Award.

Jeff Culhane, radio play-by-play voice for NDSU football, men's basketball and baseball, served as master of ceremonies for the event.