NDSU

The Green and Gola Gala is an annual event that recognizes the accomplishments of the North Dakota State University athletics program and its student-athletes throughout the athletic and academic year. The inaugural gala was held April 27, 2015, at the historic Fargo Theatre.

During the gala, the athletics department honors student-athletes for their athletic, academic and community service accomplishments.

Award Winners

Male Athlete of the Year
(Highest performing male student-athlete)
2015 - Lawrence Alexander, basketball
2016 - Alex Renner, track and field
2017 - Zack Johnson, football
2018 - Easton Stick, football
2019 - Payton Otterdahl, track and field
2020 - Canceled
2021 - Bennett Hostetler, baseball
2022 - Trevor Otterdahl, track and field
2023 - Jared Franek, wrestling
2024 - Cole Wisniewski, football
2025 - Cam Miller, football

Female Athlete of the Year
(Highest performing female student-athlete)
2015 - Erin Teschuk, track & field and cross country
2016 - Erin Teschuk, track & field and cross country
2017 - Rose Jackson, track & field
2018 - Alyssa Olin, track & field
2019 - KK Leddy, softball
2020 - Canceled
2021 - Akealy Moton, track & field
2022 - Kelby Anderson, track & field and cross country
2023 - Heaven Hamling, basketball
2024 - Kelley Johnson, volleyball
2025 - Reagan Baesler, track & field and cross country

Male Rookie of the Year
(Highest performing male student-athlete in first year of eligibility)
2015 - R.J. Urzendowski, football
2016 - Easton Stick, football
2017 - Cam Sykora, wrestling
2018 - Jabril Cox, football
2019 - Max Loven, baseball
2020 - Canceled
2021 - Grant Nelson, basketball
2022 - DJ Parker, wrestling
2023 - Michael Caliendo, wrestling
2024 - Jake Schaffner, baseball
2025 - Brooks Turner, track & field

Female Rookie of the Year
(Highest performing female student-athlete in first year of eligibility)
2015 - Taylor Thunstedt, basketball
2016 - Britney Monteon, soccer
2017 - Monica Polgar, soccer
2018 - Kelby Anderson, cross country
2019 - Kalli Hegerle, volleyball
2020 - Canceled
2021 - Ali Hinze, volleyball
2022 - Grace Link, track & field and cross country
2023 - Elle Evans, basketball
2024 - Lauren Jansen, volleyball
2025 - Morgan Russmann, soccer

Male Bison Pride Award
(Male student-athlete recognized for contribution to team's success withholding on-field performance)
2015 - Esley Thorton, football
2016 - Chris Kading, basketball
2017 - Chase Morlock, football
2018 - Kevin Folman, baseball
2019 - Ryan Enerson, track & field
2020 - Canceled
2021 - Cole Jacob, football
2022 - Cordell Volson, football
2023 - Tristan Bush, track & field
2024 - Jake Kava, football
2025 - Josh Galvin, golf

Female Bison Pride Award
(Female student-athlete recognized for contribution to team's success withholding on-field performance)
2015 - Maddie Van Beek, track & field and cross country
2016 - Alyssa Reina, softball
2017 - Morgan Milbrath, track & field
2018 - Trisa Hutchinson, golf
2019 - Vanessa Anderson, softball
2020 - Canceled
2021 - Emily Dietz, basketball
2022 - Emily Dietz, basketball
2023 - Dani Stuber, soccer
2024 - Nell Graham, track & field
2025 - Abby Schulte, basketball

Comeback Athlete of the Year
(Male or female student-athlete recognized for overcoming personal hardship to make a significant contribution in performance for their team)
2023 - Kendra Kelley, women's track & field
2024 - Jack Johnson, men's golf
2025 - Eke Denessen, volleyball

Student-Athlete Choice Award
(NDSU athletics support staff member recognized for their contribution to student-athlete/team success)
2015 - Kelli Layman, NDSU Associate Director of Athletic Academics
2016 - Matt Larsen, NDSU Director of Athletics
2017 - Colleen Heimstead, NDSU Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator
2018 - Pat Mattson, NDSU West Dining Center
2019 - Dale Cardwell, NDSU Facilities Management
2020 - Canceled
2021 - Strength and conditioning staff (accepted by Jason Miller, director of athletic performance)
2022 - NDSU Team Makers (accepted by Derrick Lang, executive director)
2023 - Sports nutrition staff (accepted by Kelly Csernica, graduate assistant)
2024 - NDSU President David Cook & Dr. Kate Cook
2025 - Zachary Lucy, photographer

Bison Impact Award
(Member of community that has made a significant impact on NDSU athletics in the last calendar year)
2015 - Prakash Mathew, interim director of athletics
2016 - Scott Miller, radio play-by-play voice
2017 - Michael Harwood, assistant dean of student life
2018 - Dr. Bruce Piatt, team physician
2019 - Bill Burns, counseling center director
2020 - Canceled
2021 - Athletic training staff (accepted by Mike Kjellerson, director of sports medicine)
2022 - Dr. Dean Bresciani, president
2023 - Michael Wood, supporter
2024 - Todd Kadrmas, Team Maker & supporter

Lifetime Achievement Award
(Staff member that has made a significant impact on NDSU athletics over many years)
2015 - Lynn Dorn, retired director of women's athletics
2021 - Pat Fredrickson, retired senior associate athletic director for business
2024 - Margie Trickle & Helena Johnston, retired administrative assistants

SAAC Team Service Award  (Bison Cup)
(Athletic team recognized for its outstanding community service)
2015 - Wrestling, Women's Basketball
2016 - Women's Basketball
2017 - Softball
2018 - Women's Golf
2019 - Women's Golf
2020 - Canceled
2021 - Not Awarded
2022 - Women's Soccer
2023 - Women's Basketball
2024 - Volleyball
2025 - Volleyball

Thundering Herd Female Team Academic Award
(Women's team with highest overall GPA for calendar year)
2015 - Women's Golf
2016 - Women's Track and Field
2017 - Women's Volleyball
2018 - Women's Cross Country
2019 - Women's Golf
2020 - Canceled
2021 - Women's Golf
2022 - Women's Golf
2023 - Women's Golf
2024 - Women's Golf
2025 - Women's Golf

Thundering Herd Male Team Academic Award
(Men's team with highest overall GPA for calendar year)
2015 - Men's Golf
2016 - Men's Cross Country
2017 - Men's Cross Country
2018 - Men's Cross Country
2019 - Men's Cross Country
2020 - Canceled
2021 - Baseball, Men's Golf
2022 - Men's Golf
2023 - Men's Golf
2024 - Men's Golf
2025 - Men's Golf

Presidential Most Improved Team Academic Award
(Team recognized by NDSU President for most improved GPA in calendar year)
2015 - Men's Basketball
2016 - Volleyball
2017 - Softball
2018 - Women's Golf
2019 - Men's Golf
2020 - Canceled
2021 - Men's Basketball
2022 - Men's Golf
2023 - Men's Track and Field
2024 - Volleyball
2025 - Women's Basketball

Presidential Academic Team Award
(Team recognized by NDSU President for highest GPA in calendar year)
2015 - Women's Golf
2016 - Women's Track and Field
2017 - Women's Volleyball
2018 - Women's Cross Country
2019 - Women's Golf
2020 - Canceled
2021 - Women's Golf
2022 - Women's Golf
2023 - Women's Golf
2024 - Women's Golf
2025 - Women's Golf
 

Green and Gold Gala History
Date	Location	Emcee	Recap	Photos
April 27, 2015	Fargo Theatre	Marney Gellner, Fox Sports North	Recap	Gallery
April 25, 2016	Fargo Theatre	Chris Hanson, Bob 95 FM	Recap	Gallery
May 3, 2017	Fargo Theatre	Jeff Culhane, Bison 1660	Recap	Gallery
May 3, 2018	Fargo Theatre	Ryan Gellner, NBC North Dakota	Recap	Gallery
May 2, 2019	Fargo Theatre	Brian Shawn, Midco Sports Network	Recap	Gallery
April 29, 2020	Fargo Theatre	Canceled
May 5, 2021	Scheels Center	Jeff Culhane, Bison 1660	Recap
May 4, 2022	Scheels Center	Jeff Culhane, Bison 1660	Recap	Gallery
April 26, 2023	Fargo Theatre	Freddy Coleman, Basketball Television Analyst
May 5, 2024	Fargo Theatre	Sam Neidermann, Bison 1660
May 4, 2025	Festival Concert Hall	Sam Neidermann, Bison 1660

Men's Student-Athlete Senior Speakers
2015 - Carlton Littlejohn, football
2016 - Brian VanderWoude, baseball
2017 - Carlin Dupree, basketball
2018 - Landon Jochim, track and field
2019 - Will Holmgren, golf
2020 - Canceled
2021 - Tony Ukkelberg, track and field
2022 - Brandon Metz, wrestling
2023 - Michael Tutsie, football
2024 - Jack Johnson, golf
2025 - Kyle Burwick, wrestling

Women's Student-Athlete Senior Speakers
2015 - Maddie Van Beek, track & field and cross country
2016 - Tori Veth, soccer
2017 - Morgan Milbrath, track and field
2018 - Natalie Roth, golf
2019 - KK Leddy, softball
2020 - Canceled
2021 - Bella Lien, volleyball
2022 - Ellie Schneider, women's soccer
2023 - Daejha Moss, women's track and field
2024 - Heaven Hamling, women's basketball
2025 - Grace Link, women's track & field and cross country