March 13, 2023
Clockwise from top left: Stephanie LeDuc and Kari Koenig, Karen Znajda and Heather Koland are 2023 NISOD Excellence Award recipients, an honor that recognizes men and women each year who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and contribution to their students and colleagues.
March 13, 2023 – Northland Community & Technical College is proud to announce its recipients of the annual NISOD Excellence Awards. The 2023 honorees include Heather Koland, Program Director/Respiratory Therapy Instructor; Kari Koenig, Director of AD Mobility Nursing Program; Karen Znajda, Nursing Instructor; and Stephanie LeDuc, Dean of Health, Public Services, and Technical Programs.
NISOD’s Excellence Awards recognize men and women each year who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and contribution to their students and colleagues. In 1989, in connection with a University of Texas at Austin national study of teaching excellence, NISOD hosted its first ceremony honoring NISOD Excellence Award recipients. The response to that ceremony was so positive that NISOD began what has become the largest and most inspiring gathering that recognizes the contributions and achievements of community and technical college faculty, administrators, and staff.
“I am extremely honored to be recognized by my colleagues for this award,” said Koenig. “I am continuously inspired by our incredible team who dedicate themselves to supporting students and providing the best education possible.”
“To be recognized for something I love doing was completely unexpected,” Znajda said. “Not only is this an honor, but it will be an amazing opportunity to represent Northland.”
“Heather can be counted on to roll up her sleeves and help in any way she can to advance her program, and support her students and the college,” said Dr. Sandy Kiddoo, President of Northland Community and Technical College. “She is often the first to ensure her program and students are involved and engaged with community activities. And Stephanie recently stepped into an interim Dean role and provided needed leadership to faculty and programs. She brought her perspective as a faculty member and has been instrumental in ensuring faculty have the support they need to be successful.”
Excellence Award recipients are recognized during NISOD’s annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence, May 27-30, 2023. Excellence Awards recipients receive a specially cast, pewter medallion hung on a burnt-orange ribbon. The names, titles, and colleges of all Excellence Award recipients are included in a special booklet featuring congratulatory ads from many recipients’ colleges. In addition, presentations at the conference involving Excellence Award recipients are indicated in the Conference Program with a special icon.
“Recognizing those individuals who have contributed to student success and their colleges’ mission is something we look forward to doing each year,” said Dr. Edward J. Leach, NISOD’s Executive Director. “The extraordinary work of these men and women includes not only what they do for their students and colleagues, but what they do for the communities in which they live and work. We’re honored to be able to play a part in celebrating their achievements.”