Faculty awards announced at 2025 Honors Reception
May 1, 2025
Four Dakota State University faculty members received awards at the annual Honors Reception on April 15.
Alexander “Sandy” Davidson Award for Excellence in Advising & Mentorship
Peter Britton, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, was named the Alexander “Sandy” Davidson Award winner for Excellence in Advising & Mentorship.
The award is sponsored by Davidson’s children, Scott and Jenny Weatherill and Brian and Barb Harmdierks. It remembers Davidson’s work as Dean of Students and Director of Counseling. He retired from Dakota State in 1985 but remained active on campus and in the community until he passed away in 2006.
Merrill Hunter Award for Excellence in Research
The Merrill Hunter Award for Excellence in Research was presented to Dr. Michael Ham, associate professor in The Beacom College of Computer & Cyber Sciences.
The Hunter family sponsors the award to honor Merrill, long-time Madison newspaper publisher, veteran, and former president of the DSU Foundation. He was a serving as president of the DSU Foundation at the time of his death in 1990.
Ernest Teagarden Award for Excellence in Teaching
The Ernest Teagarden Award for Excellence in Teaching was presented to Dr. Andrew Behrens, Assistant Professor in the College of Business & Information Systems.
The award honors Teagarden, a professor emeritus of business at DSU. Teagarden served as Chair of the Social Science and Business Education Division and later of the Division of Business, Industry and Public Administration; he passed away in 2007. This award is sponsored by the DSU Foundation.
DeWayne Mork Award for Excellence in Service
Dr. Betsy Schamber was honored with the DeWayne Mork Award for Excellence in Service. She is an instructor in the College of Education & Human Performance.
Mork was a long-time Madison businessman, philanthropist, and community leader. One honor he and his son DeLon were awarded included the South Dakota Retailer of the year award in 2004 for the family-run Dairy Queen.