BOTTINEAU – Dakota College at Bottineau has announced five recipients of the DCB Conservation Award this year. Because the award has not been given since 2019, the Earth Day Committee decided to make up for the lost years by awarding one for each year since 2019.

Recipients are Ted Upgren, Tim Semler, Kathy Duttenhefner, Brian Knudson and Jerome Suchor. They will be recognized on Earth Day, Monday, April 22, at noon in the Alumni Center located on the second floor of Thatcher Hall.

The DCB Conservation Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated leadership and made notable contributions to the conservation, preservation, and enhancement of natural resources.

Upgren, retired from The N.D. Game and Fish, has been named the 2020 recipient. He served as executive editor for North Dakota Outdoors and contributor to Dakota Country Magazine, in which his column, “This Prairie Life,” was regularly featured. He is also a published author and continues to write and manage his own publishing designation.

Semler, retired from North Dakota State University Extension, has been named the 2021 recipient. Semler has spent his entire career providing education dedicated to the preservation of natural resources. He has instructed high school students and educated producers and Extension agents in farm management delivering programs statewide on conservation.

Duttenhefner, N.D. Parks and Recreation Department, is the 2022 recipient. Duttenhefner has a deep passion for the outdoors and natural resources. She has passed this on to generations through her volunteer opportunities in Envirothon teams. Her leadership has enhanced the parks and recreation lands throughout the state.

Knudson, with the Bottineau Park District, has been named the 2023 recipient. He has been instrumental in the maintenance and the many improvements made to the parks during his 44 years with the park district. This transformation involved improving roads, planting trees, building shelters, installing playground equipment, along with writing grants to financially support the improvements.

Suchor, retired field production specialist at the N.D. State Forestry, has been named the 2024 recipient. Suchor’s dedication to nursery management provided many innovative projects over the years creating efficiencies in the harvesting of trees. He continues to carry his experience in the forestry business in and around his community.