Top 13 Nominees
Alexis Hute
Alexis Hute is a special education teacher for Minot Public Schools. She is constantly advocating for her students and making sure they receive the necessary resources to learn and thrive. Not only that, but she takes the time to really teach, not just her students, but all students she comes in contact with. Most recently during the 2024 prom week, she took the time to educate students on safe driving practices and the potential consequences of reckless behavior behind the wheel. Alexis goes above and beyond for her students and helps promote positive changes for current and future generations.
Allie Auch
Allie Auch is the creator and operator of Full STEAM Ahead. Full STEAM Ahead has been around since 2017 and has helped open up opportunities for kids to explore the world of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math). Through the work of Full STEAM Ahead programs like Make A Scene Kid’s Theater, Minot Robotics, Minot 3-6 Year old Tee Ball, Minot Youth Kickball League, and Kid’s Clay have all been created to show kids all of the things they are capable of doing and creating. She helps create a world of possibilities for kid’s to let their minds, bodies, and imaginations wander. On top of creating all of these programs, she’s also raising two amazing daughters and is a Nurse Practitioner at Trinity Hospital.
DJ Randolph
DJ Randolph is a volunteer for Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports in the outdoors division, and helped pioneer and develop this program into something that the entire community of Minot can be proud of. DJ helped start the Outdoors Division of Prairie Grit, which focuses on helping hunt and enjoy the wilderness in an adaptive way, so that it is accessible to everyone who wants to try it. For the past 5 years, DJ has helped develop land and lead hunts around North Dakota and up into Canada. Thanks to DJ’s efforts he’s been able to share his passion for hunting with people who may have thought they’d never be able to experience hunting. He has volunteered hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars to help figure out ways to make hunting accessible through developing sites and acquiring equipment that make these hunts possible. DJ lives selflessly and is constantly working to help improve the quality of life for others.
Emerson Eads
Dr. Emerson Eads is one of Minot’s champions of the arts! He’s a composer, a conductor, and the Artistic Director of The Minot Chamber Chorale. He surrounds himself with music and brings that to the rest of the community by spearheading efforts to bring more and more music to Minot. His full time job is at Minot State as the Director of Choral Activities, but when he isn’t doing that he is directing musicals, acting in community productions, or composing music for Community Rocks, a fundraising event that focuses on orchestras playing classic rock music. Emerson and his wife, Abbie are tirelessly working to bring new musical experiences to Minot, including getting the Oslo Chamber Choir to Minot and helping to arrange their accommodations and finding host families for the entire choir. Emerson doesn’t stop trying to give more to the Minot community and making it a better place through music.
Gary Walhaug
Gary Walhaug is nominated to be a Hidden Hometown Hero for his many years of giving back to the youth of Minot and surrounding areas. Gary is a teacher, coach, parent, and grandparent and has spent his life being the best person he can be in each of those roles. Gary coaches many different sports for many different schools, not only in Minot, but its surrounding areas. Earlier this year, Gary coached his 2000th game with the Minot High Girls basketball team. He started coaching the Tolly Tigers and then found himself coaching in Surrey for both boys and girls basketball, then Minot State Women’s Basketball, and now for Minot High Girls Basketball and Surrey’s Track team. Gary always tries to instill the belief in the kids he coaches, that they can do and be anything. He is always willing to help a kid out with their skill or just in general, and he really does try to be their biggest fan and supporter. You can often find him wearing 2-3 different school logos at any given time. He’s touched the lives of many young athletes around our area and continues to do so every day.
Grace Baggett
Grace is a teacher at Dakota Memorial School on the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, and is nominated due to her constant effort to show care and support for her students. Her students have seen hard times, and are going through things that a lot of people never will experience. Her nominators describe her as someone who takes a calm and funny approach to her job, and someone who overall, makes her students feel safe and like they can trust her. Grace also takes any opportunity she can outside of the classroom to provide after school activities for students, and is always coming up with fun new ways to ensure kids are learning, staying engaged, and having fun.
Jaimie Brunner
Jaimie is the Enrollment and Communications Director at Bishop Ryan Catholic School. She is one who is always there to lend a hand to any teachers, students, or faculty that need it. Her nominators describe her as a jack of all trades and helps fill in the gaps whenever and wherever she needs to. She is also a key component to helping grow the Lego Robotics program at Bishop Ryan, and helped organize and coordinate 5 teams this year. Jaimie is also the Secretary for the Magic City Figure Skating Crew and is a part of the Alumni Association for Minot State University and does it all with a smile on her face and a welcoming and reassuring attitude.
Katie Beth Nelson
- Katie Beth is a social worker in Minot, but her work and passion go beyond her professional responsibilities. She provides mentorship, guidance, and support to the young people she works with who may be facing challenges. She is their advocate and actively listens to their needs and concerns, and makes sure she does what she can to get them through whatever hard times they’re facing. She works to encourage, empower, and inspire these youth and pushes them to see that they are capable of better things and brighter futures. Her dedication to providing a safe and nurturing environment, along with the way she builds meaningful connections and relationships with the youth she works with is something that inspires those around her.
Kevin Burckhard
Kevin Burckhard is the type of person that makes everyone that comes to Minot feel welcomed. He is always the first to volunteer to help anyone out, support a new venture in the community, and to say that he loves the community of Minot. If you’re at an event in Minot, odds are you will see Kevin there as well, either volunteering, dressing up as Santa, or just enjoying and promoting all that Minot has to offer. Kevin is also the un-designated welcome wagon for those new to Minot, and will share his recommendations to his favorite spots in town, or he’ll just take them there himself. Kevin and his wife Paula have had their hands full raising 6 amazing kids, 3 of which they adopted from countries around the world, 4 of which have Down Syndrome. Kevin and Paula are advocates for being kind to everyone they meet and are constantly working to make our communities more fun, more kind, and more accepting of everyone.
Melissa Maasjo
Melissa Maasjo is the founder and operator of Matthew 25 Project. Matthew 25 Project is a warehouse full of donated goods that are offered for free to those who are in need. The organization is entirely run by Melissa and a group of volunteers. Melissa and her husband were foster parents, which was what helped her see the amount of need that some people face for everyday items that others often take for granted. With that in mind, she started the Matthew 25 Project in Minot to help close the gap, and provide items that are essential for the betterment of the people of Minot. The goal of the project is to help provide those small physical needs so that it can free up people’s minds to focus on more important things, and hopefully give them that extra boost they need to help them get back on their feet.
Ron Garcia
Ron Garcia has been a huge advocate for retired military members in the Minot community, and is always aspiring to help them in any way he can. He was instrumental in the development of the Disabled American Veterans, and is an active member who is always looking for more ways to help out those who need it. Ron came to Minot in the 70s while he was an active-duty service member. Since he’s been in Minot he’s made it his mission to help and do good wherever he goes. He’s a volunteer for the Lord’s Cupboard, the Committee Chairman for scholarships in the community provided by the DAV, a volunteer at Flag Day, and has helped create a monthly luncheon for veterans at Sommerset Assisted Living. His latest passion project is creating a Wall of Honor for veterans at Somerset. Staff at Somerset and his nominators describe him as selfless and someone who brings a smile to everyone who comes in contact with.
Sanders Shumway
Thor Nelson
Thor is a Minot native who loves his hometown and is doing whatever he can to make it the best place it can be. Thor has made numerous contributions to youth sports in Minot, including his in-depth work with starting and growing the youth fastpitch program. He started with a house league that took young girls of all skill levels and gave them the opportunity to learn and grow in the sport. Since then he has developed the Minot Storm travel program for those looking to take their softball career further. He also developed the Minot Storm Invitational Fastpitch Tournament which brings 45 youth teams to Minot. Thor has also lobbied for the Junior Olympic Fastpitch State Tournament to be held in Minot, the most recent tournament bringing 98 teams to Minot. Thor has also been a champion for adaptive sports through his work with Prairie Grit, and most recently helped to bring the USA and Canadian men’s and women’s sled hockey teams to Minot for the Battle of the Border. Thor is always working to support youth programs in Minot and wants to see the community get better year after year, and will champion any project that benefits the community.
