Awards & Scholarships
Employee Service Awards
The South Dakota Hotel & Lodging Association honors up to 2 hotel employees each year with Employee Service Awards. They are presented to those who best represent the lodging industry through their outstanding performance, above and beyond regular job duties, and consistently provide exceptional customer service. Awards are presented in January each year. The 2025 Employee Service Award Nomination is available below.
PAST EMPLOYEE SERVICE AWARD WINNERS
2024 Employee Service Award (Awarded in January 2025)
- Bobbi Jo Gardella - Fairfield Inn and Suites, Spearfish
- Dawn Kraemer - My Place Hotels, Watertown
2023 Employee Service Award (Awarded in January 2024)
- Marc Gardella - Best Western Black Hills Lodge, Spearfish
- Jenny Kleinsasser - Comfort Inn & Suites, Mitchell
2022 Employee Service Award (Awarded in January 2023)
- Shannara Mclaren- Fairfield Inn & Suites, Spearfish
2021 Employee Service Award (Awarded in January 2022)
- Wilma Ward- Quality Inn & Suites, Watertown
- Joesph Harrison - Calamity Peak Lodge, Custer
2020 Employee Service Award (Awarded in January 2021)
- Patty Williams - Governor's Inn, Pierre
2019 Employee Service Award (Awarded in June 2020)
- Lynette Gohsman - Holy Smoke Resort, Keystone
2018 Employee Service Awards (Awarded in January 2019)
- Kathy Kuno - Quality Inn & Suites, Watertown
- Stephanie Rowe - Wrangler Inn, Mobridge
Past Employee Service Award Winners
- Carol Halverson - Super 8, Milbank
- Susan Beesley - Best Western Buffalo Ridge Inn, Custer
- Catherine Olaciregui - The Lodge at Deadwood
- Danelle Doop - Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Brandon
- Ashley Brumm - Rushmore Shadows Resort, Rapid City
- Colliene McNaboe - Country Inn & Suites, Watertown
- Tim Sweetman - Ramkota Hotel, Pierre
- Chris Eite - Best Western Ramkota Hotel, Rapid City
- Davis Dathe - Comfort Suites, Rapid City
- Sarah Maag - Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Sioux Falls
SCHOLARSHIP
Don Manning / South Dakota Hotel & Lodging Association Annual College Scholarships
SDHLA presents two scholarships each year to students majoring in hospitality-related fields. One is given to a student at South Dakota State University and the other to a student at Black Hills State University. The recipients are juniors or seniors from South Dakota with a GPA of 3.2 or higher. The scholarships are in honor of long-time SDHLA Board member and leader in the hotel industry, Don Manning. Students who would like to apply should contact their advisor.
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