Blackhawk Technical College will host its inaugural Golden Brick Awards ceremony on Thursday, June 30, to recognize and celebrate its outstanding partners and contributors:

• KANDU Industries – Community Partnership Award
• Scot Forge – Technical Education Champion Award
• Dusty Williams – Faculty of the Year Award
• Stephanie Hanson – Alumni of the Year
• Dr. Gregg & Helen Dickinson and Wayne & Janet Albertson – Philanthropic Award
• Frito-Lay North America, Inc. – Futuremaker Partner Award

Sponsored by SSM Health, the event, which will be held at The Barn on Prairie from 3-5 p.m. and feature heavy hors d’oeuves and refreshments, is open to the public. Cost to attend is $25/person or $200 for a reserved table of six.

“This event is an opportunity to recognize these exceptional individuals and businesses for the work they do each day,” said Lisa Hurda, Blackhawk Director of Advancement & Foundation. “Each recipient has gone above and beyond to demonstrate their commitment to the community and to Blackhawk.”

About the award winners:

KANDU Industries  (pictured above)

With a focus on fostering acceptance and inclusion of all individuals, KANDU plays an instrumental role working with area businesses to provide services outside their core capabilities. An extension of this includes an internship program with Blackhawk in the maintenance mechanic and human services fields that focus on hiring students in the program that have disabilities or disadvantages.

Scot Forge

The mission of Scot Forge focuses on forging a better future for their employee-owners and the community. As part of that mission, Scot Forge has partnered with Blackhawk on a number of initiatives, including the start-up of the Stateline Manufacturing Alliance, a robust apprenticeship program for BTC students, participation in Blackhawk’s Manufacturing Days and engagement with other industries on best practices for establishing manufacturing career pathways.

Dusty Williams

Dusty was awarded the 2021-22 Faculty of the Year Award from the Blackhawk student body for his outstanding leadership in agriculture. Dusty has been an agribusiness and farm management instructor at Blackhawk for nearly 14 years. He teaches classes in soils, plants, animals, nutrients, agribusiness, agricultural commodities, pest management and more.

Stephanie Hanson

Stephanie is the 2022 recipient of the Blackhawk Distinguished Alumni Award for her work both inside and outside of the classroom. Stephanie is a graduate form Blackhawk’s GED program and the Early Childhood Education program. She also received her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Stephanie taught at Merrill Elementary School for about seven years, and she is now a teacher at Powell Elementary School.

Dr. Gregg & Helen Dickinson

Gregg is a member of the BTC Foundation, and with his wife, Helen, they created the Gregg and Helen Dickinson Scholarship Fund to assist students in advanced manufacturing and health sciences programs. Two scholarships are awarded each year to help support students as they prepare for changes in the workforce and the world.

Wayne & Janet Albertson

In June of 2021, Wayne and Janet Albertson created an endowed scholarship for agriculture students studying at Blackhawk. Wayne and Jan, who has since passed away, have been part of the backbone of Wisconsin agriculture for decades, running a three-generation family farm. The scholarship is awarded through the BTC Foundation to graduating high school seniors enrolling in either an agribusiness/science and technology associate program or an agricultural-related technical diploma program.

Frito-Lay North America, Inc.

The Wisconsin Technical College System Board awarded Frito-Lay North American, Inc., with the Futuremaker Partner Award, which is presented four times a year by the WTCS Board to recognize the unique, long-standing connections between the state’s employers and local technical colleges.

The company was chosen for this award because of its ongoing support of Blackhawk, helping the college be a critical catalyst for the region’s economic success. Frito-Lay serves on many advisory committees, providing input and support to Blackhawk programs. They are frequent visitors to campus, promoting job opportunities and highlighting how a Blackhawk education prepares students to launch their careers. Additionally, they provide financial support to students enrolled in BTC through earn and learn programs, including internship and apprenticeship programs.