AWARDS
REMEMBERING OUR CHARTER MEMBER AND FRIEND
JAY SEEGER
November 1, 1958 - July 30, 2023
The Jay Seeger Service to Mankind Award
2026 Michelle Petron
Congratulations to the 2026 Jay Seeger Service to Mankind recipient, Michelle Petron.
Today, the Sertoma Club of Greater Grand Forks presented Michelle Petron with the Jay Seeger Service to Mankind Award, the highest honor Sertoma can bestow on a nonmember for outstanding volunteer service to our community.
For more than 10 years, Michelle has dedicated her time and heart to serving at the food pantry. From organizing donations and packing senior commodity boxes to guiding volunteers and helping clients with meal ideas, she steps in wherever she is needed—with a smile and a caring heart.
Michelle was so surprised, and we’re grateful we captured this special moment to share with you! Join us in congratulating her and thanking her for all she gives to our community.
This award also carries forward the legacy of our late Charter Member Jay Seeger, whose example continues to inspire us to serve others and celebrate those who do.
The Jay Seeger Service to Mankind Award is the highest honor Sertoma can bestow on a nonmember. This award honors outstanding volunteer service to the community. The Sertoma Club of Greater Grand Forks on July 16, 2013, declared it “The Jay Seeger Sertoma Service to Mankind Award” in honor of Charter Member Jay Seeger
The Jay Seeger Service to Mankind Award
The Service to Mankind is an award that is given out to someone who has been active over the years as a volunteer in our community. This award is given to a non-Sertoman who exemplifies what it means to be of Service to Mankind. Over the years recipients have included mayors, teachers, clergy and girl scout leaders. The Sertoma Club of Greater Grand Forks on July 16, 2013 declares from this day forward The Sertoma Service to Mankind Award is now “The Jay Seeger Sertoma Service to Mankind Award” in honor of Charter Member Jay Seeger.
The Jay Seeger Service to Mankind Recipients
The Service to Mankind Award is the highest honor Sertoma can bestow on a nonmember. This award honors outstanding volunteer service to the community. Past winners have included educators, elected officials, foster parents and volunteer camp directors. All of these winners are people who have made a significant volunteer contribution to our community.
2005 Patricia O'Donnell
2007 Richard "Dick" Day
2008 Mary Barrett
2009 Curt Sandberg
2010 Corey Cleveland
2011 May Marie Blackmore
2012 Harold & Eunice Vold
2013 Sue Thompson
2014 Kenny Holweger
2015 Gloria Sanford
2016 Esther Lee
2017 Joanne Brundin
2018 F. Gerald "Jerry" Joyce
2019 Michael D Hagen
2020 Adele Laudal
2021 Gregory A. Vettel Sr.
2022 Steve Moser
2023 Jen Ekberg
2024 Bob Stocker
2025 Brad Sherwood
2026 Michelle Petron
A very special lunch and ceremony to celebrate this year's recipient of the Clarence Blecha Communication Award. Clarence Blecha was a charter member of Sertoma of Greater Grand Forks and this award is named in his honor and awarded to an individual who has made great strides in speech and language or hearing loss through therapy and treatment. Jayce Grafenauer was on hand with his family and some of his therapists to receive the award. Congratulations to Jayce!
2026 Marianne Rivard
2007 Dr. James Brosseau
2008 Ryan Erickson
2009 Daniel Stevens
2010 Tom Carivea
2011 Kevin Boyer III
2012 Harold Pederson
2013 Darlene Johnson
2014 Robert Volker
2015 Aimee Olson
2016 John Tyrrell
2017 Corey Pladson
2018 Jamie Mager
2019: Scott Hayden
2022 Chris Danzl
2023 Evelyn Feltman
2024 Steven Goss
2025 Jayce Grafenauer
2026 Marianne Rivard
2026 Tony Aymond
2026 Anthony Siewert
2026 Bri O'Neill
