Augustana University Announces 2024 Alumni Achievement Award Winners

Each year, Alumni Achievement Awards are presented to Augustana University alumni who have made outstanding contributions to their fields of endeavor, communities and/or churches. The Horizon Award recognizes young alumni who have graduated within the last 15 years and quickly demonstrated outstanding vocational achievement and provided faithful service to their community and/or church. Recipients of both awards must exemplify one of the shared core values of the university: Christian, liberal arts, excellence, community or service.

Paul Bruflat '82

Paul Bruflat '82 retired in 2023 from a 40-plus-year career with CNA Surety (formerly Western Surety), where he began as an underwriter trainee after graduating from Augustana with majors in business administration and economics. In 2001, Bruflat assumed responsibility for the success of the Sioux Falls operation, growing the organization to 250 employees - producing more than $180 million in annual premium. Bruflat has served on the boards of many local nonprofits, including the Helpline Center, South Dakota Safety Council, Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, Lutheran Social Services (LSS) of South Dakota, South Dakota Achieve Foundation, Good Shepherd Ministry Center, Sioux Empire United Way (SEUW) and South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He chaired the 2015 SEUW campaign - the organization's first to raise more than $10 million. Bruflat also served as the 2015-16 board chair for the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife, Julie, have five children and three grandchildren.

Mary Hafnor Hanson '65

Mary Hafnor Hanson '65 is the executive producer and host of "The Mary Hanson Show" - the longest-running independently produced cable show in the United States. The Aberdeen, South Dakota, native was an Augustana transfer student and English, sociology and education triple major. Influenced by her favorite Augustana professor, Dr. F. Orval Westby, Hafnor Hanson earned a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Minnesota in 1967. After working as a social worker and social services consultant, Hafnor Hanson began producing and hosting a radio show in 1978. After two years, the show evolved into the cable television program "The Mary Hanson Show," which focuses on health and social issues. Hafnor Hanson also hosted the children's television show, "The Wishing Well," from 1993-2007. Hafnor Hanson has two daughters, Camille and Jennifer, and two grandsons, Makai and Julian.

Lois (Van Dam) Martin '85

Lois (Van Dam) Martin '85 is the CFO of Mortenson, a $6 billion conglomerate of development, real estate, corporate private equity and construction entities. Martin is from Dell Rapids, South Dakota, and graduated from Augustana with majors in accounting and business administration. She began her career in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as a certified public accountant (CPA) with PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Martin later served as the CFO of Ceridian, Capella Education and Deluxe. She has been recognized with many awards, such as Outstanding Director of the Year, CFO Career Achievement, Top 100 People to Know, CFO of the Year, Top 50 Hardest Working Board Members, Minnesota Top Female Finance Executive and Women at the Top. Martin has also served on the boards of A. O. Smith, Donnelley Financial Solutions, Raven Industries, ADC Telecommunications, MTS Systems, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School and Augustana University. Martin and her husband, Tom, have two daughters, Marissa and Alison.

Albert Her Many Horses '11 | Horizon Award

Albert Her Many Horses '11 is a community leader and teacher at Todd County Middle School (TCMS) in Mission, South Dakota, where he teaches band, chorus and general music. Her Many Horses, who grew up on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, was a music education major at Augustana. At TCMS, Her Many Horses is known for his innovative approach to teaching - producing concerts via Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic and becoming the first teacher at the school to incorporate iPads into his music curriculum. Her Many Horses assists with the TCMS Wrestling Program and Todd County High School Pep Band. He also serves on the TCMS Parental Advisory Board, as well as the Lakota Language & Culture Committee - advising on the integration of Lakota language and culture within schools. Despite the obstacles facing students at TCMS, Her Many Horses sets high expectations for his fine arts students, encouraging them to strive for their best while fostering self-confidence and responsibility.