On July 26, 1990 the Americans with Disabilities Act – the Watershed legislation in our field – was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. In recognition of the the signing of the ADA, and in recognition of Minnesota’s contribution to this law, MN AHEAD leadership is excited to announce the development of an annual award.

Senator David Durenberger served as a principal co-sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. His deeply held commitment to ensuring equal rights for all Americans, coupled with perseverance, persuasion, bi-partisan collaboration, and encouraging an engaged citizenry, brought the landmark legislation that changed the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities. 

Each year MN AHEAD will recognize an individual or organization with the Durenberger Award that has shown extraordinary leadership and courage in their commitment to improving equity, access, and opportunity for Minnesota’s college students with disabilities. The students we are privileged to work with every day.

Thank you to the nominees, and nominators, for their dedication to equity, access, and opportunity. We appreciate you! 

Here is what Lauren's nominator said about them: 

Lauren serves as the Assistant Director of the Testing Center and Access Assistance Units at the University of Minnesota's Disability Resource Center, where she has 5 direct reports, 6 indirect reports and 35 students workers. 

Lauren has shown a tremendous amount of leadership with her team members, leading with integrity, as well as by example. She upholds a level of professionalism and accountability that is high without being overwhelming. She's supportive and understanding, yet does not shy away from difficult conversations. When it comes to students, Lauren is a protector of confidentiality, works hard to keep students at the center of our work, and ensure that privacy and integrity are central to everything we do in the disability resource center. 

Over the past year and a half, Lauren has fast-tracked several initiatives, including several hiring processes, gotten us onboarded to our new database (AIM), and has worked to develop a summer training series for her team! I hope you know how appreciated you are, Lauren! We're so grateful to have your leadership on our team. 

Nominated by: Julie Olson Rand 

Here is what Matt's nominator said about them: 

Matt's commitment to accessibility and equity shows up in everything he does, but what truly sets him apart if how he does the work. His leadership as the formal MN AHEAD Board Equity Advocate position (helping develop what is is now) and his ongoing service on the Equity and Summer Seminar Committees reflect a deep dedication to improving access and opportunities for students with disabilities across MN.

What makes Matt's leadership especially meaningful is the way he brings humor and warmth into spaces that can often feel heavy or overwhelming. His humor resonates across the MN AHEAD community, it helps people feel at ease, open the door for honest conversation, and remind us that we can do serious, impactful equity work without losing our humanity. Matt has a gift for reading the room and using human to connect people, built trust, and keep momentum going, even during challenging discussions. 

Working with Matt in many different roles recently, I've seen how his presence brings light to our profession. He shows up consistently, leads with care, and models what courageous equity work can look like when it's grounded in joy, authenticity, and compassion. Matt's leadership makes our community stronger, more connected, and  better equipped to support Minnesota's college students with disabilities. 

Nominated by: Avery