Great stories at business awards event

Terrific stories emerged in pieces at the Greater Mankato Growth awards banquet Tuesday night.

Many award recipients had their own unique tale of how the business got started, a light moment or a poignant realization.

A few examples:

MSU students in a service project showed up at a local school to help a teacher and watched a 5-year-old student drink a full gallon of milk. When they asked why they drank the whole gallon, the kid says because they were "hungry." That point helped motivate the Campus Kitchens project that brings meals from cafeterias to Mankato's needy. MSU's Engagement Office was recognized for the business/education partnership award.

MRCI CEO Pam Year won the Hap Halligan service award, and had this anecdote about her first experience in Mankato 45 years ago as a college student. A kindly gentlemen helped her find MSU's lower campus as she was a lost small-town Iowa girl in the big city. That initial kindness of residents lead her to think she could stay in this place.

Robyn James, 25, won the young professional award. Her start to helping people in Mankato: She came up with the idea of putting red, white and blue ribbons on lockers of students at Mankato West after 9/11. Anyone who wanted to talk about 9/11, would take the ribbons off and give it to someone.

John Daley won the CVB volunteer of the year award. His favorite activity: visiting elderly at Laurel's Edge assisted living. He's been a volunteer with the chamber Cavaliers for years.

Shirley Piepho was also honored as volunteer of the year for her tireless work with MSU and Vikings training camp. While the monitore flashed a picture of her and Jared Allen, she told of the dues she's had to pay with Vikings camp. Mike Tice joked with her and "stuck me under his armpit." "That was my agony," she joked. "I earned my pay."

Pub 500 owner Tom Frederick also had a good Vikings story. Seems defensive lineman 300 plus pound Kevin Williams came in and sat at a table with a reserved sign. A Pub 500 waiter joked he would not make Williams move. When the rest of the Vikings defense showed up, the Pub employeed quipped. "I see you've brought reinforcements."

The Sports Institute took honors as a top emerging business, and co-owner Shane Bowyer recounted the advice of his 1,000 plus-win father, Dean, longtime coach of MSU baseball.

It's not the wins. It's the development of the players, the young people.

Part 2 continues Wednesday. Look for it in this blog.