Contributions to family and community sets nine North Dakotans apart.

They will be honored at the second Celebrate North Dakotans event Saturday at the Ramkota Hotel in Bismarck. It is an event organized by the North Dakota Dollars for Scholars organization. The organization provides scholarships for North Dakota students.

North Dakotans are recognized in seven categories: education, arts, parent/relative, business, military, community service and sports. Each honoree was nominated for the recognition.

Dollars for Scholars is establishing a $1,000 scholarship for each honoree's hometown for a 2007 graduate.

The honorees are: Iris Swedlund, Velva; Cindy Kapaun, Fingal; Josh Duhamel, originally of Minot; Lucille Klemisch, Bismarck; Al Bortke, Bismarck; Harold Fetting, Finley; retired Maj. Gen. Charles Emerson Murry, Bismarck; William Reynolds, Washburn; and Ashley Andrews, Bowman.

Swedlund and Kapaun are recognized in education.

Swedlund was nominated by Velva High School student Jessica Selzler. She has been the Future Business Leaders of America adviser at Velva Public Schools for 37 years. She is the business teacher and librarian there. She has received numerous recognitions and awards for teaching and her work with FBLA.

"I think students motivate me," she said. "That's what makes my life go - kids."

She is a graduate of Dickinson State College and Mandan High School. She grew up in the Tuttle and Robinson communities.

Kapaun was nominated by Jacob Holm at Maple Valley High School. She is an elementary teacher in the Maple Valley School District. She also is the Students Against Destructive Decisions chapter adviser.

"My family was really the reason I started a SADD chapter in our school," she said.

She graduated from Valley City State University and Maple Valley High School. She was born in Fargo and raised in Fingal.

Duhamel is recognized for the arts.

He was nominated by Carla Abel and Delaney Olson. He stars on the television show "Las Vegas." Duhamel also starred in "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton" and received three Emmy nominations for his part on "All My Children."

"My parents played a huge role in my life," he said. "They motivated me from the start."

He attended Minot State University and grew up in Minot.

Klemisch and Bortke are honored in the parent and relative category.

Klemisch was nominated by a stepchild.

She is recognized for her work with foster and boarding children. She works with special-needs children in an early childhood setting in Bismarck.

"I just do what I do just because that's what my mom taught me," she said.

She has had six children live with her in a foster care setting and three boarding care children. She also has three sons of her own.

Klemisch graduated from the North Dakota State School of Science and Underwood High School. She grew up in Underwood.

Bortke was nominated by his granddaughter, Kirsten Bortke.

He is athletic director at the University of Mary, a position he began in 1973. He also was the men's basketball coach for 16 years.

"I admired and wanted to be like my high school coaches," he said.

He attended the University of North Dakota, graduated from Valley City State University and high school in Hettinger. He was raised in Hettinger.

Fetting is recognized for business, Murray is recognized for military, Reynolds is recognized for community service and Andrews is recognized for sports.

Fetting was nominated by Jill Borth and Wayne Kuehl. Fetting and his wife started a bakery in Finley that became Fettings Frozen Food Products.

"There is something for everybody in North Dakota," he said. "You need to find what you like to do and then pursue it."

He was born in Ada, Minn., and graduated from Borup High School. He and his wife, Janice, have lived in Finley many years.

Murry was nominated by Ross Stanley.

He served in the 17th and 82nd Airborne infantry divisions in World War II. He spent 43 years in the National Guard.

"My philosophy has always been to do what's right, the best you can see, and work like the dickens at it," he said.

He graduated from the University of North Dakota School of Law, the University of North Dakota and high school in Dunseith. He was born in Hope.

Reynolds was nominated by Kelly and Jodie Leidholm.

He is the owner of a commercial sign company, and also the artist who made the Northern Lights statue in Rugby. He promotes the arts by teaching art to Washburn children.

He attended the Los Angeles Art Center College of Design and graduated from Carleton College in Northfield, Minn. He lived most his life in North Dakota. He was born in Helena, Mont.

Andrews was nominated by Tobiann Andrews.

She is Miss Rodeo North Dakota 2006. She visits schools, hospitals and does public speaking as part of her title.

"I am so honored and very humbled knowing that people find me inspiring," she said. "I just try to do my best to be an example for others."

She will compete for Miss Rodeo America at the 2006 National Final Rodeo in Las Vegas. She was diagnosed with Hodgkins disease during her reign, and has recently completed chemotherapy.

She is the youngest honoree.

Tickets for the event are $50, and are available ahead of time or at the door. Half of the ticket price is tax deductible. For more information on tickets, visit www.nddfs.org or call 701-347-0142.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@;bismarcktribune.com.)