Golden Brick Awards

The Golden Brick Awards Ceremony celebrates the achievements, aspirations and contributions of Blackhawk’s community and industry partners as well as distinguished alumni, faculty and staff. Each winner exemplifies the importance of support to student success and a thriving community. We’re proud to honor these individuals and businesses for their commitment to creating opportunity through partnership with Blackhawk Technical College.

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2025 Golden Brick Awards

Held Wednesday, June 4 - Conference Center at the Beloit-Janesville Campus

Thank you to everybody who attended the 4th annual Golden Brick Awards to celebrate Blackhawk's community members, industry partners, alumni and staff.

We recognized fantastic people and partners while providing an interactive opportunity to see firsthand a few of the exciting programs our students have at their fingertips. Attendees took part in:

A charged-up continental breakfast crafted by alumnus Joshua Pickering and a dish made by Culinary Arts student Lillian McMahon and Chef Hakim Salaam
Celebrating and honoring community members, industry partners and Blackhawk alumni, faculty and staff
Meeting community members and business leaders
Tours of our newest spaces, including the Innovative Manufacturing Education Center and the Public Safety Building

Special thanks to our sponsors: Presenting Sponsor JP Cullen, Philanthropic Award Sponsor SSM St. Mary's Hospital-Janesville, Award Sponsor First National Bank & Trust and Award Sponsor Blain's Farm & Fleet.

Community Partnership Award

This award honors employers, key community leaders, or organizations who have made significant contributions through a sustained and reciprocal partnership with Blackhawk.

2025 Winner: Green County Human Services

Presenting Sponsor:

2025 Golden Brick Award Community Partnership winner

Philanthropic Award

This award honors those whose generosity have made an impact on the College and Blackhawk Foundation with their philanthropic contributions to open doors for Blackhawk students, programs, and facilities.

2025 Winner: Phil and Karen Knudsen

Award Sponsor:

Winner of the 2025 Philanthropic Partner Golden Brick Award

K-12 Partner Award

This award recognizes an exceptional K-12 school partnership with the College that has a common goal of growing a high-quality talent pipeline for the next generation workforce for our communities.

2025 Winner: The Lincoln Academy

Winner of the K-12 Partner Golden Brick Award for 2025

Distinguished Alumni Award

This award honors a truly outstanding Blackhawk graduate who has demonstrated the value of a technical college education through career accomplishments, community service, continued personal and educational growth, and support of the technical college system.

2025 Winner: Brandon Giles

2025 Distinguished Alumni Golden Brick Award winner

Rising Star Alumni Award

This award recognizes the initiative as well as accomplishments of Blackhawk alumni who are making a significant difference in the world soon after their graduation and who have attained a notable degree of impact through their professional accomplishments and/or community service.

2025 Winner: Josh Lichtfuss (no photo available)

Faculty Member of the Year Award

This award honors a staff member who contributes in significant ways to their respective program, their division/department, or the larger Blackhawk Technical College community.

2025 Winner: Melissa Dix

2025 Faculty of the Year Golden Brick Award Winner

Staff of the Year Award