Summer 2026 Gavel | Page 13

LEGISLATIVE SERVICE AWARD

The Legislative Service Award goes to an individual who has devoted years of service at the state or federal level. The recipient demonstrates a commitment to serving their constituents by actively participating in the legislative process and by balancing the principles of justice and jurisprudence while serving the needs of the public. The 2026 Legislative Service Award winner is Rep. Mike Lefor.

Lefor has served in the North Dakota House of Representatives since 2014. During that time, he has chaired seven different legislative committees and was elected the 26th House Majority Leader in 2022 and reelected in 2024. He served as the chairman of legislative management from 2023-2025. He is the chairman of Blackridge Capital, LLC, a family-owned business which has investments in commercial and residential real estate, as well as Blue 42 Sports Grille and Bar. He has been married to his wife, Sherryl, for 38 years, and they have three grown children, Brett, Scott, and Andi.

Previously, he served as chairman of St. Alexius Hospital Dickinson Board of Directors, president of the Dickinson Park Board, served briefly on the Dickinson City Commission, and was chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The Liberty Bell Award recognizes individuals or organizations who promote understanding of our form of government, encourage greater respect for law and the courts, and stimulate a deeper sense of responsibility on the part of citizens regarding their duties as well as their rights. The 2026 Liberty Bell Award recipient is Leonor Valderrama de Sillers.

Valderrama de Sillers is a native of Colombia, South America. She is

Liberty Bell Award winner Leonor Valderrama de Sillers, center. a Minnesota Certified Court Interpreter, holds a masters degree in liberal arts / Hispanic studies, and is an associate professor at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota. For the past 32 years, she has taught language acquisition, advanced grammar, introduction to translation, Spanish for health professions, and Latin American culture. Sillers has worked extensively as a Spanish interpreter in the state and federal courts of Minnesota and North Dakota. She became one of the first Minnesota Certified Court Interpreters, and was an original member of the Minnesota Supreme Court Interpreter Advisory Committee and is a lead faculty member for the Minnesota State Supreme Court Interpreter Training Program. Sillers is the owner of International Translation Service and the author of“ Proverbs, Idioms and Expressions A Guide for Interpreters and Translators.”

The annual golf tournament was held at the Larimore Country Club. More than 50 members enjoyed the day on this challenging nine-hole layout.

1ST PLACE

Judge Swain Benson and Richard Clement

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