DakCU Honors Credit Union Professionals at Awards Banquet

DakCU recognized outstanding individuals at its annual awards banquet, honoring leadership, service, and volunteerism across the Dakotas credit union movement.

During the Dakota Credit Union Association awards banquet that was held on May 14 at The Box, Box Elder, South Dakota. The following Dakota credit union professionals were recognized for their outstanding individual achievements.
 
Sarah Senska, Chief Strategy Officer, Dakotaland Federal Credit Union, Huron, SD received the Professional of the Year Award. This prestigious award honors one credit union professional each year from North or South Dakota for their contributions to advance the credit union movement in their state and the nation by helping to craft an environment that allows credit unions to grow and prosper, to better serve their members.
 
Starting as a part-time student teller in 1996, Senska has dedicated more than 25 years to Dakotaland Federal Credit Union, where her leadership, advocacy, and commitment to the credit union philosophy of people helping people have made a lasting impact. Throughout her career, she has advanced through numerous leadership roles, culminating in her current position as Chief Strategy Officer. Senska has played a key role in guiding strategic growth initiatives, supporting mergers and expansions, leading mortgage operations, and helping navigate major organizational changes, all while prioritizing member service, employee development, and the long-term success of the credit union movement.

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​Kylee Lemieux, Marketing Manager, North Star Community Credit Union, Maddock, ND received the Emerging Leader of the Year Award. This award recognizes one credit union employee each year from North or South Dakota showing proven dedication and enthusiasm for the credit union movement by executing the credit union mission and guiding in new directions that enhance the overall vision of their organization.
 
Lemieux began her credit union career at North Star Community Credit Union in 2022 demonstrating exceptional leadership through strategic innovation, digital transformation, and a strong commitment to the credit union movement. In addition to leading the growth and development of the credit union’s marketing department, Lemieux plays an active role in organizational culture, employee engagement, community initiatives, and statewide advocacy efforts. She also serves on the board for the Dakota Credit Union Foundation and continues to advance professionally through leadership development opportunities, including earning her Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE) designation in 2025.

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​Laura Prosser, Board Member at Northern Hills Federal Credit Union, Sturgis, SD was named Volunteer of the Year. This award goes to one volunteer from North or South Dakota each year that has selflessly contributed time, effort, and talent to the development of the credit union movement in their state. Volunteers are an integral part of the credit union movement, and their contributions resonate throughout the credit union community by illuminating the most important part of the credit union structure.
 
For more than 30 years, Prosser has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the credit union movement through her volunteer leadership with Northern Hills Federal Credit Union. Since joining the Board of Directors in 1994, Prosser has played an instrumental role in guiding the credit union through significant growth initiatives, including charter expansion, branch growth, and strategic mergers, all while championing the cooperative philosophy of people helping people. In addition to her dedicated board and committee service, Prosser actively supports education, student mentorship, and community development through her work at Black Hills State University, making a lasting impact both within the credit union movement and throughout her community.

​Additional award recipients will be highlighted in upcoming Memo articles over the coming days, continuing recognition of individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership, service, and impact across the Dakota credit union movement.

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