by Holly Jessen
Mary Edman wondered why nobody asked her to help out with the refreshments at the Gwinner Citizen of the Year award presentation held Tuesday, Oct. 27.
“All my friends were bringing bars,” she explained.
As it turns out, the event was in her honor. Edman, a special education teacher at North Sargent Public School, was selected as the 2009 Gwinner Citizen of the Year.
Edman accepted the award at the North Sargent Activity Center following a patriotic program put on by North Sargent second graders. Wiping a few tears from her eyes, she told the crowd she was touched.
“I’m at a loss for words,” she said.
She also said she didn’t really feel she deserved the award. Anyone would do the same if they were asked, she told the crowd.
Those that nominated Edman felt she was very deserving indeed, however. Jeannette Beckstrom, chairman of Gwinner Civic Club citizen of the year selection committee, read from quotes taken from those that nominated Edman for the award.
“This Citizen of the Year would be a wonderful example of what a citizen of Gwinner should be,” said one.
Edman, who is married to John Edman, is a graduate of Gwinner High School. She took a job elsewhere but moved back to Gwinner after getting married and having a family. She has a masters degree in special education.
Edman represents Gwinner in many ways, Beckstrom told the crowd, including through the Gwinner Civic Club, her church and at the school. She has served as director of Gwinner Junior Players for 20 years, has held many jobs at her church and has taken part in many activities at the school.
“The work from this teacher has had an impact on the lives of many of our young people,” said another nominator.
As is tradition, Beckstrom didn’t reveal the name of the award winner until after reading all the information and quotes about the winner. Edman said later that she had no idea it was her name that was going to be read. It wasn’t until Beckstrom mentioned Gwinner Junior Players that Edman realized the award was for her.
“That was the dead giveaway,” she said.
There are five civic club members on the selection committee, Beckstrom said. Those committee members go through letters of nomination sent in by community members, to select the winner.
Edman’s name has been nominated for the award in previous years. Nomination letters are kept for up to 3 years so the person nominated has a chance to win for more than one year, Beckstrom said.

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