Hendrickson Medal for
Ethical Leadership
Over the years, we have honored some truly amazing servant leaders — individuals who inspire us with the many ways they serve their communities, particularly those often underserved.
This award recognizes just a few of those who are working to make this a better world by tirelessly advancing human dignity and social justice and leading by example.
2020 - 2025
Recipients
- 2025 – Corie Barry, CEO of Best Buy Co., Inc.
- 2024 – Mary Jo Copeland, founder and director of Sharing and Caring Hands in Minneapolis
- 2023 – Alan Page, former Minnesota Viking and State Supreme Court Justice (retired)
- 2022 – Tony Sanneh, decorated professional soccer player and local nonprofit founder
- 2020 – Mary Jane Melendez, chief sustainability and social impact officer for General Mills president of the General Mills Foundation
2010 - 2019
Recipients
- 2019 – Brad Hewitt, retired CEO of Thrivent Financial
- 2018 – Rhoda Olsen, vice chair of the Great Clips, Inc. Board of Directors
- 2017 – No recipient
- 2016 – Inge Thulin, chairman of the Board, president, and Chief Executive Officer of 3M
- 2015 – Mary Brainerd, president and CEO, HealthPartners
- 2014 – Chris Policinski, president and CEO of Land O’Lakes
- 2013 – Doug Baker, Jr., chair and CEO of Ecolab, Inc.
- 2012 – Yvonne Cheung Ho, CEO of MEDA (retired)
- 2011 – Richard Davis, president of U.S. Bancorp
- 2010 – Dr. Eric J. Jolly, president of the Science Museum of Minnesota
2008 - 2009
Recipients
- 2009 – Charles Denny, president and CEO of ADC Telecommunications (retired)
- 2008* – Warren and Mary Lynn Staley, CEO of Cargill (retired) and philanthropists
*Inaugural award
About the medal
The Hendrickson Medal for Ethical Leadership is given annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to the Twin Cities community and exhibit ethical leadership that is globally oriented, innovative, and creative.
Further, recipients advocate for engaged citizenship that significantly improves the lives of others’ appreciation for diverse ideas and perspectives.
Eligibility
The Hendrickson Medal for Ethical Leadership may be presented to any individual who is an ethical business leader and lives in the 11-county Twin Cities metropolitan area (Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, or Wright counties) or the three-county Winona area (Olmsted, Wabasha, or Winona counties).
Those not eligible for this award include employees, current students, and those involved in governance, on a paid or volunteer basis, of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
Core Principles
Recipients of the award are ethical leaders that reflect the following principles:
- An attitude that embraces diversity, differences, and ambiguity;
- An appreciation for the gift of globally diverse cultures including our own;
- A creative imagination that leads not to change, but to transformation;
- The language of stewardship and abundance that transcends ideology;
- An acceptance of and enthusiasm for the positive integration of faith and finance;
- An unwavering commitment to do good and to give more; and
- Faith that the outcome of giving more is that we receive more for ourselves, and for all of humankind.
Community Values
Recipients demonstrate one or more of the following:
- Makes a significant contribution to the community
- Employs ethical approaches that are innovative or creative, whether for a business or the community
- Provides an example of an ethical decision that was in some way transformational for others (employees, customers, volunteers, the community) and the resources and influence used to accomplish this
- Serves as a role model for young and emerging ethical leaders.