For the second year, the North Dakota State athletics produced The Green and Gold Gala Monday at the Fargo Theatre.

And for the second straight year, it was a success.

The opening highlight reel gave goosebumps. Then everyone witnessed NDSU President Dean Bresciani speak — twice (he was sick last year).

This ceremony is a lot like the ESPYs, and awards are given away based on criteria or based on a voting committee for the prestigious awards of Male and Female Athlete of the Year.

What did happen though, which was touching, was this year’s Bison Impact Award, which is given to a community member who impacts Bison athletics. This year the award was given to now-deceased Scott Miller, the former play-by-play announcer for the NDSU football and basketball teams.

One of his good friends Daryl Ritchison  came on stage, to accept the award on his behalf, and said that Miller died at age 58, much too young, after a long battle with cancer. It was fitting, though, for Monday was Miller’s birthday.

Erin Teschuk accepted the Female Athlete of the Year Award for her outstanding and unprecedented performances in cross country and track for the second straight year. She was joined by another track athlete and down-to-earth individual, Alex Renner, the 2015-2016 Male Athlete of the Year winner. Renner is a thrower for the Bison track and field team.

Also, the NDSU women’s basketball team was the inaugural winners of the Bison Cup. A competition to integrate student-athletes into the community and encourage comradery between teams, in addition to a grade point average aspect.

The women’s basketball team racked up 27.5 hours per player volunteering over the past year, 18 events attended and a team GPA of 3.48.

So much for them dumb jocks.