The Bismarck Human Relations Committee on an internal revote selected the adult humanitarian award winner after committee members said initial scoring produced ties and confusion.

Committee members read summary descriptions of the three finalists — Micah, Pastor Gretchen and Stacy Schaeffer — citing work ranging from organizing inclusive family events to advocacy for people affected by human trafficking. A committee member said their initial ranking process produced inconsistencies, and the group agreed to a blind vote among the three finalists and later to use the previously tallied scores to break the tie. A motion to award the adult humanitarian honor to Micah was made, seconded and approved by the committee.

Context and why it matters: the award recognizes local leadership “in the area of human rights” including work to educate, protect and remove barriers for people who are marginalized, according to the award criteria read at the meeting. Committee members emphasized the quality and breadth of nominations and discussed logistics for notifying nominees and arranging the award presentation.

Details discussed: committee members reviewed biographical highlights attached to nominations: Micah’s volunteer work organizing events for families with young children who have Down syndrome and service in the North Dakota National Guard; Pastor Gretchen’s interfaith volunteer work and advocacy across a range of ministries; and Stacy Schaeffer’s work founding and leading anti‑trafficking education and survivor support efforts through a nonprofit (identified in meeting as the founder and executive director of "31 a project").

Process integrity and outcome: several members said they were not confident in their first tally and requested a revote. After a blind written vote and then reviewing the scoring sheets, members noted Micah had a higher total score (reported in the meeting as 9.14) compared with others (Stacy reported as 9.0). The committee then moved to award the adult humanitarian distinction to Micah; the motion passed by voice vote. The committee scheduled the award presentation for July 22 at 5:15 p.m. and discussed notifying nominees and nominators by phone and email. The committee also noted plaques take time to order and that the cost of the two plaques last year had been “just under $150.”

Decision vs. discussion: the committee voted to award the adult humanitarian honor at this meeting; the meeting also included extensive discussion about fairness of the tally process and logistics for notifying the recipients and nominators.