--- title: Paul TenHaken Named 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient date: 2020-09-04T13:09:00-05:00 author: Jordan Eshelman canonical_url: "https://www.dordt.edu/news/paul-tenhaken-named-2020-distinguished-alumni-award-recipient" section: News --- [ View Dordt News](https://www.dordt.edu/news) [Alumni](https://www.dordt.edu/news?category=alumni) Sep 4, 2020 # Paul TenHaken Named 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient Alumni Paul TenHaken is named the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient. ![]()Paul TenHaken, the mayor of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has been named the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient by the Dordt University Alumni Association. This award recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves in an extraordinary fashion, who give evidence of living out of a Reformational worldview, and who demonstrate exemplary service to the community and the world. TenHaken graduated from Dordt in 2000 with a bachelor of arts degree in graphic design and earned an MBA from the University of Sioux Falls in 2004. He founded Click Rain, a marketing technology agency, in 2008. Under TenHaken’s leadership, Click Rain received positive press and many awards, including being named by the Inc. 5000 as one of America’s fastest growing private companies for five years in a row. In May 2018, TenHaken was elected the 32nd mayor of Sioux Falls. Leading with a focus on public entrepreneurship, employee culture, and fiscal responsibility, TenHaken has taken an innovative approach to problems he encounters, like [working to rethink the Sioux Falls public transportation system](https://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/info-2020/paul-tenhaken.html) and [launching a bold mentorship vision for the community](https://siouxfalls.business/sioux-52-aims-to-create-5200-mentors/). He and his team have also encountered numerous crises over the past two years, including [tornadoes](https://www.argusleader.com/story/weather/2019/09/11/sioux-falls-tornado-damage-nws-south-dakota-western-mall/2284334001/), [floods](https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2019/03/18/sioux-falls-flood-city-close-falls-park-due-flooding-snow-melt/3206314002/), and the [Covid-19 epidemic](https://www.npr.org/2020/04/14/834470141/how-one-city-mayor-forced-a-pork-giant-to-close-its-virus-stricken-plant). “God calls us to go into this world and use our talents to reflect him in our work through the different mission fields in which we have been placed,” says TenHaken. “My hope in being recognized with this honor is to inspire the next generation of leaders from Dordt University to be bold in whatever that mission field entails and to be assured in the sometimes uncomfortable calling God places on our lives.” As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. For four years in a row, Dordt has been named number one in the nation for student engagement by *The Wall Street Journal* and *Times Higher Education*. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by *U.S. News and World Report*, Forbes.com, *Washington Monthly*, and *Princeton Review*. To learn more, visit [dordt.edu](https://www.dordt.edu/). ## Related Programs [ Bachelor's ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2022-10-20_002320.jpg?mode=crop&pos=0.4929-0.5394&w=59&h=39&c=3aa06e13&v=891eca72b4c5aaac7cda7068529e9082d9565b3b23fd137f34dd7c054be4b593) ### Art Major ](https://www.dordt.edu/academics/programs/art-ba) [ Bachelor's ![Male student on computer](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2024-02-08_001358.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=59&h=39&c=b8e6faeb&v=1ac90f60e3db5c1fb0631e343e3b1343bacb7ee5579d1ea7ba5b38f56c645065) ### ArtGraphic Design Concentration, Major ](https://www.dordt.edu/academics/programs/art-ba/graphic-design) --- [Previous Article ![Brick and concrete sign of "Dordt University" is surrounded by prairie grass](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/front-entrance.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=56&h=33&f=webp&c=460ee147&v=05c18acb8bf730fe9d56406fcd2b3f749f7c7b670e0e649e654cbe0f65b606bb) Academics Agriculture Notable Sep 08, 2020 ## Dr. Chris Boomsma Named 2020 Horizon Award Recipient Dr. Chris Boomsma is honored with the 2020 Horizon Award. Read More ](https://www.dordt.edu/news/dr-chris-boomsma-named-2020-horizon-award-recipient) [Next Article ![Photo of brick Dordt University entrance sign](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/files/COVID-19-PDFs/M2019-July_001456.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=56&h=33&f=webp&c=4b071927&v=0107dee4110df8f4272112dc07b5e28696a7eeb120e4e6aebc6fe88cc7563f3a) Covid-19 Update Sep 01, 2020 ## Dordt Remains at Yellow Alert Level 24 active cases of students who are COVID-19 positive. Read More ](https://www.dordt.edu/news/dordt-remains-at-yellow-alert-level) [ ![]() ## View All Dordt News View News ](https://www.dordt.edu/news) Aug 19 General #### [International Student Orientation ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/international-student-orientation-2026-08-19) Aug 20 General #### [International Student Orientation ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/international-student-orientation-2026-08-20) Aug 20 Athletics Men's Soccer #### [8/20 8:00 PM Dordt University Men's Soccer at Carroll - Nelson Stadium ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/8-22-100-pm-dordt-university-mens-soccer-at-carroll) ![A picture of campus behind yellow prairie flowers](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2021-22/Buildings-and-Campus/2021-09-23_001574-1.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=50&h=50&f=webp&c=3d670641&v=d2bdb7cbdc83e5be46d3a10afe8a1214a0e770536697eb0ddbe29e017d2e9577) <![CDATA[YII-BLOCK-BODY-END]]>