Longtime law enforcement leader honored for years of partnership and impact
MAY 21, 2025— Attendees of the 20th annual Judd Sondreal Memorial Rise & Shine for Peace Breakfast on May 7 had the honor of celebrating Grand Forks County Sheriff Andy Schneider, who was presented with the 2025 CVIC Jim Vigness Peacemaker Award.
CVIC presents the Jim Vigness Peacemaker Award annually at the breakfast to a local citizen who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to ending violence in greater Grand Forks.
“Sheriff Schneider is a true partner to CVIC’s team and clients. He’s shown up for our work in spades, both locally and statewide. His efforts to advocate for additional dollars for state-mandated domestic violence programs and vital safety services is just one example.” Coiya Tompkins Inman, president/CEO of CVIC, said. “If anybody embodies the phrase ‘lead by example,’ it’s Sheriff, and we are so honored to celebrate his many contributions to not only CVIC clients but families statewide who are impacted by domestic and sexual violence.”
Schneider Jokes About Skipping Breakfast if Nominated Again
Sheriff Schneider, a frequent nominee for the Jim Vigness Peacemaker Award over the years, joked that if he were nominated again, he might skip the event altogether. Attendees were glad he didn’t—Schneider was selected by CVIC staff and the board of directors as the 2025 award recipient.
Honored for his longstanding commitment to CVIC and its mission, Schneider graciously shifted the spotlight to others in the room. “Everybody has the ability to make a change,” he said. “And that’s what all of you are doing here today. Everybody can be a Peacemaker. If you can impact one person’s life… then you’ve definitely made a difference.”
He closed his acceptance speech with gratitude—and one final quip: “Thank you very much, I appreciate it—and I look forward to not seeing my picture on that screen next year.”
Two other key partners and finalists also were recognized at the event:
- Dr. Earl Beal, retired collegiate educator and military police officer
- Mickey Berry, Emerado Public School District principal & superintendent
About the CVIC Jim Vigness Peacemaker Award
Each year at its premier fundraising event, the Judd Sondreal Memorial Rise & Shine for Peace Breakfast, CVIC honors one local citizen who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to ending violence in greater Grand Forks.
In 2022 the award name of the award was changed from the CVIC Peacemaker Award to the CVIC Jim Vigness Peacemaker Award after the first award recipient, Jim Vigness. Vigness was a Grand Forks police officer and passionate advocate of domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and intervention. A steadfast supporter of CVIC, its staff and clients, Vigness died in 2022, but his legacy to the violence prevention community lives on in the annual award.