Volunteer of the Year
The Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to individuals who have displayed outstanding volunteer service in the community within the last year. There is no set formula or specific criteria for a person to be nominated, and it isn’t always a person with many hours or someone who comes in every week. Important qualities for an ‘outstanding volunteer’ include dependability, flexibility, creativity, a positive attitude, kindness, and someone who exemplifies the strength of our artistic community.
Finalists are:
Larry Askren
Genevieve Kroenke
Donald Smith
The Arts Champion Award
This award recognizes a corporation or organization that has made meaningful contributions to advance the arts in the Ozarks. The recipient of this award is an advocate, supporter, sponsor, and/or philanthropist who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the arts.
Finalists are:
Neosho Arts Council
Judith Enyeart Reynolds - The School of the Arts, Missouri State University
Springfield Symphony Orchestra
The Arts Ambassador Award
This award highlights an individual or team that has taken an active role in building a sustainable and thriving ecosystem for the arts in the Ozarks. The recipient of this award is someone who has worked tirelessly to create, promote, or support the arts, and has made a significant impact on the local arts community.
Finalists are:
Joshua Best
David Harrison
Samuel G. Knox
Excellence in Arts Education
The Arts Education Award recognizes an individual or organization providing transformational leadership in arts education through strategic initiatives, strong programming, and the engagement of partners to achieve our community goals.
Finalists are:
Niki Kiruki
Gretchen Teague
Steve Willis