Annual Education Awards

Established in 2006, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts’ Education Awards were created to honor the contributions of individuals and institutions that have furthered the mission of Education and Community Engagement Programs at the Ordway.

Individuals and organizations from any artistic, educational, or cultural field are eligible, including individual artists, professional administrators and teachers, volunteers, philanthropists, and partnerships or leadership teams.

The submission deadline for the 2012 Education awards is March 9, 2012. Winners will be announced at the Annual Liaison Event Friday, May 11, 2012.

Download the Nomination Form (DOC) >

Download the Information Sheet (PDF) >

Awards Categories

One person or organization is awarded in each of the four following areas.

Individuals and organizations from any artistic, educational, or cultural field are eligible, including individual artists, professional administrators and teachers, volunteers, philanthropists and partnerships or leadership teams.

Philanthropy: For outstanding financial or in-kind contributions to the betterment of Education and Community Engagement programs at the Ordway.

Vision: For the creation of new programs or innovation and enhancement to existing Education or Community Engagement programs at the Ordway.

Community Commitment: For dedication, over a period of time, to the support and/or advancement of Community Engagement programs at the Ordway.

Education Service: This award is presented to a person(s) or organization whose leadership and participation has led to inventive learning for students in or through Ordway's programs.

A nominee who doesn’t fit easily into any of the above categories may be nominated. Please include a statement as to why they should be considered for an award.

Selection Process

A selection committee comprised of seven members will read and evaluate nominations. Members are drawn from professionals working in the fields of the arts, education and civic engagement, from Ordway’s Education Advisory Committee, Ordway’s Cultural Advisory Council, and from parents or guardians of students who are active participants in the arts. Following the selection, the results will not be announced until the Annual Liaison Event held each spring.

The committee reserves the right, to consider nominees in an award category other than the one indicated on the submission form. However, they will also remain in consideration for the area in which they were nominated.

Eligibility
Nominators may nominate an individual, team or organization, including those in which they may be involved as an employee, board member, or volunteer. Nominators may not nominate themselves.

Full-time staff members of the Ordway are not eligible for the awards.

Selection Criteria
The nominees work must be related in some way to Ordway's Education and/or Community Engagement programs. Nominations should speak to the nominee’s efforts to support learning or build community engagement.

Nominations should give one or more specific examples of the nominee's support of new programs, expansion or enhancement of existing programs, or increasing access to programs. Ordway's programs often act as a catalyst and result in new avenues of development, participation, and engagement. Consideration will also be given to excellent work which is an outgrowth of an Ordway program.

Please contact Erin Matteson with any questions at 651.282.3135 or ematteson@ordway.org

Past Winners

2006
Philanthropy - Ordway Circle of Stars
Vision - Aaron Smith
Commitment - Jerry Shannon
Service - Gene Bauer

2007
Philanthropy - 3M
Vision - Jan Louise Kusske
Commitment - Honors Concert Music Chairs: Carol Whitney, Anne Marie Person, W Rayford Johnson and Mathew Oyen
Service - Patricia Welch

2008
Philanthropy - Flint Hills Resources
Vision - Wendy Lehr
Commitment - Dorothea Burns
Commitment - Madelaine Karwoski
Service - Verne Melberg

2009
Philanthropy - Fred C. and Katherine B. Anderson Foundation
Vision - Lisa Tenhoff, Jill Johnson, and Shabaka McKey
Community Commitment - Benjamin Lacina and Jefferson Fietek
Education Service - Kay Smith

2010
Philanthropy-General Mills Corporation and the General Mills Foundation
Education Service -Jan Spencer de Gutíerrez
Community Commitment - Patrick A. Skinner
Vision - Sheri Biller

2011
Philanthropy-The State of MN and its voters
Education Service – Mary Ann Rogers
Community Commitment - Thomas K. Gale
Vision - Barbara Cox
Lifetime Achievement in Arts Education:   Posthumously to Teaching Artist Scott Cleland

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