Special Awards
Willie Effie Thomas Award—Alan Winslow
Inspiration Award—Sarah E. Merkley
Servant Leadership Award—Jennifer Byerly

Recognition for Individual Leadership
Arts—Andy Fuller
Education—Dan Diehl & Cathy Gray
Government & Public Service—Sondra L. Matthews
Health & Social Service—Lynda Browne
Neighborhood & Community Organizations—Judy Rodriguez

Recognition for Organizational Leadership
Arts—Tales & Scales, Inc.
Education—University of Evansville's Indiana Reading Corps/AmeriCorps Program
Government & Public Service—The Volunteer Lawyer Program of Southwestern Indiana
Health & Social Service—St. Vincent’s Day Care Center
Neighborhood & Community Organizations—The WHS Pet Adoption Center

Recognition for Significant Project Leadership
Arts—Civic Theatre’s production of ‘Mahalia’
Education—The Public Education Foundation/Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation Summer Musical
Health & Social Service—The Mom-to-Mom Mentor Program
Neighborhood & Community Organizations—The Garvin Street Community Enhancement Project

Recognition for Business & Industry Leadership
Arts—Kerasotes Theatres Stadium 16
Education—The Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation School Community Council
Neighborhood & Community Organizations—ALCOA, Inc. - Warrick Operations

Division Winner: Recognition for Individual Achievement
Mary L. Schmal

Division Winner: Recognition for Organizational Achievement
Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana

Division Winner: Recognition for Significant Project Achievement
V-DAY Evansville 2003

Division Winner: Recognition for Business & Industry Achievement
The University of Evansville’s Martin Luther King Jr. Committee

Recognition For Lifetime Achievement
Margaret D. Boarman

Lifetime Achievement Award
Dorothy Eykamp was recognized for her leadership in helping children understand and enjoy the arts. Nominated by Jeffrey Berger.

Willie Effie Thomas Award
Islamic Society of Evansville was recognized for leadership is disseminating information about the faith and practices of Muslims to promote a better understanding of Islam and to enhance the relationship among communities of different faiths and religions. Nominated by Mohammad I. Hussain.

Inspiration Award
Ashley Koch was recognized for leadership in bettering the lives of children through the creation of SWYSH (Sharing with Young Sweet Hearts) which provides toys for children who are in the hospital. Nominated by Deborah Koch.

Individual Achievement Award
Mary-Beth Owen was recognized for leadership in bettering our community through her volunteer work to bring the Komen Race for the Cure to Evansville. Through her efforts she has raised over 2 million dollars, increased awareness about breast cancer and brought many facets of her community together for a common cause. Nominated by Amy Kolleck.

Organization Division Award
St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry was recognized for serving the needs of the poor. Nominated by Sister Victoria Pohl.

Project Division Award
Tri-State Alliance, Inc. Christmas Project was recognized for leadership in providing over 1,000 food baskets, gifts and gift certificates to families with HIV or AIDS. Nominated by Steve Sullivan, Ph.D.

Arts
Individual Achievement Award
William David Sovern was recognized for leadership for bettering our community through providing a forum for a diverse group of people to speak through poetry.
Nominated by Grace Strange and Sally Roth.

Organization Achievement Award
Actors' Playhouse was recognized for leadership in bettering our community by providing an actor-focused environment with an opportunity to perform, direct and produce theatrical productions in the Evansville area. Nominated by Jenni White.

Significant Project Award
NAACP ACT-SO was recognized for leadership in bettering our community through enriching the lives of young people. The ACT-SO project is a yearlong mentoring, coaching and teaching project that allows young people to demonstrate their amazing abilities and talents. Nominated by Pam Jordan.

Education
Individual Achievement Award
Don DeWeese was recognized for his visionary leadership in understanding that schools need to be "full-service" which led to the creation of the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant. Nominated by David C. Schutte.

Organization Achievement Award
Evansville Area Council of PTA's was recognized for leadership in sponsorship of the Clothing Bank. Nominated by Mary F. Williams.

Significant Project Award
Plaza Park Middle School's Project Phoenix, created by Mary Schweizer and Brandon Cosby, was recognized for leadership in changing the way the educational system works with students with disciplinary challenges and enables them to become productive, well-mannered students within the school corporation. Nominated by Jenni White.

Business & Industry Achievement Award
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc. was recognized for leadership in bettering our community through offering a literacy program to area schools that assist families by improving the parent's educational skills so that they can help their children succeed. Nominated by the Families First Literacy Program Coordinator.

Government & Public Service
Individual Achievement Award
Joan & Pat Tapp were recognized for their leadership in securing affordable, dependable public transportation for people in Evansville. Nominated by John Connell.

Organization Achievement Award
Mesker Park Zoo, Mayor Lloyd, Dan McGinn, the Blue Ribbon Committee and The Zoo Docents were recognized for leadership in returning the Zoo to one of the city's premier attractions. Nominated by Ted Lockyear.

Significant Project Award
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) was recognized for leadership in bettering our community for impacting the lives of elderly and children through the "Books for Children" project. The volunteers established mini libraries in high-risk neighborhoods. Nominated by Nancy Creste.

Health & Social Service
Individual Achievement Award
Sue Ann Hartig was recognized for innovative leadership in representing the legal interests of the poor. Nominated by Gerald Summers.

Organization Achievement Award
Little Lambs Ministry was recognized for its leadership in increasing and expanding its services to parents who attend prenatal or well-child appointments and classes. Nominated by Wendy McCormick.

Significant Project Award
The Pathways Community was recognized for its leadership in identifying a need for and providing a facility to help Alzheimer patients stimulate their memory and improve or maintain their cognitive level. Nominated by the Good Samaritan Home, Inc.

Neighborhood & Community Service
Individual Achievement Award
Diane Bailey was recognized for her leadership in establishing the Teacher's Recycling Center. Nominated by the Community Action Program of Evansville.

Organization Achievement Award
Carver Community Center was recognized for leadership in providing a place for young people and their families to grow and learn. Nominated by Jenny Nagy.

Significant Project Award
Hillcrest-Washington Youth Home was recognized for leadership in partnering with the Junior League to provide cultural and diversity education to children. Nominated by the Junior League of Evansville.

Business & Industry Achievement Award
Whirlpool Corporation was recognized for leadership in bettering our community through providing a "Day for Caring" to the St. Vincent's Day Care Center. Whirlpool provides 50-60 paid employees to work on special projects requested by the day care. Nominated by St. Vincent's Day Care Center.

At the 2001 Celebration of Leadership, the following awards were given:

Lifetime Achievement
Isabella Fine is recognized for being and eclectic leader by doing volunteer work for the YWCA, Girl Scouts, the Philharmonic Orchestra, WNIN, the Evansville Museum of Arts andScience, United Way, Temple Adath B'nai Israel, UE Theatre Society, Hadassa, the United Jewish Appeal and Evansville's Interfaith group.

Individual Achievement Award
Bernadine Jones is recognized for her leadership in bettering our community by improving the Jacobsville Neighborhood.

Organization Division Award
Komen Evansville Race for the Cure is recognized for its leadership in providing education about and creating awareness of breast cancer.

Project Division Award
Community Conference on Education: Building a Spirit of Collaboration/Signature Learning Center is recognized for leadership in promoting collaborative decision making.

Arts & Education
Individual Achievement Award
Karen Donovan Magan is recognized for leadership in creating the Hands On Discovery Children's Museum.

Organization Achievement Award
Students of Thompkins Middle School are recognized for leadership in improving the quality of life for persons served the Association of Retarded Citizens.

Significant Project Award
GED/Computer Program/RESPECT is recognized for leadership in training low income and public housing residents in computer skills.

Business & Industry
Individual Achievement Award
Chris Nix is recognized for leadership in the preservation and restoration of the Reitz Home Museum.

Organization Achievement Award
BellSouth Mobility is recognized for leadership in providing business education programs for children.

Significant Project Award
Family Friendly Practices/Diversity Network is recognized for Leadership in celebrating local companies that have family friendly practices.

Government & Public Service
Individual Achievement Award
Linda Schindler is recognized for leadership in helping women into and through recovery from substance abuse.

Organization Achievement Award
Evansville-Vanderburgh County Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence is recognized for leadership in decreasing the occurrence of domestic and sexual violence.

Significant Project Award
WEB-Based Assessments/Evansville Area Association of Realtors is recognized for leadership in financing and posting assessment records on the Internet.

Health & Human Services
Individual Achievement Award
William Wooten. M.D. is recognized for leadership in reducing substance abuse among area youth.

Organization Achievement Award
Life Choice, Inc. is recognized for leadership in serving the needs of homeless pregnant young women and young mothers with infants.

Significant Project Award
Ducks on the Ohio/Evansville Goodwill Industries, Inc. - Leadership in raising funds for the Goodwill Family Center.

Neighborhood & Community Service
Individual Achievement Awards
Dr. William J. Hemminger is recognized for leadership in creation of The Human Garden at Patchwork Central.

Organization Achievement Award
Greater Lincolnshire Neighborhood Association is recognized for leadership in advocating for the preservation of historic neighborhoods.

Significant Project Award
POWER/Tutoring/Central United Methodist Church is recognized for leadership in providing tutoring to children in the Jacobsville neighborhood.

At the 2000 Celebration of Leadership, the following awards were given:

Lifetime Achievement
Wille Effie Thomas was recognized for leadership in assuring civil rights for African Americans.

Individual Division Award
William M. Brown was recognized for his leadership in accomplishing community goals through collaboration.

Organization Division Award
Komen Evansville Race for the Cure was recognized for its leadership in providing education and creating an awareness of breast cancer.

Project Division Award
Community Conference on Education: Building a Spirit of Collaboration/Signature Learning Center was recognized for its leadership in promoting collaborative decision making.

Arts & Education
Individual Achievement Award
Karen Donovan Magan was recognized for leadership in creating the Hands on Discovery Children's Museum.

Organization Achievement Award
Students of Thompkins Middle School were recognized for their leadership in improving the quality of life for persons served by the Association for Retarded Citizens.

Significant Project Award
GED/Computer Program, Respect, Inc. was recognized for leadership in training low income and public housing residents in computer skills.

Business & Industry
Individual Achievement Award
Chris Nix was recognized for leadership in the preservation and restoration of the Reitz Home Museum.

Organization Achievement Award
Bell South Mobility, was recognized for leadership in business education programs for children.

Significant Project Award
Family Friendly Practices, Diversity Network was recognized for leadership in celebrating local companies that have family friendly practices.

Government & Public Service
Individual Achievement Award
Linda Schindler was recognized for leadership in helping women into and through recovery from substance abuse.

Organization Achievement Award
Evansville-Vanderburgh County Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence was recognized for leadership in decreasing the occurrence of domestic and sexual violence.

Significant Project Award
WEB-Based Assessments/Evansville Area Association of Realtors was recognized for leadership in financing and posting assessment records on the Internet.

Health & Human Services
Individual Achievement Award
William Wooten M.D. was recognized for leadership in reducing substance abuse among area youth.

Organization Achievement Award
Life Choice, Inc. was recognized for leadership in serving the needs of homeless, pregnant young women and young mothers with infants.

Significant Project Award
Ducks on the Ohio/Evansville Goodwill Industries, Inc. was recognized for leadership in raising funds for the Goodwill Family Center.

Neighborhood & Community Service
Individual Achievement Awards
Dr. William J. Hemminger was recognized for leadership in creation of The Human Garden at Patchwork Central.

Organization Achievement Award
Greater Lincolnshire Neighborhood Association was recognized for leadership in advocating for the preservation of historic neighborhoods.

Significant Project Award
POWER/Tutoring/Central United Methodist Church was recognized for leadership in providing tutoring to children in the Jacobsville neighborhood.

At the 1999 Celebration of Leadership, the following awards were given:

Individual Division Award
John W. McNaughton was recognized for his leadership in developing sculpture for the Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage.

Organization Division Award
Rivers Bend Playhouse was recognized for its leadership in promoting communication, cooperation and mutual respect of all people through artistic endeavors.

Project Division Award
Second Helping was recognized for its leadership in utilizing excess food from businesses and restaurants to feed the homeless.

Youth Awards
Richard Bernhardt was recognized for teaching leadership skills in the community.

Megan Bray was recognized for her leadership in outreach to young people in the Catholic Diocese.

Arts & Education
Individual Achievement Award
Trudy Rascoe was recognized for leadership in using scripture to help women survive in this world.

Significant Project Award
S.O.S. was recognized for the leadership of Suzy Knoll in helping young people become aware of the important role volunteers play in our community.

Business & Industry
Organizational Achievement Award
WEDA-AM The Pump was recognized for leadership in providing cultural alternatives for African Americans through an urban radio station.

Significant Project Award
Leadership Scholars, a project of Citizens National Bank and WFIE-TV, were recognized for their leadership in providing scholarships to tri-state seniors.

Government & Public Service
Individual Achievement Award
Darren Stroufe was recognized for leadership in educating the faith community about domestic violence.

Organization Achievement Award
Substance Abuse Council was recognized for leadership in developing and implementing strategies to prevent and reduce drug and alcohol abuse.

Health & Human Services
Individual Achievement Award
Nadine Coudret was recognized for leadership in providing vision for the future of the USI School of Nursing and Health Professions.

Organization Achievement Award
Diamonds was recognized for leadership in helping at risk girls develop self esteem by instilling positive values and purposes.

Neighborhood & Community Service
Individual Achievement Awards
Sherri Beasley was recognized for leadership in deterring criminal activity.

Rita McNeely was recognized for providing community education and leadership training.

Adrian Brooks and Larry Rascoe were recognized for leadership in their efforts to improve the quality of life and services for inner city residents.

Organization Achievement Award
The Evansville Rotary Club was recognized for leadership in the promotion of good business ethics, interest and friendships.

Significant Project Award
Fortress of Fun was recognized for leadership in building community and providing improved recreational space for the Newburgh area.