Previous Recipients

Original Founders

• Richard Arnold
• Glenn Naselius
• Bernhard Works

Founders Member Awards

• 1995 – Al Koga — Hub Electric (in Memoriam)
• 1996 – Kenneth Kloth — Marquette University (in Memoriam)
• 1996 – R. J. Mike Nielsen — Oak Park / River Forest High School (in Memoriam)
• 1997 – LeRoy Stoner — University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
• 2000 – Roy Hoglund — University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh
• 2001 – David Krajec — Cardinal Stritch University
• 2002 – Kate Wulle — Moraine Valley Community College
• 2003 – Kathleen Donnelly — University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh
• 2004 – David Del Colletti — Indiana State University
• 2005 – Debra Krajec — Marquette University
• 2006 – Tom Korder — University of Illinois
• 2007 – Cynthia Poulson — University of Wisconsin — Milwaukee (in Memoriam)
• 2008 – Mick Alderson – University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh
• 2009 – Dennis Dorn – University of Wisconsin – Madison
• 2010 – Ellen White – Electronic Theatre Controls
• 2011 – Jonathan Darling – Westlake Reed Leskosky
• 2012 – Steve Jacobs – Glenbard North High School (Retired), Carol Stream, IL
• 2013 – Kenneth Fraza – Logansport High School-McHale PAC, Logansport, IN
• 2014 – Marty Lazarus – Chicago Spotlight, Chicago, IL
• 2015 – M.C. Friedrich – Michigan Tech
• 2016 – Shane Kelly – DePaul University
• 2017 – Michael McNamara – Purdue University
• 2018 – Rich Dionne – Purdue University
• 2019 – Tracy Nunnally – Vertigo & NIU
• 2020 – Steven Jacobs – Glenbard North High School (Retired), Carol Stream, IL
• 2021 – Beth (Verda) Martell – Design Specialist/Associate, DLR Group-Westlake Reed Leskosky
• 2022 – Victor Pilolla – Leyden High School District 212
• 2022 – Jean Burch – Millikan University (in Memoriam)
• 2023 – Paul Brunner – Thern Equipment
• 2024 – Dana Taylor – Dana Taylor Consulting

The Mike Nielsen Student Award:

This award honors the memory of Mike Nielsen; a lifelong member of the Section, and a friend and mentor to generations of young people.

• 1995 – Erin Slattery — Marquette University
• 1996 – Christopher Olson — Oak Park and River Forest High School
• 1997 – Chris Huether — Oak Park and River Forest High School
• 2000 – Jonathan Barber – University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
• 2001 – Matt Ulrich – University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh
• 2002 – Ryan Moller – Rockford College
• 2003
  • Vicki Podlin – Glenbard North High School
  • Zachary Zirlin – Niles North High School
• 2004
  • Jana Hoglund, University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh
  • Margaret Crawford – Glenbard North High School
• 2005
  • Nolan Brokamp – Indiana State University
  • Harriet Soglin – Highland Park High School
• 2006 – Matthew Stoner – University of Wisconsin — Milwaukee
• 2007
  • Kimberly Lorentz – Marquette University
  • Nathan Martin – Logansport High School
• 2008
  • James Zwicky – University of Wisconsin – Madison
  • Clair Hummel – Indiana State University
• 2009
  • Mitch Lathrop – Indiana State University
  • Jon Fettig – Logansport High School
• 2010 – Jen Seleznow – The Theatre School at DePaul University
• 2011 – P.J. Veltri – Michigan State University
• 2012
  • College Student- April Townsend, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
  • HS Student- Nicole Rooney, Glenbard North High School, Carol Stream, IL
• 2013 – Jenna M. Kelly– Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN
• 2014
  • Emery Becker – Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN
  • Annalisa Jamnik – East Leyden High School, Franklin Park, IL
• 2015
  • David Millard – The Theatre School at DePaul University, Chicago, IL
  • Alexis Handler – Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, IL
• 2016
  • Alon Stotter – University of Illinois: Urbana-Champaign
  • Matthew Chase – Adlai E. Stevenson High School
• 2017
  • Rebecca Ellers, Glenbard North High School
  • Katherine Middleton, University of Wisconsin, Whitewater
• 2018 – Karen Wallace, Niles North High School
• 2019
  • Ethan Gill, DePaul University
  • Karissa Hettinger, Logansport High School
• 2020
  • Shelby Edwards, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
  • Christopher Moore, Oak Park & River Forest High School
• 2021
  • Zachary Cary, Millikin University
  • Eli Oremland, John Hersey High School
• 2022
  • Zachary Schoensiegel, Logansport High School
  • Abby Smith-Lezama, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
• 2023
  • Rodolfo Torrres, West Leyden High School
  • Jordan House, Michigan State University
• 2024
  • Valentina Mycyk, John Hersey High School
  • Addie Hoegberg, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign