- 1,000 participate to cheer on those making positive community impact
- 39 awards recognize contributions of diverse people, projects & organizationsLeadership Evansville’s Celebration of Leadership Awards (COL) – title sponsored by Fifth Third Bank – drew a record crowd to help celebrate its 20th year history of honoring the local community’s most inspiring examples of servant leadership by individuals, projects or organizations. The diverse audience, 1,000 strong, packed into The Old National Events Plaza to participate in the special celebration of servant leadership. They were on hand to hear and cheer dozens of inspiring stories of selfless contributions to our community, and celebrate those who have made an especially powerful impact over the past two decades.
Leadership Evansville Executive Director Lynn Miller-Pease was excited about the record participation: “Every single year since 1994, COL has been creating the most diverse, magical and amazing night. There are so many positive things happening in our community, and we’ve provided a forum for telling those stories year after year. Yet, this anniversary year had an extra-special energy. Our community is really celebrating and believing in the servant leaders who are transforming their community!
“Our special 20-year awards allowed us say thank you to Bill Bussing, Darrel and Karen Ragland, the Community Foundation Alliance and the Destination: Home program to end homelessness for years of making a real difference in our community. And, let’s not forget this year’s first. Three programs receiving awards involved dogs, and they joined the celebration, too! The truth is that every single nominee could have received an award, because they are doing such good.â€
At the 20th Annual Celebration of Leadership Awards ceremony, 39 awards were presented to hundreds of recipients who have demonstrated outstanding selfless community service in the following categories: Arts, Education, Environment, Government & Public Service, Health & Social Service, and Neighborhood & Community. Four special awards commemorating COL’s 20th anniversary were given for individual trusteeship and servant leadership, and for organizations and projects that irrevocably changed our community.
Following is the complete list of all award recipients:
20th Anniversary of Celebration of Leadership Awards
- Project – Destination: Home, 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness
- Business or Organization – Community Foundation Alliance
- Individual Achievement, Servant Leader – Karen and Darrell Ragland
- Individual Achievement, Trusteeship – Bill BussingDivision Recipients
- Individual Leadership – Jason Cullum
- Business/Organization Leadership – Soldier Dogs for Independence
- Project Leadership – Homeless Medical Respite ProgramSpecial Awards
- Outstanding Innovation – HeartSaver
- Community Collaboration – Jacobsville Join In!
- Sam Featherstone – Individual – Ashley Eich and Josie Kirsch
- Sam Featherstone – Project – Resurrection Catholic School First Grade
- Sam Featherstone – Business/Organization – Evansville Vanderburgh PublicLibrary – Paws for Tales
- Servant Leader – Greg Freyberger and Carrie Roelle
- Leader in Courage – Stacey Godbold
- Sportsmanship – Highland Challenger League
- Sara B. Davies Award – Judge Richard Young
- Willie Effie Thomas Diversity Award – Karen and Tammy Vaughn-Kajmowicz
- Winternheimer/LaMar Public Service Award – Kathryn Kornblum Zelle
- Shirley James “Greening the Community†Award – Mayor Lloyd Winnecke andOperation Hot Mess
- Lt. Col. Reginald Gibson Award – Watez Phelps
- Regional Impact – University of Southern Indiana
- Trusteeship – Abraham Brown
- Civic Engagement – Ron Romain
- Visionary – Dr. Steven BeckerRecognition for Individual Leadership
- Arts – Michael Martin
- Education – Cary Frisinger
- Government & Public Service – Tony Toopes
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- Health & Social Service – Lori and David Wassmer
- Neighborhood & Community – Barry JonesRecognition for Business/Organization Leadership
- Education – Optimal Rhythms – ACCESS Academy
- Government & Public Service – The City of Evansville Brownfields Corporation
- Health & Social Service – North Junior High School Chemo Buddies
- Neighborhood & Community – The Best Day Ever EvansvilleRecognition for Project Leadership
- Arts – ParksFest
- Education – Reel TV
- Environment – Youth Employment and Garden Market Programs, MemorialCommunity Development Corporation
- Government & Public Service – Evansville Police Department FoundationCitizen’s Academy
- Health & Social Service – SING – Stopping Incarceration for the Next Generation
- Neighborhood & Community – Chemo Buddies20 Years of Celebration
Begun in 1994 by Leadership Evansville, the annual Celebration of Leadership Awards has received more than 2,500 nominations and celebrated thousands of nominees for their contributions to our community. More than 10,000 people have attended COL since its inception, and a record 1,000 attended this year’s 20th Anniversary event.
About Leadership Evansville
Leadership Evansville was founded in 1976 by a group of future-thinking local leaders, whose original commitment to community-wide betterment remains unique and strong. Leadership Evansville brings together people with different talents, gifts and perspectives and transforms these individuals into leaders who embrace the concept of community trusteeship and the collaborative process. They help develop in them an understanding of how today’s leaders function and teaches them the skills to apply this knowledge in provided real life opportunities through practice and performance. These attitudes, skills and processes are taught to adults, youth, organizations, not-for-profits, businesses, educational institutions, neighborhood associations, churches and other leadership programs.
