2027 | MMEA Conference – Awards

89th annual mmea in-service workshop/conference
January 26 – january 30, 2027 * Tan-tar-a conference center

  MMEA Honor Awards 

 

  Choose the form link below to nominate outstanding educators and administrators to be recognized during the 2027 MMEA
  Conference.

MMEA HALL OF FAME AWARD

 

  OBJECTIVE:  To honor any individual who has made a lasting or enduring impact on the stature
  and condition of music education in the state of Missouri.

 

  Qualifications:

  1. This person may be:
    1. Alive or deceased
    2. Active or retired from service in the state of Missouri.
  2. Residency at the time of selection is not a pre-requisite.
  3. The candidate must have sustained ongoing membership in MMEA/NAfME.
  4. The candidate must have demonstrated, over an extended period of time, the ability to positively impact the personal and/or musical development of Missouri’s youth.
  5. The candidate must have demonstrated a continued commitment to their own professional and musical growth through active membership in professional organizations.

 

  Submission Instructions:

  • All materials and letters of recommendation must be submitted online at www.mmea.net
  • All applications and materials must be submitted by November 15.
  • A nomination and a minimum of three letters of endorsement must be submitted online.
  • The person initiating the nomination must be a member of NAfME and may not be one of the three endorsers. However, the nominator must provide a brief explanation of purpose for their nomination.
  • The person initiating the nomination should gather all materials from recommenders and submit all materials online.
  • A letter of receipt of submission will be sent to all nominators from the administrator of the award process, stating a timetable for notification of selection.
  • The administrator of the award process shall notify the nominator of an incomplete submission. The committee chair is not obligated to accept late nomination materials.

 

  Nomination Form

 

 

Past Reipients

MMEA Hall of Fame

 

 

2026 Dr. Daniel Hellman
2025

Chris Becker
John Bell
Sister Gail Buckman
Joe Pappas
Jonean Ratliff
2024 Brian Reeves
2023 Linda Huck
2022 Steve Litwiller
Jeff Melsha
2021 David B. Goodwin
Sally Hook
Carla Oliver
James Oliver
2020 Rob Nichols
Skip Vandelicht
2019 Ron Atteberry
Kurt Bauche
Russ Berlin
Gary Brandes
Wendy Sims
2018 Paul & Elaine Swofford
2017 Kathy Phillips
2016 Larry Bennett
Thomas Trimborn
2015 Eph Ehly
2014 Paul Copenhaver
Mary Eichenberger
John Hylton
Belva Prather
2013 Janice Bradshaw
Robert Boedges
2012 Sally Herman
Fred Willman
2011 Noel Fulkerson
Guy B. Webb
Robert Nordman
2010 Aurelia Hartenberger
Martin L. Hook
Kenneth Seward
2009 Doyle Dumas
2008 David L. Goodwin
2007 Gerald W. Fuchs
Sharon King
Niclous H. Leist
John C. “Jack” Overbey
Luther T. Spayde
2006 C. Herbert Duncan
Bill Grace
Robert Gifford
Carroll Lewis
2005 Roy Huckstep
Bob Scott
Larry McSpadden
2004 Nancy Seward
2003 Russell Coleman
Jerry Hoover
2002 Rick Weymuth
Lee Schneider
Doug Turpin
2001 Mary Lightfoot
Tom Price
2000 Lowell H. Brunner
William G. Mack Sr.
John G. Patterson
1999 Charles W. “Bill” Maupin
Hueby E. Moore
1998 Ed Carson
T. Frank Coulter
Wynne J. Harrell
Larry Hiltabidle
Keith House
1994 Charles Emmons
Franklin D. Lewis
Elmer W. Pundmann
1993 John Willer
1992 Claude T. Smith
Tom Mills
Jack Stephenson
1990 Lewis Hilton
1989 Harold C. Lickey
1986 Clarence Best
Alfred W. Bleckschmidt
1985

Paul A. Van Bodegraven
George C. Wilson
O. Anderson Fuller
Mabelle Glenn
OUTSTANDING MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD

 

  OBJECTIVE:  To recognize a School Administrator who has demonstrated exemplary support of
  music education.

 

  Qualifications:

  • The nominee must have been the nominator’s administrator for a minimum of four years.
  • The nominator must be a current member of MMEA/ NAfME.
  • If the nominee is selected, the nominator must be available to present the award at the Friday evening General Session during the January MMEA In-Service Workshop/Conference.

 

  Submission Instructions:

  • All materials and letters of recommendation should be submitted online at www.mmea.net.
  • All applications and materials must be submitted by November 15.
  • Each application should be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from the nominator that illustrates the qualifications of the nominee.  Include specific contributions and exemplary support demonstrated by the nominee that have been beneficial to music education and music educators in the department/district.

 

  Significant contributions may include, but are not limited to:

  • Commitment to and support of music education and music educators in the department/district.
  • Staff development.
  • Curriculum development.
  • Scheduling.
  • Growth of the individual music educator.
  • Other accomplishments, recognitions and recommendations that the nominee has received that are related to music education.

  Nomination Form

 

 

Past Reipients

Wynn J. Harrell

MMEA Outstanding Music Educator Award

 

2026 Brad Balog
2025 Nathan Griffin
2024 Tony Brown
2023 Robert Dooley
2022 Eric Blankenship
2020 Terri Henry
2019 John Bell
2018 Jana Fox
2017 Kelly Dame
2016 Rob Babel
2015 Beth Jinkins
2014 Andrew Kroesen
OUTSTANDING YOUNG MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD

 

  OBJECTIVE:  To recognize and acknowledge the outstanding teaching of one or more young music educators who have
  shown extraordinary success early in their careers. 

 

  NOMINATION FORM

 

 

Past Reipients

David B. Goodwin

MMEA Outstanding Young Music Educator Award

 

2026 Brad Balog
2026 Paul Rueschhoff
2025 Chris Ramey
2024 Hannah Aubry
2023 Hailee Kaestner
2022 Ben Sachs
2020 Dominic Zanaboni
2019 Jacob England
2018 David Schatz
2017 Alex Chang
2016 Todd Borgmann
2015 Reid Atkinson
2014 Kiesha Daulton
OUTSTANDING ADMINISTRATOR AWARD

 

  OBJECTIVE:  To recognize a School Administrator who has demonstrated exemplary support of music education.

  NOMINATION FORM

 

 

Past Reipients

Outstanding Administrator Award

 

2026 Tamitha Ritter, Ava High School
2025 Dr. Kyle Dare, Rolla Public Schools
2024 Thomas Alderman, Blue Springs High School
2023 Dr. Don Andrews, Lee’s Summit R-7
2023 Dr. Chris Ford, Fordland R-III
2022 Dr. Kyle Kruse, St. Clair R-13 School District
2020 Jason Miller, Elsberry School District
2019 Donna Jahnke, Ladue School District
2018 Clint Johnston, Jefferson R-7 School District
2017 Jennifer Schmidt, Sullivan High School

 

OUTSTANDING MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR AWARD

 

  OBJECTIVE:  To recognize a Department Chair, District Music Administrator, or Director of Fine Arts who has
  demonstrated exemplary support of music education.

 

  NOMINATION FORM

 

 

Past Reipients

Outstanding Music Administrator Award

 

2026 Dr. Julia Gaines, University of Missouri
2025 Aaron Money, Liberty Public Schools

 

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTOR AWARD

 

  OBJECTIVE:  To recognize an individual, organization, or corporation who/which has contributed in an extraordinary manner to the support of music education in the State of Missouri.

 

  Qualifications:

  • The nominee can be an individual, business, or corporation that is not a music teacher nor a member of MMEA/NAfME.
  • The nominee must have shown extraordinary support of music education in the State of Missouri.

 

  Submission Instructions:

  • The nomination application and two letters of recommendation (at least one must be from an MMEA/NAfME member) must be submitted online at www.mmea.net
  • All applications and materials must be submitted by November 15.
  • There will be no more than three recipients each year.
  • The award committee reserves the right to recommend that there be no award recipient.

 

  Presentation:

  • Recognition will take place at the annual MMEA In-Service Workshop/Conference.  (Day & Time TBD)
  • An article announcing the recipient(s) will be published in an appropriate issue of Missouri School Music.

    NOMINATION FORM

 

 

Past Reipients

Russell & Dorothy Chambers

Outstanding Contributor Award

 

2025

Nottelmann Music
Yamaha Corporation-Piano Division
2024 Reneé Vandiver, MLR
2023 Midwest Sheet Music
2022 Walton Music/GIA Publications
2020 Kathy Bhat
2019 KHS America & Dan McCaffrey
2018 John Patterson
2017 Lake of the Ozark CBB
2016 Shhh Productions
2015 Bob & Ann Waggoner
2014 J.W. Pepper
2013 Tan-Tar-A
2011 Leigh Kallestad
2010 Frank Hennessy
2007 Band Instrument Service Co.
2006 Meyer Music Company
2004 James Cochran, Shattinger Music
2000 Wingert-Jones Music Co.
1998 Arch Martin
1996 Russell & Dorothy Chambers
25-YEAR SERVICE AWARD

 

  OBJECTIVE:  To recognize and celebrate that have completed 25 years of teaching music.

 

HAVE YOU TAUGHT 25 YEARS OR MORE?

MMEA is pleased to offer a special recognition to all music teachers who have taught 25 years or more.  If you have completed 25 years of teaching in any combination of public or private, elementary, secondary, or collegiate institution (not necessarily all in Missouri) and have not previously been presented with this honor, you are eligible for this special recognition.

 

  SUBMISSION FORM

 

 

 

 

Mark Your Calendar!

January 27 – january 31, 2026 * Tan-tar-a conference center

Days