OAEA Awards One of the most important programs OAEA offers is recognition of our members for their outstanding performance as art educators and service to the organization. These individuals, through their powerfully engaging work and tremendous impact they’ve had on their students, inspired colleagues and fellow OAEA members to nominate them for these awards. We also take the time to appreciate the generous contributions from our community that support our work with Ohio’s art students.
We celebrate the following honorees at our annual awards banquet and program at our state professional development conference. Congratulations to these shining examples of high quality art education in Ohio.
Service Awards: Distinguished Educator for Art Education: Larry Ellis (NE) Distinguished Citizen for Art Education: Dr. Elizabeth Lokon (SW) Distinguished Business/Organization for Art Education: LoCo Art (W)
Outstanding Art Teachers: Robert Griffith (C) Rachel Fout (C) Christina Clumm (C) Sara Andes (E) Kelsey Felgner (NC) Katie Kistler (NE) Stepanie Timko (NE) Mary Elizabeth Norman (NE) Sharon Wittler (NW) Erin Johnson (NW) Suzanne Oldham (SE) Mollie Williams (SW) Suzanne Ferree (SW) Dr. Darden Bradshaw (W) Shelby Walers (W)
OAEA Scholarship Winners: Nicholas Adduci Katrina Shafor
Advocate Award of Merit: Matthew Berry (SE) Sarah Shumaker (E)
Advocate Award of Honor: Jarrod Hartzler (C) Raymond Mueller (C)
2020 OAEA Awards Ohio Art Educator of the Year Alice Bordenkircher Tavani (W)
Division Level Awards Elementary – Sarah Shumaker (E) Middle - Kathleen Fuller (C) HigherEd – Dr. Stephanie Danker (SW) Emeritus – Barrie Archer (E) Emeritus - Georgann Blair (NE) Supervision/Policy/Administration – Dr. Lillian Lewis (NE) Museum - Samantha Gaier (SW)
Service Awards Distinguished Educator - Jennifer E. Lawless (NW) Distinguished Citizen - Janet Reichert (C) Distinguished Organization for Art Education - Columbus College of Art & Design (C)
Outstanding Art Teachers Jason Blair (C) Sharon Iseringhausen (C) Bonnie Flynn (E) Valerie Fraizer (NC) Erin Kraly (NE) Julie Krueger (NE) Trina Parrish (NE) Lisa Girlie (NW) Susan Kozal (NW) Suzanne Rogers (SW) Stacey Battoclette (SW) Jacquelyn Sommer (SW) Jackie Mahaffey (W) Nicole Hawk (W)
OAEA Foundation Scholarship Winners Lucy Osborne, Miami University Carly Sherman, Kent State University
Ohio Art Educator of the Year Linda Hoeptner Poling (NE)
Division Awards Pre-Service/ Student - Morgan Bukovec (W) Elementary - Mary Weimer Green (NE) Middle/ Junior High - Jennifer Davis (C) Secondary - Jennifer Thompson (NE) & Ann Teneyck (NW) Higher Education - Susan Ruttle Lawrence (SW) Emeritus - Julie Fisher (EC) State Distinguished Service Awards Distinguished Citizen - Marjorie Carleton (SW) & Gracie Sidaris (W) Distinguished Educator - Cindy M. Foley (C) Distinguished Business/ Organization - Kent State University, Stark - School of Art (EC) Outstanding Art Teachers Christen Schneid (NE) Caryl Rae Church (NE) Bonnie Kubilus (NE) Erica Kenny (SW) Melanie Greiner (SW) Gayle Mulder (NW) Noreen Overholt (NW) Kathy Fuller (C) Katie Hoeper (C) Tiffany Scanlan (E) Amy Eibel (EC) Tracy Mathys (NC) Jennifer Appelfeller (SE) Jessica Evans (W) Melanie J. Huffman (W)
OAEA 2017 Awards
Ohio Art Educator of the Year Randall Robart (EC)
Division Awards Elementary - Kate Ungrund (SW) Middle/ Junior High - Cheryl Mravec (NE) Secondary - Christopher Bergert (EC) Higher Education - Robin VandeZande (NE) Emeritus - Janice Gallagher (EC) Supervision/Admin - Beth Sheets (NW)
Service Awards Distinguished Citizen - Richard Duarte Brown Distinguished Educator - Dr. Isadore Rudnick (SW) Distinguished Business/ Organization - Ohio Arts Council -- Donna Collins, Executive Director
Outstanding Art Teachers Mindy Staley (C) Gail Wilson (C) Amy Hipple (C) Terri Bradshaw (EC) Wendy Marett (NC) Cindy Naprestek (NE) Jeanette Sulak (NE) Sarah Curry (NE) Ann Hymel (NW) Matthew Bower (NW) Shannon Fish (SE) Jane Taylor (SW) Karen Rellar (SW) Julie Brewer (W) Heather Wackler (W)
Scholarship Winners Dunya Abrahim, Case Western Kaitlyn "Katie" Jacobs, Mount St. Joseph
OAEA 2016 Awards Ohio Art Educator of the Year Sarah Danner Hebdo
Division Awards Elementary - Mary Anne Donovan Middle/ Junior High - Kate Brookshire Secondary - Matt Young Higher Education - Darden Bradshaw Museum - Alison Caplan Supervision/ Administration - Christine Gorbach Retired - Julia Lindsey Pre-Service/ Student - Aaryn Combs
State Distinguished Service Awards Distinguished Citizen - Daniel Jackson Distinguished Educator - Michael Ziegelhofer Distinguished Business/ Organization - Hyde Park Square Business Association
Advocate Award Winners Randy Robart Sharron Fish Valerie Fraizer Outstanding Art Teachers Craig Huffman (C) Erin Miller (C) Christina Hickey (C) Jennifer Young (E) Chris Bergert (EC) Tracy Van Buskirk (NC) Carol Leikala (NE) Jennifer Schulman (NE) Julie Barcza (NE) Jean Imes (NW) Kelly Wells (NW) Shaun Gentry (SE) Janet Gorman (SW) Marjorie Meiners Metz (SW) Ben Davis (W) Holly Johnson (W)
OAEA 2015 Awards
Ohio Art Educator of the Year Laura Tawil (NE)
State Distinguished Service Awards Distinguished Citizen - Sara Kass, Cliffside Artists Collaborative, Hinkley, OH (NE) Distinguished Educator - Nate Thompson, Dir. Athens Photo Project, Athens, OH (SE) Distinguished Business/ Organization - Buckeye Ceramic Supply, Hilliard, OH (C) Outstanding Art Teachers Roxanne Holonitch (C) Matt Young (C) Lori Taylor (E) Rita Walbeck (EC - East Central) Karen Rader (NC) Dr. Linda Hoeptner-Poling (NE) Sandra Phillips (NE) Brian Krawetzke (NW) and Jennifer Bucher (NW) Samantha Emler (SE) Melissa Sand (SW) Rita Shriver-Schehr (SW) West - Lindsay Gustafson (W) Division Awards Pre-Service/ Student - Cody Knepper (NE) Elementary - Jan Wiesner (SW) Middle/ Junior High - Megan Krieger Newton (W) Secondary - Mark Wiesner (SW) Higher Education - Juliann Dorff (NE) Museum - no nominees Supervision/ Administration - no nominees Retired - Sharon Stout (C)
2014 OAEA Awards
2014 Ohio Art Educator of the Year Marge Hilliard-Leberecht
State Service Awards Distinguished Citizen - Doris Schnepf Distinguished Educator - Cara Kellershmith Distinguished Organization - Shur Tech Brands
Outstanding Art Teachers Mandy Howard (C) Terry Nelson (C) Marion Stolz (E) Julie Fisher (EC) Jeanne Balukas (NE) Dana Cerrito (NE) Linda Wilson (NC) Carrie Flagg (NW) Gary Wells (NW) Ellen Hadley (SE) Adrian Vance (SW) Patricia Young (SW) Sarajane Steinecker (W)
2012 OAEA Awards
Ohio Art Educator of the Year Monte Garrabrant
Division Awards Elementary Division - Leslie Koelsch Middle Level Division - Lindsay Gustafson Secondary Division - Sara Green Higher Education Division - James Sanders Supervision/Administration Division - Gail Martino Museum Division - Mary Beth Whitley Retired Division - Lynda Berman Student Division - Kiersten Smith
State Service Awards Distinguished Citizen - Jeffery Chaddock Distinguished Educator - Kathy McKinnis Distinguished Organization - Passport Project
Outstanding Art Teachers Yolanda Brown (C) Dr. Camilla McComb (C) Sandra Miller (EC) Irene Maginniss Gilbert (NC) Judy Flamick (NE) Mel Rainey (NE) David Wolff (NE) Dawn Murphy (NW) Lloyd Triggs (NW) Lesley Ahern (SE) Karen Lutz (SW) Kate Ungrund (SW) Bonita Taggart (W)