110 nominations made it through to the 2025 ‘Celebration of Leadership’ event, and 49 were presented with awards.
About 55 individuals are nominated in categories like Arts Community and Neighborhood, Education and Government.
Lifetime achievement award winners are Shirley Siegel, Marylu Sonntag, David Wagner.
Nominated projects include ‘Celebrating Hispanic Voices Podcast,’ and CAPE Head Start and Early Head Start. Organizations include Henderson Area Arts Alliance and Evansville Rescue Mission.
Leadership Everyone CEO Lynn Miller Pease said the 110 nominations were submitted by a wide swath of the community.
“So what we end up with is we have one recipient who's 95 years old, and we have another recipient who happens to be a dog, and we have another recipient that's that's a teenager, and we've got everything in between.”
More can be learned about the nominees here.
Miller Pease said the event recognizes good work while motivating others.
“I think a lot of times it inspires people to do something that's kind of been in the back of their mind to do, but they haven't started. And once they hear about the people, just regular people, doing extraordinary things, they get motivated.”
Winners were announced at the event receiving a plaque in recognition.
Below is the award announcement via Leadership Everyone
Special Awards:
Spirit Award - Crypto Covington
Spirit Award - Vanderburgh Humane Society Community Cat Program
Sam Featherstone Youth Award - Tessa Morgan
Sam Featherstone Youth Award - Skillz By Syd
Sportsmanship Award - Kyhle Moers
Leader in Technology Award - Anu
Willie Effie Thomas Diversity Award - Carlada Patterson
Philanthropy Award - Mission BBQ
LatinX Award - America Contreras
Visionary Award - JD Sheth Foundation’s Weatherization Enhancement Program
Lt. Colonel Reginald P. Gibson Award - Thin Blue
1st, Trusteeship Award - EVPL Outreach "Materials To You"
Transformational Inclusion Award - Deaconess' Hair Care Equity Program
Sara B. Davies Award - Joann Hunter
Winternheimer-LaMar Public Service Award - Jerry Martin
Shirley James “Greening the Community” Award - 2024 Evansville Big Tree Tour
Darrell Ragland Award - Devin Deisher
Outstanding Innovation Award - Building Trades Program at Southern Indiana Career & Technical Center
Civic Engagement Award - Cops Connecting with Kids Epic Award - Evansville Rescue Mission - The Susan H. Snyder Center for Women and Children
Rev. Kevin Fleming Award - Interfaith Council
Community Collaboration Award - Gelina Mascoe Inspiration Award - STAGEtwo Productions Annual Playwriting Workshop
Nancy Sieben Koehler Sustainability Award - Fetal Infant Mortality Community Action Team
Bryce Jordan Servant Leader Award - Natalye Booth Regional Impact Award - Parri Black
Raising the Bar Award - Ron Ryan
Susan Kelley Jordan Leader in Courage Award - Community Ice Storm Response
Division Awards:
Individual - Kelly Fehrenbacher
Project or Program - Deaconess' Project SEARCH, Business or Organization - Vanderburgh County CASA
Recognition for Individual Achievement:
Arts & Culture - Tory Vyvoda
Community & Neighborhood - Damien Burge Education - Mary Goedde
Government, Public Service & Environment - Mike Labitzke
Health & Social Services - Taylor Fauerbach
Recognition for Project or Program Achievement:
Arts & Culture - World Rhythms at The Koch Family Children's Museum of Evansville (cMoe)
Community & Neighborhood - Evansville Courier & Press and The Gleaner Black History Month Series Education - Berry Link
Government Public Service, & Environment - Total Solar Eclipse - Evansville Region, Health & Social Services - Ascension St. Vincent Mobile Dental Clinic
Recognition for Business or Organization Achievement:
Arts & Culture - Henderson Area Arts Alliance Community & Neighborhood - Hope Dot Com Education - Ivy Style at Ivy Tech Community College
Government, Public Service & Environment - Evansville Rescue Mission
Health & Social Services - Shuttle Buddies by Chemo Buddies
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