Awards & Recognition
Colorado Thespians Educator and Administrator Awards and Colorado Thespians Hall of Fame
Each year, Colorado State Thespians honors outstanding educators, administrators, community contributors and a veteran educator for our Hall of Fame awards. Individuals are honored for their dedication to their theatre programs and the support they have given to educational theatre. If you would like to nominate an individual for an award, please submit your nomination below in one of the following categories:
- Hall of Fame (20+ years in the classroom and retired)
- High School Educator of the Year
- Middle School Educator of the Year
- Elementary School Educator of the Year
- Administrator of the Year
- Higher Education Theatre Educator of the Year
- Distinguished Service Award (inside or outside of the profession)
Annual Awards
Administrator Award
- 2023 Dr. Krista Keogh
- 2022 Lissa Staal
- 2021 Colorado Theatre Educators
- 2020 Roxanne Pignanelli
- 2019 Tim Vialpando
- 2018 John Biner
- 2017 Michael Weaver
- 2015 Andy Geise
- 2011 Willian Kohut
- 2010 Ron Castagna
- 2009 Edna Doherty
- 2008 Mary Lauer
- 2006 Joan Watson
- 2005 Ron Peterson
- 2005 John Borman
Elementary Theatre Educator of the Year
- 2020 Marianna Lucero
- 2019 Jason Lemire
- 2018 John Graves
- 2015 Lauren Nonino
- 2013 Jennifer Bartos
- 2012 Jim Miller
- 2011 Erica Skelcey
- 2008 Maureen Hines
- 2006 Nancy Nyhus
- 2003 Dedra Montoya
- 2002 Trina O’Neill
- 1995 Anne L. Henderson
Middle Level Theatre Educator of the Year
- 2023 Emily Hoch-Windus
- 2022 Alexa Wynschenk
- 2021 Colorado Theatre Educators
- 2020 Kody Maynard
- 2019 Jessamyn Miller
- 2018 Kaitlyn-Dawn Dinner
- 2014 Anthony Bruno
- 2013 Lauren Kehm
- 2012 Clare Anderson
- 2011 Kristi Gilbreth
- 2010 Erin Anderson
- 2009 Susie Ritter
- 2008 Carla McWilliams
- 2007 R. Kim Herrell
- 2006 Shelly Greenwood
- 2005 Shawn Hann
- 2004 Joni Kiesecker
- 2003 Bonita Wilcox
- 2002 Patsy Blackburn
- 2001 Karen Swartley
- 1999 Frank Pavlakovich
- 1997 Brianna Lindahl
- 1996 Mikee Kapelke
- 1995 Tony Catanese
- 1992 Charlotte Tabereaux
Senior High School Theatre Educator of the Year
- 2023 Timothy Brown
- 2022 Josh Belk
- 2021 Colorado Theatre Educators
- 2020 Holly Haverkorn
- 2019 John Garner
- 2018 Shawn Hann
- 2017 Brittany Wallis
- 2016 Kurt Muenstermann
- 2015 Scott Ogle
- 2014 David Peterson
- 2013 Brianna Lindahl
- 2012 Ted Rosen
- 2011 Jeremy Goldson
- 2010 Frank Early
- 2009 Mark Kolokoff
- 2008 Carrie Barnhardt-Roberson
- 2007 Kim S. Moore
- 2006 Denina Brown
- 2005 Barbara Amberg
- 2004 Tracy Schwartz
- 2003 Crystal Cuckow
- 2002 Mitch Travis
- 2001 Jane Archuleta
- 2000 Sonja Parson
- 1998 Suzanne Lavin
- 1997 John Kron
- 1996 Nancy Vogel
- 1995 Kelly Jo Smith
- 1994 Bill Peery
- 1993 Jean Hodges
- 1992 Mona Wood-Patterson
Non Annual Awards
Hall of Fame Awards
- 2023 John Kron
- 2014 Dr. Jay Seller
- 2014 Theresa Collins
- 2013 Mark Kolokoff
- 2012 Jo Ramsey
- 2012 Jeff Courtier
- 2011 Sara Freeman
- 2011 Mona Wood-Patterson
- 2011 Allen Jimenez
- 2011 Nancy Vogel
- 2010 Dr. Mike Pearl
- 2010 Frank Earley
- 2009 Julie Dean
- 2008 Stanford Paris
- 2008 Dr. Denina Brown
- 2008 Kim Moore
- 2007 Jennifer Condreay
- 2007 Noel Johnston
- 2006 Sweetie Marbury
- 2005 Dr. Mary Schuttler
- 2005 Professor Lloyd Norton
- 2004 Janine West
- 2004 Wally Larson
- 2003 Van Alessandro
- 2003 Ted Rosen
- 2003 Michelle Busti
- 2002 Dr. Jay Seller
- 2002 Joe Craft
- 2002 Lynn Fleming
- 2002 Jean Hodges
- 2002 Rita Kotter
- 2002 Mr. Bill Peery
- 2002 Nancy Priest
- 2002 Seth Rossman
- 2002 Harry Shanker
- 1994 Michelle Busti
EdTA Outstanding School Award
- 2018 Tami LoSasso, Lakewood High School
- 2017 David Peterson, Chaparral High School
- 2014 Scott Ogle, Chatfield High School
- 2013 Shawn Hann, Denver School of the Arts
- 2013 Beau Augustin, Pomona High School
- 2006 Shawn Hann, Denver School of the Arts
- 2003 Kim Moore, Ponderosa High School
- 2002 Gavin Mayer, Pomona High School
- 1994 Jay Seller, Horizon High School
Outstanding Service to Colorado Thespians
- 2016 Tom McNally
- 2016 Brittany Wallis
- 2014 Rex Corr
- 2012 Michael Wright
Colorado Theatre Educator of the Year (Richard K. Knaub Award)
- 2013 Lane Miller
- 2012 Annell Weissenbuehler
- 2011 Allen Jimenez
- 2010 Jan Justis
- 2009 Theresa Collins
- 2008 Stanford Paris
- 2007 Jane Page
- 2006 Susan Tamblyn
- 2005 Jodi Papproth
- 2004 Karen Kennedy
- 2003 Jay Seller
- 2002 Joe Craft
- 2001 Angel Vigil
- 2000 Nancy Priest
- 1998 Seth Rossman
- 1997 Jennifer Condreay
- 1996 Michael Pearl
- 1995 Tony Church
- 1994 Mary Tesch Scobey
- 1993 Harry Schanker
- 1992 Richard K. Knaub
Higher Education Theatre Educator of the Year
- 2012 Scott Lubinski
- 2011 Gillian McNally
- 2010 National Theatre Conservatory
- 2009 Laura Cuetara
- 2008 Pamela Jamruszka Mencher
- 2007 Dr. Laura Tesman
- 2005 Morris Burns
- 2004 Dr. Paul Newman
- 2003 Dr. Laura Jones
- 2002 Dr. Paul Edwards
- 2001 Dr. Mary Schuttler
- 2000 Richard Finkelstein
- 1997 David Kottenstette
- 1995 Thomas P. McNally
- 1994 Marilyn “Cookie” Hetzel
- 1992 Richard Kuebler
Community/Professional Theatre Award
- 2012 PHAMALy
- 2011 Audience of One
- 2010 CenterStage Theatre Company
- 2009 Shoestring Children’s Theatre Company
- 2008 Aurora Fox Theatre (Educational Programs)
- 2007 Buntport Theatre
- 2006 Curious Theatre Company
- 2005 Manitou Arts Theatre
- 2004 Evergreen Players
- 2003 Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts
- 2002 Morrison Theatre Co.
- 2001 Picketwire Theatre, Arvada Center
- 2000 Kaiser Permanente of Colorado
- 1999 Anna Thompson, Impulse Theatre
Distinguished Service Award (Within the Profession)
- 2023 Christy O’Connell Black
- 2018 Jerry Proffitt
- 2017 Brian McManus
- 2015 John Epps
- 2014 Jean Benson
- 2013 Sarah Shaver
- 2012 David Saphier
- 2011 The Living History Program
- 2010 Leslie K. Williams
- 2008 Tam Dalrymple Frye, DCPA
- 2007 Will Small
- 2006 Kristina Kafka
- 2005 Tony Catanese
- 2003 Michael Stansbery
- 2002 Henry Lowenstein
- 2001 Gully Stanford
- 1999 Carmel Alston, Jacquie Kitzelman
- 1998 Michael Pearl
- 1996 Wally Larsen, Tina Risch
- 1995 E. Martin Hatcher
- 1994 Chuck Casio
- 1993 Rita Kotter
- 1992 Michele Busti
Distinguished Service Award (Outside the Profession/Theatre Advocate)
- 2017 Karol Gates
- 2016 Arts for Colorado
- 2011 John Moore, The Denver Post
- 2010 Patricia Dierbergerl
- 2009 Saundra Smith
- 2008 Kat Powers
- 2007 John Delaney
- 2005 Jerry Vanderdoes
- 2004 Ross MacAskill
- 2004 Rhonda Greder-Kimble
- 2003 Mary Mashburn
- 2002 Beki Pineda
- 2000 Debbie Miller
- 1999 Terry Killin
- 1998 Phyllis Warlbye, Thom Wise
- 1996 Channel 9 News
- 1995 Alan Olds, James W. Reitz
- 1994 Ken Quintana, Sandra Dillard Rosen
- 1993 Reynelda Muse
Presidential Gavel Award for Service to ACT
- 2007 Shawn Hann, Denver School of the Arts, past president ACT
- 2006 Saundra Bouchie, The Colorado Springs School, past president ACT
- 2005 Jodi Papproth, Cheyenne Mountain High School, past president ACT
