Awards
The Creating Learning Community awards are designed to celebrate significant contributions by individuals or groups within our unique community of teachers, parents, students, families and friends, members of the business community, and schools or groups involved in Suzuki education. The awards will recognize those who have worked for the development and expansion of the Suzuki learning community in the Americas or internationally, or who have helped to preserve of the Suzuki legacy. These contributions will have been beyond ordinary professional duties or routine administrative work and will show evidence that the welfare of the Suzuki community has been the primary motivation for the nominee’s work, not his or her individual recognition or gain.
The following are some suggestions of areas of activity that might result in nomination for a Creating Learning Community Award:
- Teachers supporting teachers, parents and/or students
- Parents supporting teachers, parents and/or students
- Students supporting teachers, parents and/or students
- International service
- Community outreach
- Inter-generational outreach
- Significant and sustained volunteer work for the SAA or other member association of ISA
- Other areas may well be possible
Recipients must be active members of the SAA or other member association of ISA. Nominations can be made at any time, but awards will be made biennially at the SAA Teachers’ Conference. Nomination documents must be received in the SAA Office, at the latest, by the end of the December preceding the Conference.
Nomination documents, clearly marked “Nomination for Creating Learning Community Award, (year)” must include:
- Name, address, phone number, position of nominee, and a brief biography with special emphasis on activities related to Suzuki education
- 3 letters from active members of SAA explaining what impact the nominee has had and why they feel the nominee should be recognized in this way
- Name and address of a contact person
- Photos and/or short video footage are optional
All nominations and nomination documents will be confidential. An Awards Committee consisting of 3 active members of the SAA, the current Chair of SAA and the CEO will review nominations. The Awards Committee will be free to consult others as they feel this is necessary, bearing in mind that the process must be confidential. The Committee may also ask for additional information from the supporters of the nomination if this is felt to be necessary. Individual Board members on behalf of the SAA will present the awards to the approved recipients at the Conference.
Creating Learning Community Awards
2017
Presented November 30, 2017
David Gerry
Unique Contributions to Suzuki Teaching
2016
Presented at the 17th Conference in Minneapolis, MN
Mary Cay Neal
Sharing Dr. Suzuki’s Message to the World Harmony Through Music
Sanford Reuning
Nurturing and Sharing Suzuki’s Gift of “Beautiful Tone, Beautiful Heart”
2014
Presented at the 16th Conference in Minneapolis, MN
David Madsen
Sharing the Sounds of Success with the Greater Guitar Community
William Starr and Constance Starr
2012
Presented at the 15th Conference in Minneapolis, MN
Winifred Crock, William Dick & Dr. Laurie Scott
Suzuki in the Schools: A Celebration of Environment
Pamela Reit
The Heart and Soul of Green Mountain Suzuki
2010
Presented at the 14th Conference in Minneapolis, MN
William Kossler
Bringing Suzuki’s Ideas to Guitar in the Americas
Judi Gowe Bagnato
Longtime Advocate for the Suzuki Profession
Dorothy Jones
The Heart of Suzuki Early Childhood Education
Pam Brasch
Creating, Educating and Organizing the Future of the SAA
2008
Presented at the 13th Conference in Minneapolis, MN
Cleo Brimhall
Modeling the Suzuki Spirit with Joy
Michael Yaffee
Building Bridges for Suzuki in the University and the Community
Eleanor Allen
Suzuki Pioneer in the Heartland of America
Fairbanks Suzuki Institute
Gathering a Community Around Suzuki’s Vision
2006
Presented at the 12th Conference in Minneapolis, MN
Stan Smith, Aurora Suzuki Violins
A Model of Effective Leadership in the Suzuki Community
Yuko Honda
Treasured Voice for Dr. Suzuki in the Americas
Douglas Turpin
Establishment of the Parkway Schools Suzuki String Orchestra Program
Frank Longay, Longay Conservatory of Guitar
2004
Presented at the 11th Conference in Minneapolis, MN
John Kendall
Suzuki Pioneer in the Americas
La Asociación Suzuki del Perú
Leadership in Nurturing Suzuki Education in Latin America
2002
Presented at the 10th Conference in Minneapolis, MN
William Starr
Suzuki Ambassador to the World
Maxine Komlos
Building a Suzuki Network Worldwide
Joanne Bath
Inspiring Leaders in Suzuki Education
Mary Craig Powell
Excellence in Suzuki Teacher Education
Mihoko Hirata
Spirit of Suzuki in the Northwest
Louise Behrend
Representing Suzuki in the Cultural Center of the World
2000
Presented at the 9th Conference in Cincinnati, OH
Dr. Masaaki Honda
Support of the International Suzuki Community
Suzuki Parent Association of Ames, Peggy Earnshaw, President
Outstanding Parent Program
Windy City String Ensemble, Michael Hining, Director
Outstanding Suzuki Program
Dr. Jeff Cox
Outstanding SAA Leadership
Advanced Suzuki Violinists Outreach Program, The Cleveland Institute of Music Preparatory Program, Michele George, Director
Intergenerational Outreach Award
Excellence in Teaching Awards
1998
- Daphne Hughes
- Doris Koppelman
1996
- Alice Joy Lewis
- Nell Novack
- Mary Craig Powell
1994
- Michele Higa George
- Marilyn Kesler
Distinguished Service Awards
1998
- Gilda Barston
- Tanya L. Carey
- Carey Beth Hockett
- Marilyn Kesler
- Rick Mooney
- Nell Novack
- Carol Tarr
- Catherine Walker
- Barbara Wampner
1996
- Louise Behrend
- Clifford Cook
- Lorraine Fink
- Dr. Evelyn Hermann
- Harriet Mogge
1994
- Anastasia Jempelis
- Doris Koppelman
- Joseph McSpadden
- Arthur Montzka
1992
- Marge Aber
- Mark Bjork
- Tanya Carey
- Milton Goldberg
- Dorothy Jones
- John Kendall
- Paul Landefeld
- Doris Preucil
- Sandford Reuning
- Norma Jean Seaton
- Constance Starr
- William Starr
- Yvonne Tait
1986
- Dr. Suzuki
1983
- Evelyn Hermann
- Joe Cleveland
1981
- Clifford Cook
- Glenn Pannell
1980
- Marge Aber
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