Awards/Recognition

Now accepting nominations for 2025!

Congratulations MAAE’s Award Recipients and Contest Winners - 2024

2023 Honorees

  

HIGHLIGHTING OUR 2023 SCHOOL DISTRICT OF DISTINCTION
RAYTOWN C-2

Previous Honorees

The Missouri Alliance for Arts Education award winners from the 

2021-2022

Scroll down for award archival information.

2022 Virtual Awards celebration (4:44)

Potosi R-3 School District - Potosi, MO (Washington County) Alex McCaul, Superintendent


ABOUT THE PROGRAM - The Missouri Alliance for Arts Education supports and recognizes excellence in arts education in several ways. We work to support opportunities for student excellence including 

There are other opportunities to honor and recognize individuals for their contributions to arts education made by students, teachers, administrators, school buildings, school districts, elected officials, and community members. 

Typically these honorees are recognized at the annual MAAE Fine Arts Education Day celebrations in Jefferson City at the state capitol building each spring.

Access more information about each of these using the links above and below - or by using the  Submenu under "Programs" in the Submenu "Awards/Recognition" in the navigation bar.

Contests - Previous Winners

National Student Arts Advocate Award

DETAILS

View the 2021 Virtual Award Ceremony here (12 minutes)

MAAE National Student Arts Advocate Award

This annual award gives a Missouri high school arts student the opportunity to go to Washington, D. C. in the spring to participate in the annual Arts Advocacy Day, sponsored by Americans for the Arts. The contest for the award is open to all Missouri high school students who participate in at least one arts program and are in good standing at their school.

Previous Award Winners

  • 2023 - Kylie Brunkhorst - Rolla, MO
  • 2022 - Peyton Lairmore, Owensville, MO
  • 2021 - Levi Baker, Junior, Bradleyville, MO essay
  • 2020-Josie Johnson, Senior, Boonville HS
  • 2020-Shawna Harris, Senior, Rolla HS
  • 2019—Kaitlin Blue, John F Hodge HS, St. James
  • 2018—Ally Butler, Mehlville HS, STL
  • 2017—Ben Rauth and Kahlil Odums, Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts, KC
  • 2016—Danny Bitter, Mehlville HS, STL
  • 2015—Madison Dodd, Winnetonka HS, KC
  • 2014—Keely Jones, Smith Cotton HS, Sedalia

MAAE Student Video Awards

DETAILS

MAAE Student Video Contest

The Missouri Alliance for Arts Education (MAAE) is looking for future filmmakers, media moguls or roving TV reporters to enter a student video contest highlighting the importance of arts education in Missouri schools. The MAAE is dedicated to showing why it is important to have fine arts instruction in every school, for every child, every day. We draw attention to the creative skills the arts develop in students of all ages and backgrounds. Through this contest, students join in the Alliance's advocacy mission and display, through video, why the arts are a vital part of education at every level.

Previous Award Winners


MAAE Student Essay Contest

DETAILS

MAAE Gr. 3-12 Student Essay Contest

Students in grades 3-12 are invited to participate in the MAAE Fine Arts Education Day Essay Contest. A student may choose one of the following topics for the essay:

Previous Award Winners

2023 - 
  • Grade 6-8 Ava Isaacson - Grain Valley North Middle School (Blue Springs)
  • honorable mention) - Jack Turner Grain Valley South Middle School
2022 - 
  • Grade 3-5 - Caris Clary - Windsor Street Montessori Columbia, MO - Teachers: Brenda McDonald, Matt Hall (Dominic Marchack, Windsor Street Montessori, Honorable Mention)
  • Grade 6-8 - Liam Reeves -Windsor Street Montessori Columbia, MO - Teachers: Brenda McDonald, Matt Hall (Lily Sherwood - Windsor Street Montessori - Honorable Mention)
  • Grade 9-12 - Mallory Moats, Rolla High School, Connie Shoemaker, instructor 
  • 2021-contest on hiatus - Recognition for essays in support of arts ed for students from Trinity Lutheran School, Orchard Farm - St. Charles County
  • 2020-Willow Garwood, 10th grade student at Calvary Lutheran HS in Jefferson City,  Teacher William Schatte, Theatre
  • 2019—No award given
  • 2018—Evelyn Neal, Van Horn HS, Independence
  • 2017—No award given
  • 2016—Madisyn Cornell, Milan HS
  • 2015—Delaney Lawson, Rolla HS, Mackensi Killbreth, South Valley Middle School, Liberty

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2021 Student Essay Contest

Contest on hiatus - special recognition for essays from Trinity Lutheran School - K. Chapin, instructor

MAAE Awards Previous Winners

MAAE Schools or Districts of Excellence or Distinction Awards

DETAILS

MAAE Schools or DISTRICTS of Excellence or DISTINCTION Awards

This award recognizes schools that have done an outstanding job of making the arts essential to the education of their students. The awards provide an important opportunity to honor schools and the role they play in providing a creative learning environment for outstanding student achievement. 

Previous Award Winners

  • 2023 - Raytown C-2 School District - Dr. Penelope Martin-Brown Superintendent
  • 2022 Potosi R-3 School District - Alex McCaul, superintendent
  • 2021 Independence School District, Dr. Dale Herl, superintendent

MAAE MAAE Creativity and Innovation in Teaching Award

DETAILS

MAAE Creativity and Innovation in Teaching Award

The Missouri Alliance for Arts Education recognizes a fine arts educator for creativity and innovation in teaching a visual or performing arts class. Students, teachers, administrators, parents and community members may nominate a teacher for this award. Recipients are typically honored at the annual MAAE Fine Arts Education Day at the State Capitol.

Previous Award Winners

  • 2023 - Allison Fleetwood, Nixa, School District
  • 2022 - Marty Strohmeyer - Visitation Academy
  • 2021 - Kathy Hahn, elementary music Fox C-6 School District
  • 2020—Blake Richter, Music Teacher, Inman Intermediate School, Nixa 
  • 2019—Clayton Noltkamper, Art Teacher, John F. Hodge HS, St. James
  • 2018—No award given
  • 2017—No award given
  • 2016—Connie Shoemaker, Art Teacher, Rolla HS
  • 2015-- Sara Given, Theatre Teacher, Mexico HS
  • 2014—Velicia Daniels, Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts, KC
  • 2013—David Luby, Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts, KC

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2021 Creativity and Innovation in Teaching Award

Kathy Hahn, Elementary Vocal/General Music, Fox C-6 School District


MAAE Arts Education Community Champion Award

DETAILS

MAAE Arts Education Community Champion

This award recognizes a community member who is not a staff member at a school who has supported an arts education program in a special and meaningful way. The candidate can be nominated by students, teachers, administrators, or other community members. A nomination letter no longer than 500 words should describe the person’s actions and attributes that have contributed to that arts program success. Please send the email no later than January 31st to director@moaae.org.

Previous Award Winners

  • 2023 - Carmen Guynn (St. Louis)
  • 2022 Alison Schieber (St. Joseph) 
  • 2021 Marie Nau Hunter (Columbia)

MAAE Administrator of the Year Award

DETAILS

MAAE Administrator of the Year Award

MAAE has developed an awards program to recognize an outstanding school administrator who shows tremendous support for fine arts education and fine arts educators. Send an e-mail to director@moaae.org telling us why your nominee deserves this award. The deadline for nominations is January 31st.

Previous Award Winners


  • 2023 - Joseph Casey, Clever R-V Schools
  • 2022 - Aaron Money, Liberty Public Schools, Liberty, MO
  • 2021 - Michelle Ridlen - Francis Howell School District
  • 2020—Dr. Jeremy Tucker, Superintendent, Liberty Public Schools, Liberty
  • 2019—No award given
  • 2018—No award given
  • 2017—No award given
  • 2016—Aaron Money, Liberty Public Schools, Liberty

MAAE State Government Advocate for Arts Education Award

DETAILS

MAAE State Government Advocate for Arts Education Award

MAAE recognizes the contributions of both elected and appointed governmental advocates for the arts. Nominees are to have demonstrated consistent and committed support for arts education in Missouri. The winners will be nominated by the MAAE Board, however, suggestions for potential winners are always welcome. The winner will be recognized at Fine Arts Education Day in March. 

Previous Award Winners

  • 2023 - Representative Brenda Shields, District 11, St. Joseph, MO
  • 2022 - Representative Peter Meredith, District 70, St. Louis, MO
  • 2021 - Julie Hale, Missouri Arts Council, St. Louis, MO

MAAE and MSBA School District of Distinction in Arts Education Award

DETAILS

MAAE & MSBA
School District of Distinction in Arts Education Award Award

This award has been temporarily suspended.

MAAE and partner organization the Missouri School Boards Association (MSBA) School District of Distinction in Arts Education award is presented to a Missouri school board that has demonstrated support for and commitment to high-quality arts education. Nominee districts include high-quality fine arts education in their district programming in music, dance, theatre and visual arts. The winning school district, collaboratively chosen by the MAAE and MSBA, receives a plaque for display in the district.

Previous Award Winners

  • 2013—Shaw Visual and Performing Arts Elementary, St. Louis Public Schools