Awards Archive

View winners video here.

Government Advocate - Barbara Schrader 

Arts Ed Community Champion - Museum of Art and Archeology 

Creativity and Innovation in Teaching  - Mark Anderson 

MAAE Administrator of the Year - Casey Olernick 

Student Arts Ambassador Award - Lily Pattison - Springfield Catholic

Student Arts Ambassador Award - Amelie Lock - Ladue - Horton Watkins High School

Student Video Contest

Lyla Miers - (House Springs)

Student Essay Contest

Grade 3-5 - Kiley Arnold - (House Springs)

Grade 6-8 - no winner selected.

Grade 9-12 -Alyssa Gosche (Rolla)

View winners video here.

Government Advocate - State Representative Ingrid Burnett

Arts Ed Community Champion - Valerie Bell

Creativity and Innovation in Teaching  - Michelle Howard

District of Excellence and Distinction - Parkway Schools - Jeff Lackey

MAAE Administrator of the Year - Dr. Bradley Ross 

Leadership in Arts Education - Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven

National Student Art Advocate Award  - Hayden Hawkins - (Rolla)

MAAE Grades 3-12 Arts Advocacy Essay Contest 

Grade 3-5 - Capri Cardwell - 5th Grade - (House Springs)

Grade 6-8 - Stevie Nichole Roberts  - 6th grade (Grain Valley)

Grade 9-12 - Jack Turner  - 9th grade - (Grain Valley)

View winners video here.

Administrator of the Year Award - Joseph Casey, Principal - Clever High School, Clever R-V School District

Creativity and Innovation in Teaching Award - Allison Fleetwood, Theatre Teacher and Arts Integration Specialist, Nixa High School, Nixa Public Schools 

School District of Distinction Award - Raytown C-2 School District Dr. Penelope Martin-Knox, Superintendent. Alex Kolster, Secondary Fine Arts Curriculum Coordinator.

Arts Education Community Champion Award - Carmen Guynn - St. Louis

Government Champion for Arts Education -Representative Brenda Shields - MO House District 11 - St. Joseph

National Student Arts Advocate Award -Kylie Brunkhorst - Rolla High School, Rolla, MO

View winners video here.

National Student Arts Advocate Award - Peyton Lairmore, Owensville, MO - essay - Jessie Bayless, Gasconade Country R-2 School District

District of Excellence or Distinction in Arts Education - Potosi R-3 School District - Potosi, MO (Washington County) Alex McCaul, Superintendent

Administrator of the Year - Aaron Money, Fine Arts Director, Liberty Public Schools 

Creativity and Innovation in Teaching Award - Marty Strohmeyer, Department Chair, Visual and Fine Arts, Visitation Academy, St. Louis, MO

Arts Education Community Champion - Alison Schieber, President - Missouri Citizens for the Arts - St. Joseph, MO

Government Arts  Champion - Representative Peter Meredith - St. Louis, MO - District 80 

2022 Student Essay Contest 

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 

View winners video here.

National Student Arts Advocate Award - Levi Baker - Bradleyville, MO

District of Excellence or Distinction in Arts Education - Independence School District, Dr. Dale Herl, superintendent 

Administrator of the Year - Michelle Ridlen - Fine Arts Director - Francis Howell School District

Creativity and Innovation in Teaching Award - Kathy Hann - Fox C-6 Elementary Music

Arts Education Community Champion - Marie Nau Hunter (Columbia)

Government Arts  Champion - Julie Hale 

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

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:

How has music, visual art, dance (if it is offered in your school as a class) or drama (theatre) influenced you or your life as a student?

 Why is it important for every school to provide instruction in the arts to every child every day?

Previous Award Winners

Schools or Districts of Excellence or Distinction Awards
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

• 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

Arts Education Community Champion
Previous Award Winners

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

Administrator of the Year Award
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

State Government Advocate for Arts Education Award
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