Region III Awards

National ACTE and Region III Awards

Region III administers the following ACTE Member Awards:

ACTE Teacher of the Year, sponsored by Express Employment Professionals
ACTE Administrator of the Year
ACTE Postsecondary Teacher of the Year
ACTE New Teacher of the Year
ACTE Career Guidance Award
ACTE Carl Perkins Community Service Award
ACTE Lifetime Achievement Award
ACTE Postsecondary Teacher of the Year

2022 Region III Award Winners

ACTE Region III Teacher of the Year-Mary Hoffmann, Minnesota
ACTE Region III Counseling and Career Guidance Award-Molly Bonnett, Minnesota
ACTE Region III Administrator of the Year-Lynne Benson, Illinois
ACTE Region III Postsecondary Teacher of the Year-Mike Eddy, Minnesota
ACTE Region III New Teacher of the Year-Derek Grahn, Minnesota
ACTE Region III Carl Perkins Community Service Award-Jody Heavner, Illinois
ACTE Region III Lifetime Achievement Award-Lisa Stange, Iowa
ACTE Region III Teacher Educator of the Year-Jay Solomonson, Illinois

2022 Award of Merit Recipients

Jennifer Anderson, Iowa
John Fuenfhausen, Missouri
Jess Horlacher, Indiana
Jeralyn Jargo, Minnesota
Bob Larivee, Missouri
Krista Paul, Illinois
Maxine Peterson, Minnesota
May Schaben, Iowa
Joe Sieczkowski, Illinois
Kandy Smitha, Indiana
Laura VanWaardhuizen, Iowa

2021 Region III Award Winners

ACTE Region III Teacher of the Year-Luke Becker, Minnesota
ACTE Region III Career Guidance Award-Lisa Miller, Illinois
ACTE Region III Administrator of the Year-Dave Rockers, Missouri
ACTE Region III Postsecondary Teacher of the Year-Sarah E. LaRose, Indiana
ACTE Region III New Teacher of the Year-Breanne Brammer, Missouri
ACTE Region III Carl Perkins Community Service Award-Jeff Maierhofer, Illinois
ACTE Region III Lifetime Achievement Award-Robb Lowe, Minnesota
ACTE Region III Teacher Educator of the Year-Dr. Brad Greiman, Minnesota

2021 Award of Merit Recipients

Tara Troester, Iowa
Jenny Berry, Indiana
Troy Blunier, Illinois
Jason Bruns, Missouri
Leon Busdieker, Missouri
Sara Etzel, Missouri
Kay Frick, Missouri
Julia Oglesby, Illinois
Shelley Rust, Indiana
Jayla Smith, Missouri
Karen Swanson, Iowa

2020 Region III Award Winners

Administrator of the Year: Jean Rakun – Plymouth, MN
Career Guidance Award: Laura Cook – Park Ridge, IL
Carl Perkins Community Service Award: Lorin Curtis – Joplin, MO
Lifetime Achievement Award: Martha Eldredge Stark – Park Ridge, IL
New Teacher of the Year: Lisa Orren – Redwood Falls, MN
Teacher Educator of the Year: Sally Arnett-Hartwick – Normal, IL
Postsecondary Teacher of the Year: Krystle Gremaud – Warrensburg, MO
Teacher of the Year: Kandy Smitha – Indianapolis, IN

2020 Award of Merit Winners

Brittney Bauer, Illinois
Debra Blahosky, Minnesota
Dr. Katy Blatnick-Gagne’, Iowa
Martha Eldredge-Stark, Illinois
Murray Fenn, Iowa
Michael Graham, Missouri
Chris Hadfield, Minnesota
Ginny Karbowski, Minnesota
Dr. Brandon Russell, Missouri

2019 Region III Award Winners

Administrator of the Year: Kathryn Kittel, Minnesota
Career Guidance Award: Julie Hill, Indiana
Carl Perkins Community Service Award: Jessica Daberkow, Minnesota
Lifetime Achievement Award: Ginny Karbowski, Minnesota
New Teacher of the Year: Katherine Lechleitner, Minnesota
Teacher Educator of the Year: Chris Merrill, Illinois
Postsecondary Teacher of the Year: Robert Clark, Illinois
Teacher of the Year: Neil Pearson, Minnesota

2019 Award of Merit Winners

Senator Patrick McGuire, Illinois
Jodi Ferriell, Illinois
Brandon Gordon, Illinois
Linda Baumgart, Indiana
Danny Camden, Indiana
Kendra Ericson, Iowa
Greg Krawiec,Iowa
James Mecklenburg, Minnesota
Joel Larsen, Minnesota
Dennis Harden, Missouri
Wendi Bernt, Missouri

2018 Region III Award Winners

Administrator of the Year: Patrick A. Biggerstaff, Indiana
Career Guidance Award: Krista Paul, Illinois
Carl Perkins Community Service Award: Craig J. Spreiter, Minnesota
Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Joan R. McFadden, Indiana
New Teacher of the Year: Katie Crowley, Minnesota
Postsecondary Teacher of the Year: James P. Greenan, Indiana
Teacher of the Year: Lori Brumbaugh, Minnesota

2018 Award of Merit Winners

Peggy Strong, Illinois
Tammi Conn, Illinois
Karen Hirschey, Indiana
Megan Jackson, Indiana
Barbara Lemmer, Iowa
Greg Kepner, Iowa
Gary Duncan, Missouri
Dr. Robert Meyer ,Wisconsin
Dr. Susan May, Wisconsin
Dr. Ann Marie Krause Hanson, Wisconsin

2017 Region III Award Winners

Career Guidance Award: Carrie Hanson, MN
Administrator of the Year: Michael Lehn, MN
Postsecondary Teacher of the Year: Sally E. Arnett-Hartwick, IL
Carl Perkins Community Service: Tiffany Kauffman, MO
New Teacher of the Year: Elizabeth Chambers, IL
Lifetime Achievement: Jeanette A. Karjala, MN
Teacher of the Year: Jil Johnson, MN

2016 Region III Award Winners

Career Guidance Award: Shelli Sowles, MN
Administrator of the Year: Sam Cotton, IN
Postsecondary Teacher of the Year: Dr. Edward J. Lazaros, IN
Carl Perkins Community Service: T. J. Brown, MN
New Teacher of the Year: Lindsey Brown, MN
Lifetime Achievement: Peggy Wild, IN
Teacher of the Year: Callon Siebenahler, MN

Award of Merit (Region Awards)

Missouri: Dr. Donald Claycomb, Gina McLachlan, Donna Vossen
Illinois: Mark Pfleiger, Dede Woodard
Indiana: Lynda Ludlow, Joan Bovee
Iowa: Sandy Miller, M. Diane Cornilsen
Minnesota: William Nelson, Luann Bartley
Wisconsin: Larry Gee, Sharon Wendt

2015 Region III Award Recipients

ACTE Administrator of the Year: Murray Turner (Minnesota)
ACTE Carl Perkins Community Service Award: Mary Hoffman (Minnesota)
ACTE Career Guidance: Robert Lowe (Minnesota)
ACTE Lifetime Achievement Award:Clifford Vrieze (Minnesota)
ACTE New Teacher Award: Laurie Boettcher (Wisconsin)
ACTE Postsecondary Teacher of the Year: Tom Anderson (Minnesota)
ACTE Teacher of the Year: Louis Beck (Iowa)

2014 Region III Award Recipients

ACTE Administrator of the Year: Peggy Miller
ACTE Carl Perkins Community Service Award: Eric Weuve
ACTE Career Guidance: Sandra Kay Fabian
ACTE Lifetime Achievement Award: Gary Hutchinson
ACTE New Teacher Award: Lisa Oellerich
ACTE Postsecondary Teacher of the Year: Jodee Werkheiser
ACTE Teacher of the Year: Larry Plapp

2013 Region III Award Receipients

ACTE Region III Teacher of the Year: Michael Miron (Minnesota)
ACTE Region III Outstanding Career & Technical Educator: Jennifer Polz (Minnesota)
ACTE Region III Outstanding New Career & Technical Teacher: Crystal Combs (Iowa)
ACTE Region III Outstanding Teacher in Community Service: (Minnesota)
ACTE Region III Career Guidance Award: Jayne Schill (Minnesota)

2012 Region III Award Recipients

ACTE Region III Teacher of the Year: Paul Larson (Wisconsin)
ACTE Region III Outstanding Career & Technical Educator: Deborah Belfry (Minnesota)
ACTE Region III Outstanding New Career & Technical Teacher: Lavyne Rada (Minnesota)
ACTE Region III Outstanding Teacher in Community Service: Jeff Eppen (Wisconsin)

2011 Region III Award Recipients

ACTE Region III Teacher of the Year: Tom Appel (Minnesota)
ACTE Region III Outstanding Career & Technical Educator: Sue Boehland (Minnesota)
ACTE Region III Outstanding New Career & Technical Teacher: Thomas “T.J.” Brown (Minnesota)
ACTE Region III Outstanding Teacher in Community Service: Joe Willinger (Wisconsin)

ACTE Region III Award of Merit:

Illinois: Dawn Sullivan, Steve Yaun
Indiana: Doug Dillion, Steve McCaskey
Iowa: Roger Foelske, Kelli Diemer
Minnesota: Jenette Karjala, Kent Janssen
Missouri: Glenda Whitney, Joy Behrens
Wisconsin: JoAnn Giese-Kent, Deborah Wallendal

2010 Region III Award Recipients

ACTE Region III Teacher of the Year: Linda Wilke (Wisconsin)
ACTE Region III Outstanding Career & Technical Educator: Richard Joerger (Minnesota)
ACTE Region III Outstanding New Career & Technical Teacher: Susan Frame (Wisconsin)
ACTE Region III Outstanding Teacher in Community Service: Natasha Mortenson (Minnesota)

ACTE Region III Award of Merit:

Illinois: Gary “Doc” Hutchinson, Dora Welker
Indiana: Cynthia Biggs, John Lightle
Iowa: Kristy Black, Jean Ostrander
Minnesota: Sen. Gen Olsen
Missouri: Dave Ruhman, Jim Spencer
Wisconsin: Daniel Clancy, Morna Foy

2009 Region III Award Recipients

ACTE Region III Teacher of the Year: Charlotte Gray (Missouri)
ACTE Region III Outstanding Career & Technical Educator: Mike Gagner (Wisconsin)
ACTE Region III Outstanding New Career & Technical Teacher: Brittany Elmquist (Iowa)
ACTE Region III Outstanding Teacher in Community Service: No applicants

ACTE Region III Award of Merit:

Illinois: Susan Hanfland, Mark Williams
Indiana: William E. Kovach, Tim Railey
Iowa: Chef Robert Anderson, Chef Phil Carey, Kern Family Foundation
Minnesota: Mary Messimer
Missouri: Dr. Tom Quinn, Glenda Whitney
Wisconsin: Paul Gabriel, Dr. Howard Lee

To learn more about the ACTE Member Awards application process and requirements, visit the ACTE Member Awards page.