Formerly known as the WMEA Distinguished Service Award, the distinguished service award was renamed in 2001 in honor of Michael G. George. His legacy of excellence inspired change, nurtured leaders, and touched the lives of thousands of students. To commemorate his outstanding service, WMEA has established this award in his honor.
Purpose of the Award:
To recognize significant contributions made by a professional to music and music education at the local and state or national level over the course of a career.
Who is Eligible:
Any music teacher, music director or music administrator from a Wisconsin school.
Nomination Review:
Nominations for this award are reviewed by all past presidents of the WMEA Executive Board. The ballot shall include options to vote for one candidate, to vote for none of the candidates, and to carry nominations forward for consideration in the following year.
A candidate receiving a majority vote shall receive the award. A vote for a non-winning candidate will be construed as a vote to carry that nomination forward for the following year.
Deadline:
All materials must be submitted by July 1
Previous Award Recipients
Michael G. George Distinguished Service Award (Renamed in 2003)
| Year | Recipient(s) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Paul Budde, River Falls |
| 2022 | Christine Hayes, Whitewater |
| 2020 | Gregg Butler, Fall Creek |
| 2019 | Robert Baca, Eau Claire |
| 2018 | Leyla Sanyer, Verona |
| 2017 | Tom Reifenberg, Greendale |
| 2016 | Chris Gleason, Sun Prairie |
| 2015 | Connie Root, Hudson |
| 2013 | Nancy Rasmussen, Walworth |
| 2012 | Sheila Feay-Shaw |
| 2011 | James Sewrey |
| 2010 | Peggy Krasin |
| 2009 | Melvin Pontious |
| 2008 | Marjorie Fowler |
| 2007 | Nicholas Contorno |
| 2006 | David Pelow Nicholas Contorno |
| 2005 | Cheryl Lavender |
| 2004 | Gerald B. Olson |
| 2003 | Michael G. George |
Distinguished Service Award (Renamed in 2003)
| Year | Recipient(s) |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Joel Blahnik |
| 2002 | Rick Kirby |
| 2001 | David Reul |
| 2000 | Jeanne Julseth Heinrich |
| 1999 | John Harmon |
| 1998 | Ronald Keezer |
| 1997 | Darrell Aderman |
| 1996 | Sr. Lorna Zemke |
| 1995 | Ernest Broeniman |
| 1994 | Lewis Schmidt |
| 1993 | Gerard McKenna Jan Tweed |
| 1992 | Lee Jacobi |
| 1991 | Fred Schroeder |
| 1990 | Robert Petzold |
| 1989 | Bruce White |
| 1988 | Wayne Jipson Donald Radmer |
| 1987 | Mary Pautz |
| 1986 | Wisconsin CMP Project |
| 1985 | Eunice Meske Will Schmid |
| 1984 | Stan Nosal Jack Pingel |
| 1983 | Thomas Buchhauser |
| 1982 | Patricia Lewis |
| 1981 | John Nygren |
| 1980 | Vivian Weber Morris Hayes |
| 1979 | Richard Wolf Michael George |
| 1978 | Dale Gilbert Ralph Houghton |
| 1977 | Otto Huettner Fred Leist Marvin Rabin |
| 1976 | Roger Hornig Richard Gaarder Eva Mae Struckmeyer |
| 1975 | Emmett Sarig |
| 1974 | Harold Arentsen Raymond F. Dvorak |
| 1973 | Marcella O’Leary G. Lloyd Schultz |
