For 25 years, Richard Gaarder provided leadership to music education in Wisconsin. Upon his retirement, the Wisconsin Music Educators Association established an award in his name to commemorate his outstanding service.
Purpose of the Award:
This award is presented to an undergraduate music education student who has shown exceptional leadership, musical excellence and service to campus and community. The award is a credit to the student and also recognizes the college or university for helping to foster the growth of our future music education leaders.
Who is Eligible:
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Nominees music be seniors during the fall of 2024 in music education at a Wisconsin college or university and must be current members of the Collegiate NAfME Chapter on their campus.
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Nominators must be college or university music department faculty members.
Criteria:
Selection will be based on evidence of leadership, service and accomplishments in campus and community music, related activities, academic excellence and musical excellence.
Deadline:
All materials must be submitted by July 1
Previous Award Recipients
| Year | Recipient(s) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Mark Buchmann, UW-River Falls Bridget Koser, UW-Milwaukee |
| 2023 | Cassidy DeWitt, UW-River Falls Adam LuMaye, UW-Milwaukee |
| 2022 | Lauren Heinen, UW-Milwaukee Robin Pfeifer, UW-River Falls |
| 2021 | Kathryn Schneider, UW-Milwaukee |
| 2020 | Marissa Altendorfer - UW-River Falls |
| 2019 | Antonio Kitchens, UW-Milwaukee Ryan Schultz, UW-Whitewater |
| 2018 | Sarah Schaefer, UW-Milwaukee |
| 2017 | Clara McGowan, UW-Whiterwater Anna Van Nuland, UW-Milwaukee |
| 2016 | Justin Steger, UW-Whitewater |
| 2015 | Eric Ash, UW-Milwaukee |
| 2014 | Dominic Gischia, UW-Whitewater |
| 2013 | Deanne Carloni, UW-Whitewater |
| 2012 | Kimberly Forsythe, UW-Milwaukee |
| 2011 | Abigail Martin, UW-Whitewater Andrew Buck, UW-Milwaukee |
| 2010 | Abigail Pulvermacher, UW-Whitewater |
| 2009 | Anthony Kading, UW-Whitewater |
| 2008 | Kristen Mary Baus, UW-Whitewater Jacki Thering, UW-Oshkosh |
| 2007 | Aimee Schmidt, Edgewood University |
| 2006 | Lauren Lubinski, UW-Whitewater |
| 2005 | Kristopher Kulsrud, UW-River Falls Katie Plovanich, UW-Whitewater |
| 2004 | Laurel Meuth, UW-Whitewater |
| 2003 | Abigail Kreisa, UW-Stevens Point |
| 2002 | Megan Rew, UW-Stevens Point |
| 2001 | Megan Halinski, UW-Whitewater |
| 2000 | Rebecca Nadler, UW-Oshkosh Anne Terneus, UW-Whitewater |
| 1999 | Shari Swiecichowski,UW-Whitewater Gina Anderson, UW-Stevens Point |
| 1998 | Jennifer Schwingle, UW-Whitewater |
| 1997 | Deborah Ruckwardt, UW-Stevens Point |
| 1996 | Ann Basten, UW-Whitewater |
| 1995 | Meghan Marshall, Lawrence University |
| 1994 | Michael Ross, UW-Madison |
| 1993 | Jodi Voss, Lakeland College |
| 1992 | Lisa C. Smith, UW-Madison |
| 1991 | Kenneth Daniels, Lawrence University |
| 1990 | John W. Scheib, UW-Whitewater |
| 1989 | Ray Ostwald, Lawrence University |
| 1989 | Robin L. Davis, UW-Whitewater |
