- This year’s televised Celebration of Leadership Award Ceremony shined a spotlight on 133 nominees for their examples of servant leadership and contributions to their community.
- Leadership Everyone presented 45 awards that recognized diverse people, projects, and organizations leading and serving our region
- Watch entire video here.
For the fourth year in a row, Leadership Everyone celebrated its Annual Celebration of Leadership (COL) on WNIN. Presented by title sponsor Fifth Third Bank, the 28th annual COL recognized and celebrated the innovative, collaborative and courageous accomplishments of 133 nominees.
For 28 years, Celebration of Leadership has highlighted servant leaders of every age, race, ethnicity, religion and background from within our region and this year was no exception.
“This is the very best show in town,” said Leadership Everyone CEO, Lynn Miller Pease. “The diverse servant leaders throughout our region create a rich culture that inspire all who are part of this celebration to continue to dream and make our region the best it can be. I am so honored to be a part of such a spectacular region. And I want to give a special thanks to Fifth Third and all the people that help us do the work we do.”
133 examples of outstanding servant leadership were acknowledged this year for their transformational contributions to our community. Of these nominees, Leadership Everyone presented 45 awards to recipients across the region. Nominations were given in the following categories: Arts, Community & Neighborhood, Education, Government, Public Service & Environment, and Health & Social Service.
The Celebration of Leadership awards ceremony will air again on WNIN on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 4:00 pm, and it can be streamed anytime from Leadership Everyone’s website or social media platforms.
COL 2023 RECIPIENT LIST
Division Awards: Individual – Rev. Floyd Edwards, Sr; Project or Program – Children’s Mental Health ChangeLab; Business or Organization: Soul Writer’s Guild
Special Awards: Spirit Award – Teddy the Therapy Pig; Sam Featherstone Youth Award – Jack Deig; Sam Featherstone Youth Award – Annie Kim; Sam Featherstone Youth Award – Incognito Instructors; Leader in Technology Award – Data Analytics ChangeLab; Kevin Fleming Justice Award – Sophie Kloppenburg; Community Collaboration Award – Elf Academy; Bryce Jordan Servant Leader Award – USI Bus Drivers – James Putnam and Jermaine Razor; Inspiration Award – Mothers at War Ministries & Resource Center, Inc.; Willie Effie Thomas Diversity Award – Wendy Chinn; LatinX Award – Elisabet Sena-Martin; Raising the Bar Award – Julie Davis-Brunner; Sara B. Davies Award – Marcia Lynch-Duncan; Darrell Ragland Award – Brian Southern; Civic Engagement Award – Jason Emmerson; Shirley James “Greening the Community” Award – Deaconess Green Team; Outstanding Innovation Award – Dr. Rob Carroll; Lt. Colonel Reginald P. Gibson Award – Chris Metz; Winternheimer/LaMar Public Service Award – Mario Reid; Susan Kelley Jordan Leader in Courage Award – Joann and Mason Bogard; Community Collaboration Award – Kelley Coures; Philanthropy Award – Over the Edge for Granted; Regional Impact Award – Suzanne Schriber; Transformational Inclusion Award – EVSC Festival of Nations; Visionary Award – Ted McCreary; Lifetime Achievement Award – Rev. Gerald Arnold; Lifetime Achievement Award – Estella Moss
Recognition for Individual Achievement: Arts – Justin McCullough-Haddix; Community & Neighborhood – Andrew Backes; Education – Robin Woebkenberg; Government, Public Service, & Environment – Deonte Meriweather; Health & Social Services – Jessica Schnur;
Recognition for Project or Program Achievement: Arts – Joshua Academy Music Instruction ChangeLab; Community & Neighborhood – International Food Festival; Education – EVSC OptIN Signing Day; Government, Public Service, & Environment – Paws for Comfort; Health & Social Services – Deaconess SANEs
Recognition for Business or Organization Achievement: Arts – Bokeh Lounge; Community & Neighborhood – Mae’s Way Foundation; Education – Autism Evansville; Government, Public Service, & Environment – Southwest Indiana Small Business Development Center; Health & Social Services – Evansville Christian Life Center