EVANSVILLE, IN, MARCH 18, 2025—Leadership Everyone (LE) held its 30th Annual Celebration of Leadership (COL) at Old National Events Plaza on Tuesday night. Presented by title sponsor Fifth Third Bank, the event recognized and celebrated the innovative, collaborative, and courageous accomplishments of 110 nominees.
For 30 years, Celebration of Leadership has highlighted servant leaders of every age, race, ethnicity, religion and background from within our region. “In three decades, we have recognized nearly 3,000 leaders in this community with over 900 awards,” says Leadership Everyone CEO, Lynn Miller Pease. “So many of those past recipients were in the room tonight celebrating this year’s honorees—the energy of that is just incredible.”
Of the 110 nominees, Leadership Everyone presented 49 awards to recipients across the region. Awards were given in the following categories: Arts, Community & Neighborhood, Education, Government, Public Service & Environment, Health & Social Service, as well as numerous special awards.
Many of the guests attended an after-party at Main Street Food and Beverage immediately following the event.
Nominations for next year’s event can be submitted at any time at col.leadershipeveryone.org.
See photos from the event here!
RECIPIENTS
Lifetime Achievement Awards: Shirley Siegel, Marylu Sonntag, David Wagner
Special Awards: Spirit Award – Crypto Covington, Spirit Award – Vanderburgh Humane Society Community Cat Program, Sam Featherstone Youth Award – Tessa Morgan, Sam Featherstone Youth Award – Skillz By Syd, Sportsmanship Award – Kyhle Moers, Leader in Technology Award – Anu, Willie Effie Thomas Diversity Award – Carlada Patterson, Philanthropy Award – Mission BBQ, LatinX Award – America Contreras, Visionary Award – JD Sheth Foundation’s Weatherization Enhancement Program, Lt. Colonel Reginald P. Gibson Award – Thin Blue 1st, Trusteeship Award – EVPL Outreach “Materials To You”, Transformational Inclusion Award – Deaconess’ Hair Care Equity Program, Sara B. Davies Award – Joann Hunter, Winternheimer-LaMar Public Service Award – Jerry Martin, Shirley James “Greening the Community” Award – 2024 Evansville Big Tree Tour, Darrell Ragland Award – Devin Deisher, Outstanding Innovation Award – Building Trades Program at Southern Indiana Career & Technical Center, Civic Engagement Award – Cops Connecting with Kids, Epic Award – Evansville Rescue Mission – The Susan H. Snyder Center for Women and Children, Rev. Kevin Fleming Award – Interfaith Council, Community Collaboration Award – Gelina Mascoe, Inspiration Award – STAGEtwo Productions Annual Playwriting Workshop, Nancy Sieben Koehler Sustainability Award – Fetal Infant Mortality Community Action Team, Bryce Jordan Servant Leader Award – Natalye Booth, Regional Impact Award – Parri Black, Raising the Bar Award – Ron Ryan, Susan Kelley Jordan Leader in Courage Award – Community Ice Storm Response
Division Awards: Individual – Kelly Fehrenbacher, Project or Program – Deaconess’ Project SEARCH, Business or Organization – Vanderburgh County CASA
Recognition for Individual Achievement: Arts & Culture – Tory Vyvoda, Community & Neighborhood – Damien Burge, Education – Mary Goedde, Government, Public Service, & Environment – Mike Labitzke, Health & Social Services – Taylor Fauerbach
Recognition for Project or Program Achievement: Arts & Culture – World Rhythms at The Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville (cMoe), Community & Neighborhood – Evansville Courier & Press and The Gleaner Black History Month Series, Education – Berry Link, Government, Public Service, & Environment – Total Solar Eclipse – Evansville Region, Health & Social Services – Ascension St. Vincent Mobile Dental Clinic
Recognition for Business or Organization Achievement: Arts & Culture – Henderson Area Arts Alliance, Community & Neighborhood – Hope Dot Com, Education – IvyStyle at Ivy Tech Community College, Government, Public Service, & Environment – Evansville Rescue Mission, Health & Social Services – Shuttle Buddies by Chemo Buddies