STAFF AWARDS
At Launch Leadership, we proudly celebrate the dedication and impact of our volunteer staff. Below is a list of our most prestigious awards and the incredible individuals who have earned them through their service and spirit.
Ember Award
This award is presented to a member or members of the Volunteer Staff in recognition of outstanding contributions to Launch during a volunteer’s first five years.
PAST RECIPIENTS: Eric Westra; Barry Bedlan; Jody Britten; Benjamin Spence; Susan Townsend; Ian Barnes; Randy Hawthorne; Julie Bogenreif Lopez; Mike Greene-Walsh; Amy Batten; Brandi Roeber Schmidt, Carmen Barnes; Lincoln Arneal; Rachel Beck; Carrie Bahde Hjelle; Bess Moodie; Olivia Fullerton Heidinger; Allysa Diehl; Sara Buelt Conant; Lane Carr; Kelli Langdon Cunningham; Elena Hoff; Nick Graef, Amye Aggen; Sophie Connot; Darcy Arends, Allison Chase, Casey Seline; Erin Burnette; Jared Kaser; Hailey Bunde, Kelsey Lorimer; Tara Polly; Colie Chase; Bridget Besse; Maggie Stoltenberg; Kali Herbolsheimer
IGNITE Award
This award is presented to one or more members of the Volunteer Staff in recognition of outstanding contributions to Launch during their first year as volunteers.
PAST RECIPIENTS: Maher Jafari, Jason Smith, Ben Spence, Jim Wheeler; Anna Harken, Jenny Sayre; Josh Denney; Josh Martin; Angie Kratochvil Stava, Reshma Nair; Andy Stoll; Carmen Barnes, Isaac Epperson; Kara Harbert Markin; Maggie Stuckey-Ross; Keith Wysocki; Trevor Heidinger; Stephanie Cassel; Allysa Diehl; Marisa Sevick Welch; Zach Mapesl; Lane Carr; Cohagen Wilkinson; Tad Luedtke; Ingrid Holmquist, Sophia Wennstedt; Chris McCroy; Allison Chase; Jared Kaser; Tanner McKerlie; Tara Polly; Pharna Chuol; Jarrett Proby; Emma McCormick; Elizabeth Herbin; Nick Besse, Vivian Kaldahl; Mia Geiger, Bryan O’Donnell
Award for Outstanding Contribution
PAST RECIPIENTS: Sophia Nkwocha, Jessica Applegate, Kiley Kahler, Christopher McCroy, Hannah Bauer, Eric Mooring, Kelli Cunningham, Carl Erickson, Ali Maloy, Casey Seline, Wyn Wiley, Sophie Connot, Michelle Carlson, Jamie Kwasnieski, Sarah Pieper Davis, Emily Nowell, Megan Falke, Bess Moodie, Charlie Stephan, Diane Johansen, Susie Sisson, Garrett Zaporowski
INNOVATION Award
This award is presented to one member of the Launch Volunteer Staff in recognition of innovation in any area on Staff. Innovation can be a new method of doing something, creating a new repeatable, sustainable process, or bringing a new approach to tackle a long-standing challenge.
PAST RECIPIENTS: Lincoln Arneal, Trevor Heidinger, Randy Hawthorne, Eric Westra
SERVANT LEADERSHIP AWARD
One of the highest forms of leadership is that of a servant leader: someone who works with and supports other people - doing and modeling rather than pointing and ordering. The servant leader leads through service, example, and assistance, rather than through power and authority. This award is given to a Staffer who exemplifies servant leadership through their work on the Volunteer Staff.
PAST RECIPIENTS: Shannon McCarty, Ethan Beier, Cassi Fye, Jeff Heidinger, Ty Rempe, Amye Aggen, Eric Mooring, Max Wheeler, Natalie Becerra
SERVICES Award
This award is presented to a member of the Launch Volunteer Staff that has made a significant contribution to the year-round services of Launch.
PAST RECIPIENTS: Jessalyn Holdcraft, Vivian Kaldahl, Abbey Greene-Walsh, Jairo Chavez, Kelsey Linzell, Casey Seline, Steve Dosskey, Carl Erickson, Kelli Cunningham, Kyler Jasnoch, Max Wheeler, Michelle Carlson, Courtney Strayer
Curriculum Award
This award is presented to a member of the Launch Volunteer Staff that has made a significant contribution to the curriculum development of the organization, whether that be through Summer Leadership Workshop and/or Year-Round Services.
PAST RECIPIENTS: Zoe Peterson, Garrett Zaporowski, Becca Mann, Casey Seline, Jessalyn Holdcraft, Vivian Kaldahl
Communications Award
This award is presented to a member of the Launch Volunteer Staff that has made a significant contribution to the communications of the organization.
PAST RECIPIENTS: Garrett Zaporowski, Jayden John, TJ Nuckolls, Becca Man, Jada Sems and Tayler Hand
Supporter Award
This award is presented to a member of the Launch Volunteer Staff who can always lift you up when things aren't going great and keeps you from falling down. This person is someone who is able to make you feel comfortable and safe so you can just sit back and relax as they take the weight off your feet. If you need a helping hand, they will always go above and beyond and offer an arm, or even all four legs. No matter what style they are, they will always have your back. Above all, the recipient of this award will ensure you have a place at the table.
PAST RECIPIENTS: Violet Hudson, Tyler White-Welchen, Emma McCormick, Pat Hazell, Steve Dosskey, Michelle Carlson, Meradith Ganow, Erin Burnette, Lincoln Arneal, Chad Kilpatrick, Charlie Stephan, Kelli Cunningham, Max Wheeler, Andrea Johnson, Allysa Diehl, Ashley Ulven Sevick, Olivia Fullerton Heidinger, Carrie Bahde Hjelle, Amy Batten, Rachel Beck, Brandi Roeber Schmidt, Carmen Barnes, Liz Noble Horton, Julie Bogenreif Lopez, Randy Hawthorne, Jenn Bernard Walker, Ben Spence, Nicole Davis Carlson, Joe Slattery
Beacon of Light
The Beacon of Light Award (formerly The Lux) is likened to a lifetime achievement award. It is our highest honor and is presented annually to a member of the Launch Volunteer Staff who has made innovative and outstanding contributions to youth leadership by exemplifying Launch’s organizational core values, and who has served within the organization for 5+ years. The recipient should be someone who has made contributions through serving Relentlessly (building a substantial body of contributions through long-term involvement), working Together (modeling collaboration and servant leadership), acting Real (demonstrating character and a commitment to student leadership development), leading Contagiously (exemplifying passion and empowering leadership in others), and being Innovative (finding ways to make a significant impact on the organization in new and unique ways).
PAST RECIPIENTS:
1977 – Ron Joekel
1978 – Rick Alloway
1979 – Bob Thomas
1980 – Leroy Hughes
1981 – Marne Miller
1982 – Mark Schulze
1983 – Frank Kros
1984 – Bob Knuth
1985 – Charlotte Sylvia
1986 – Mary Conyers Murray
1987 – Jeff Conway
1988 – Barb Brim Applegate
1989 – Rick Zaporowski
1990 – Leisa Larson
1991 – Shannon Parker
1992 – John Rood
1993 – Scott Osborn
1994 – Mitch Parker
1995 – Eric Westra
1996 – Bryan Seyfarth
1997 – Doug Gibbins
1998 – Barry Bedlan
1999 – Susan Townsend
2000 – Benjamin Spence
2001 – Ian Barnes
2002 – Randy Hawthorne
2003 – Jenni Luettel Schweer
2004 – Maher Jafari
2005 – Michelle Sullivan
2006 – Mike Greene-Walsh
2007 – Julie Bogenreif Lopez
2008 – Jay Wilkinson
2009 – Thad Standley
2010 – Amy Batten
2011 – Brandi Roeber Schmidt
2012 – Lincoln Arneal
2013 – Charlie Stephan
2014 – Diane Johansen
2015 – Erin Bader
2016 – Keith Wysocki
2017 – Chad Kilpatrick
2018 – Timmy Tamisiea
2019 – Andrea Johnson
2020 – Michelle Carlson
2021 – Christopher McCroy
2022 – Kelli Cunnigham
2023 – Ali Maloy
2024 – Kalissa Klein
Charlotte Sylvia Award
This award was created in 1998 to honor Charlotte Sylvia, a beacon of dedication and passion on Staff for many years. Recipients are selected by executive officers along with previous Lux and Sylvia Award winners. It is given out at significant gatherings of active and alumni Staff to Staffers who have made significant contributions to the development of the spirit and culture of the Volunteer Staff and Workshop.
PAST RECIPIENTS:
1998: Charlotte Sylvia, Mary Keane Chalupsky, Lance Fuller, Amy Miller-Nelson, Dan Nuckolls, Dave Nuckolls, Beth Wernsman-Holland, Tracy Wernsman, Jay Wilkinson, Ellen Withrow
2002: Jody Britten, Angie Hoins Daughtery, Andy Fairbairn, Maher Jafari, Lisa Janssen, Christine Kellogg Henningsen, Sean Morrison, Wendy Schwaninger Doty
2010: Erin Bader, Carrie Bahde Hjelle, Ryan “Frei” Basye, Jenn Bernard Walker, Diane Johansen, Pat Hazell, Drew Holmes, Timmy Tamisiea, Keith Wysocki
2015: Rachel Beck, Sara Conant, Michelle Carlson, Allysa Diehl, Trevor Heidinger, Andrea Johnson, Chad Kilpatrick, Ali Maloy, Bess Hewitt, TJ Nuckolls, Mary Beth Rice, Matt Spitsen
Rick Alloway Builders Award
This award is presented occasionally to individuals who have contributed substantially over the years, provided transformative leadership to the Volunteer Staff and benefited youth leadership development. It is a joint award between the Launch Board and the Launch Foundation Board of Directors. The award is named in honor of Rick Alloway, who spent many years building up the NASC and the Volunteer Staff—first as a high school volunteer, then as Workshop Director and eventually as NASC executive secretary.
PAST RECIPIENTS:
1989 - Rick Alloway
1989 - Leroy Hughes
1995 - Mark Schulze
2000 - Charlotte Sylvia
2000 - Eric Westra
2004 - Thad Standley
2011 - Lilly Coniglio
2015 - Jay Wilkinson
2015 - Randy Hawthorne
2021 - Allysa Diehl