2006 Artistic Achievement
Leotha Stanley

Leotha Stanley has touched thousands of young people as an educator and advocate for arts and literacy. He has been active as an “artist in residence” for Madison Metropolitan School District (as well as other schools across the Midwest) for more than a decade and has also blended reading, role modeling, motivation, performance and African American music into literacy education programs. He has written two songbooks for children, is Music Director for the Mt. Zion Baptist Church and is highly involved in community service initiatives, particularly those highlighting youth development.

2006 Philanthropic Achievement
Marian Bolz

Marian Bolz has long been recognized as one of the states strongest advocates for the arts and youth arts education. She served as President of WYSO’s Board of Directors in the late 1970s and is responsible for starting the WYSO Foundation, significantly enhancing the organization’s long-term health, and has made substantial financial, as well as time and service contributions, to WYSO over its 40-year history. She has also done so with several other arts organizations including the Madison Symphony, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters.

2005 Individual Achievement
Richard and Anne DiPrima

Richard DiPrima started the Young Shakespeare Players (YSP) in Madison, Wisconsin 25 years ago and today both Richard and Anne direct the organization. YSP is a year round children's theatre program in which children perform full-length Shakespeare plays. The actors are 7 to 18 years of age, there are no auditions and every child who wishes to participate is cast in one or more speaking roles.

2005 Organizational/Philanthropic Award
The William T. Graham Youth Art Award Program

William T. Graham leads the William T. Graham Youth Art Awards Program. The program was founded in 1988 as the W.T. Rogers Art Award program and then renamed in 1991. Mr. Graham developed the program to support visual arts students throughout the state of Wisconsin. The program is run in collaboration with the State of Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin Art Education Association and recognizes not only the student artist, but also the student's teacher and school. Each year, 42 students are recognized with a William T. Graham Award.

2004 Individual Achievement
Carrel Prey

In 1971, Carrel Pray founded the Madison Boychoir after parents and boys expressed interest upon hearing a concert by a visiting choir. She conducted and guided the Madison Boychoir for 16 seasons of its 32-year history, during which over 1000 boys participated in and benefited from the program. While most participants have not pursued careers in music, they were greatly affected by the program started by Ms. Pray. Although she stopped conducting eleven years ago, she stays actively involved as an audience member, a member of the Board, an advisor to the staff and a resource to choir members. She is now enjoying a second career as a prolific and successful watercolorist. This past summer, the Madison Boychoir and Madison Children's Choir merged to create the Madison Youth Choirs.

2004 Individual Achievement
Teddy Studt

Over 20 years ago, Teddy Studt founded the Monona Park Players, which incorporated in 1986 as PlayTime Productions. Since then, the company has presented over 25 productions throughout Dane County and has featured a cast composed exclusively of children. Providing opportunities for children to participate in all aspects of a theatrical production and creating an affordable theatre experience for families with young children are the two primary objectives of the program. Over an 8-week rehearsal period, the 25-30 performers ages 8-16 years old develop acting, singing, dancing and backstage abilities. Teddy Studt has written the original scripts and the music for all of the PTP plays, which are updated versions of classic children’s tales. Upon retirement, Ms. Studt trained and mentored current staff to take the helm of PTP and carry forward the tradition of this wonderful theatrical experience continues today.

2003 Individual Achievement
Ginny Moore Kruse

Recently retired director of the Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC), a unique children's literature library of UW-Madison's School of Education. As CCBC director between 1976 and 2002, Ginny Moore Kruse developed a variety of information and outreach services for university students and faculty, and for teachers and librarians throughout Wisconsin. Utilizing the internet, satellite TV, distance education technology, various print and broadcast media, conferences, and workshops, Ginny's leadership provided countless educators, writers and artists across the nation with opportunities to examine complex book valuation issues. Her expertise ranges from the evaluation of books about the arts, multicultural literature, poetry, and translated books to issues concerning intellectual freedom in libraries and schools.

2003 Organizational Achievement
Opera for the Young

Opera for the Young brings live, professional opera to elementary school audiences throughout the Midwestern US. Annually, OFY presents more than 200 in-school performances, reaching 86,000 children every year. Four professional singers and a pianist fully stage each production, which is adapted for children and sung in English. At each performance, students appear on-stage in chorus and cameo role, performing for their peers right alongside the OFY professional artists. OFY's mission is to engage and educate children about opera with professional affordable school-based performances; to involve students in performance and production; to provide professional opportunities for emerging artists; and to foster the creation of new operatic work expressly written for young audiences.

2002 Individual Achievement
Diane Robinson

An educator for over 20 years at Preschool of the Arts, Diane makes a difference in the lives of children. She uses music, drama and responsive teaching to build an appreciation for the artistic aspects of life. Diane exemplifies individual achievement in the arts. Her enjoyment of all things musical and her commitment to children have combined to create a powerful energy that fosters artistic appreciation and growth in children from an early age through adulthood.

2002 Organizational Achievement
Pleasant Company

Pleasant Company's Fund for Children has brought world-class programs and performances to thousands of children throughout Dane County through over 3.4 million in contributions (as of December 2001). Its goal is to create a community wherein all children learn to regard art and the environment as integral parts of everyday life. Thanks to the Funds' philanthropy, the children of Dane County will broad their artistic horizons and their appreciation.

2001 Individual Achievement
Thomas Buchhauser

A retired school orchestra teacher after 36 years in the Madison Metropolitan School District, Thomas Buchhauser has left an indelible mark on the lives of many student musicians in Dane County. He served for 20 years on the Wisconsin Honors Music Project and is currently in his 21st season as a conductor for the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras.

2001 Organizational Achievement
American Family Insurance

A strong supporter of all the arts, American Family Insurance has consistently supported Youth Arts Programs in Dane County year after year. Their outstanding annual giving reflects an ongoing commitment to the artistic endeavors of Wisconsin's youth.