The Illinois Music Education Association is currently seeking nominations for the following awards:

  • Outstanding Student Teacher Award

  • Early Service Educator Award

  • Mary Hoffman Award of Excellence

  • Distinguished Service Award

  • Outstanding Administrator Award

  • Honorary Life Membership Award

  • Collegiate Chapter Recognition Award

Once all nominations and the necessary supporting material have been received, a decision will be made by the Awards Committee and the ILMEA Board of Directors; the selected honorees will be notified in writing of the award granted.

The ILMEA Awards Program supports our efforts to recognize outstanding achievements of peers, those preparing to be music educators, as well as those outside the music education profession. We strive to honor our most distinguished colleagues and increase the visibility of our most supportive benefactors.

Awards descriptions and nomination/application forms are available below, with the corresponding award.  Please take a moment to review each award carefully. If you would like to make a nomination, please submit the required application materials via the links by each award. If you have any questions, please contact:

Stacy Williams-Jackson
ILMEA State President Elect
[email protected]

Please be prepared to copy/paste shareable links (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.) into the form and ensure that they are set to “Anyone with the link can view.”

Nominations received without the required supporting information may not be considered. Nominations must be submitted by current ILMEA members.

DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS: October 15 annually


OUTSTANDING STUDENT TEACHER AWARD

This award recognizes outstanding student teachers. The Nominee:

1. Must be an ILMEA collegiate or active member in good standing.
2. Must have completed student teaching experience in the Fall of 2023 or Spring of 2024.
3. Must have completed part of their student teaching experience at a school in Illinois.
4. Must have demonstrated commitment to learning in their placement and excellence as a pre-service educator.

Outstanding Student Teacher Award Application


EARLY SERVICE EDUCATOR AWARD

This award recognizes teaching excellence of Illinois Music Educators in the early stage of their career. The Nominee:

1. Must be an ILMEA member in good standing.
2. Must have taught for fewer than 5 years with at least one of those years in Illinois.
3. Must be a current music educator from any level in a school, college and/or university in Illinois.
4. Must have demonstrated teaching excellence and leadership as an early service educator.

Early Service Educator Award Application


Mary Hoffman Award of Excellence

This award recognizes teaching excellence of Illinois Music Educators. The Nominee:

1. Must be an ILMEA member in good standing.
2. Must have taught for at least 10 years.
3. Must be a current music educator from any level in a school, college and/or university in Illinois.
4. Must have demonstrated continued teaching excellence and leadership.

Mary Hoffman Award of Excellence Application


Distinguished service award

Awarded to a person who has clearly given very special service to ILMEA or to the goals and purposes of ILMEA. The recipient is clearly recognizable Statewide, and the service for which the Award is given, represents a long-range commitment that, in every way, can be considered extraordinary and distinguished.

Distinguished Service Award Application


OUTSTANDING ADMINISTRATOR AWARD

Awarded annually to a school administrator who supports his or her music program in a manner only possible as an administrator. The Award will be presented to a superintendent, principal or other top administrator, and recognizes excellence in encouragement and promotion of music education within Illinois.

Outstanding Administrator Award


HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP AWARD

Awarded to individuals outside the field of professional music education in recognition of distinguished service to music education. This Award may be conferred only by a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors.

Honorary Life Membership Award Application


COLLEGIATE CHAPTER RECOGNITION AWARD

This award is given to Illinois Collegiate Music Education Association Chapters to recognize outstanding achievement, projects and unique service to the campus and community in which the Chapter is located. Special consideration will be given to those chapters who have worked to support ILMEA student programs such as District Auditions, Festivals or Large Group festivals or have executed projects which are, in some way, designed to advance the field of music education. This is not necessarily given on an annual basis and more than one award may be considered in the same year. Nominations may be made by any ILMEA member or Chapter Sponsor.

Collegiate Chapter Recognition Award Application