Teacher Awards

NMTA Teacher of the Year Award

In an effort to support outstanding teaching in music, the Nebraska Music Teachers Association presents the NMTA Teacher of the Year Award which is presented at the annual state conference. Please consider nominating one of our outstanding teachers for the NMTA Teacher of the Year Award.  Nominations need only contain a few sentences describing the qualifications of the nominee. Nominees do not submit portfolios.  Please send nominations via email to: Brenda Wristen no later than January 15, 2024.

Requirements:
1. Member in good standing of NMTA/MTNA for the past five consecutive years
2. Demonstrated excellence in teaching as evidenced through festivals, competitions, student recitals, and other musical activities.
3. The award recipient must not have received the award within any of the previous ten years
4. Nominee must have held at least one local or state-wide appointed or elected office
5. No one currently serving on the NMTA Executive Committee (elected officers) is eligible for this award. 

The NMTA Executive Committee will select the recipient. The individual receiving the award must attend the state conference in the year in which the award is given and must be present at the awards ceremony. The honor includes a plaque and cash award. An article about the recipient will be published in the subsequent NMTA newsletter.

NMTA Service Award

In an effort to recognize outstanding service to the organization, the Nebraska Music Teachers Association presents the NMTA Service Award which is presented at the annual state conference. Please consider nominating an NMTA member who should be recognized for work at the local, state or national Level. Please send your letter via email describing the nominee’s service to our organization to: Brenda Wristen. Deadline to submit applications will be January 15, 2025

Requirements:
1. Member in good standing of NMTA/MTNA for the past five consecutive years
2. Demonstrated outstanding service to NMTA/MTNA on either the local, state or national level
3. The award recipient must not have received the award in any of the previous ten years
4. No one currently serving on the NMTA Executive Committee is eligible for this award

The NMTA Executive Committee will select the recipient. The individual receiving the award must attend the state conference in the year in which the award is given and must be present at the awards ceremony. The honor includes a plaque and cash award. The recipient will be honored in the subsequent NMTA newsletter.

NMTA Award of Recognition

In an effort to recognize individuals and businesses that have made significant contributions to Nebraska Music Teachers Association and had a strong impact on music teaching in Nebraska, the organization periodically presents the NMTA Award of Recognition at the annual state conference.

Award Recipients

1990Teacher of the YearMarySue Harris
1991Teacher of the YearCarol Work
1992Teacher of the YearBetty E. Gross
1993Teacher of the YearMargot Peterson
1994Service AwardLela L. Pierce
Margaret R. Seymour
1995Teacher of the YearPauline L. Bell
1996Service AwardJoan Reist
1998Service AwardNancy Whitman
Charlotte Heermann
1999Teacher of the YearMarylouise Barta
 Service AwardMarySue Harris
2000Teacher of the YearAdelaide Spurgin
 Service AwardRebecca Kugler
Diana Shaddick
 Award of RecognitionKeith Heckman
2001Teacher of the YearJerelen Bartone
 Service AwardJoyce Miller
 Award of RecognitionJames R. Saker
2002Teacher of the YearAudun Ravnan
 Service AwardRuth Moore
Cynthia Murphy
2003Teacher of the YearMorris Collier
Aleta Collier
 Service AwardLorene Turnbull
2004Teacher of the YearJames Johnson
 Service AwardBarbara Rader
2005Teacher of the YearPaul Parker
 Service AwardLisa Albee
2006Teacher of the YearPaul Barnes
 Service AwardLinda Rogers
2007Teacher of the YearRegina Carnazzo
 Service AwardWanda Mandigo
2008Teacher of the YearThomas Ediger
 Service AwardThomas Ediger
 Award of RecognitionJames Jameson
Barbara McCormack
2009Teacher of the YearDiane Hill
 Service AwardJean Harris
2010Teacher of the YearKen Bales
 Service AwardJonathan Sokasits
2011Teacher of the YearAnne Nagosky
2012Service AwardJoan Reist
2013Teacher of the YearGail Dunning
2014Service AwardMaria Rotella Jacobsen
2015Teacher of the YearCharlotte Heermann
2016Service AwardLisa Greve-Batten
2017Teacher of the YearNancy Jo Galusha
2018Service AwardMarcia Wiebers
2019Teacher of the YearAnne Madison
2021Service AwardJo Riecker-Karl
2022Teacher of the YearKristín Jónína Taylor
2023Service AwardJan Zimmerman

MTNA Fellows

The Music Teachers National Association Foundation Fellow program honors deserving individuals while supporting the efforts of the MTNA Foundation Fund through a donation to the Foundation Fund in an individual’s name.

Each year new MTNA Fellows are recognized at the MTNA National Conference Gala. Also, new Fellows are prominently recognized on the Foundation Fund website and their names will appear on a plaque located at the MTNA National Headquarters.

These NMTA members have been nationally recognized as MTNA Fellows in the listed year:

2001Joan Reist
2003Audun Ravnan
2005James D. Johnson
2006Charlotte Heermann
2007Nancy Whitman
2008Wanda Mandigo
Thomas Ediger
2009Valerie Cisler
Diane Hill
Patricia Will
2010MarySue Harris
Ken Bales
2011Paul Parker
Jonathan Sokasits
Marcia Wiebers
2012Lisa Albee
Roger Foltz
2013Joyce Miller
Barbara Rader
2014Arthur Bates
Jo Riecker-Karl
2015Lois Burger
2016Barbara Jones
Linda Rogers
2017Keith Heckman
2018Maria Rotella Jacobsen
2019Jerri Niver
2020Paulette Smith
2021Aleta Collier
2022Paul Barnes