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Connie Link Outstanding Mentorship Award

The Connie Link Outstanding Mentorship Award is named in memory of long-standing member and past president Connie Link The award is given to a teacher currently teaching (or retired) in Illinois who has taught speech, theatre, and/or English for a significant length of time (10 years or more). The qualifications for this award include distinguished service to the association and outstanding achievement in the profession, especially in mentorship of teachers and/or speech/theatre coaches and directors. This award recognizes outstanding mentorship toward new and current ICTA members, assistance in recruitment of new members to the organization and outreach to past ICTA members who are no longer active in the organization. The award recipient must have been an active member of ICTA for at least 5 years.

Past Winners of the Connie Link Outstanding Mentorship Award

2013 Doug Jennings, Illinois State University

2014 Jan Heiteen, Downer’s Grove South High School

2015 Marvin Kleinau, Southern Illinois University, Marion Kleinau, Southern Illinois University

2016 Kenny Knox, Spoon River Valley High School

2017 Richard Hunsacker, McKendree University

2018 Tina Winings, Charleston High School 

2019 Elighie Wilson, Prairie State College

2020 No Award Given

2021 No Award Given

2022 Janine Stroemer, Homewood-Flossmoor High School

2023 Judy Santacaterina, Northern Illinois University

Illinois Communication and Theatre Association

C/O Edward Schwarz

Prairie State College

202 S. Halsted St.

Chicago Heights, IL 60411

708-709-3688


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