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ICTA members, assistance in recruitment of new members to the organization and outreach to past ICTA members who are no longer active in the organization.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