President's Award for Excellence

The President’s Award for Excellence recognizes Cranbrook affiliates who demonstrate outstanding service to the community. Established in 1990 by President Emeritus, Dr. Lillian Bauder, the award is presented to faculty, staff and volunteers, including Governors and Trustees, who epitomize Cranbrook's dedication to excellence and community collaboration. 

President’s Award for Excellence recipients are nominated by their Cranbrook peers for review and selection by Cranbrook’s President. Recipients are recognized in perpetuity with their initials on the legs of benches located around campus. The original designs of the bench legs are the work of Gary Griffin, a former Cranbrook Academy of Art Metalsmithing Artist-in-Residence.

President’s Award for Excellence Recipients:

2023-2024
Frank Edwards
Eric Franchy
Heather Groeger
Kelli Jackson

2022-2023
Kevin Adkisson
Alan Beeman
Brenda Gatlin
Julie Montgomery

2021-2022
Ric DeVore
James Kurleto
Roger Rotarius
Carla Young

2020-2021
Rita-Ann Lindstrom 
Cindy Miller
Michael Stachowiak
Carolyn Stevens

2019-2020
Teresa Coleman
Mary Beth Hearnes
Theresa Robinson
Elizabeth Larson-Willoughby

2018-2019
Randy Forester
Julie Fracker
Steve Graf
Joe Roosen

2017-2018
Marilyn Finkel
Pam Ruthven
Anne Snyder
Darryl Taylor

2016-2017
Aaron Blendowski
Louis Borsheim
Ruth Manz
Peter Robinson

2015-2016
Martha Mast
Vanessa Lucero Mazei
Allison Mitchell
Sandra Smith & Robert Wilson

2014-2015
Maggie Allesee
Stephen Pagnani
Jennifer Rivard
Deborah Rutzen
Arlyce Seibert

2013-2014
Dr. Linda Flaga
Christopher Hopp
Judy Lindstrom
Rhonda Reed

2012-2013
Adele & Michael Acheson
James F. Nagy
Michael J. Narlock
David Watson

2011-2012
Sarah Carrington
Roberta Frey Gilboe
Bill Hancock
Jeanette Sui

2010-2011
Jean-Claude Azar
Cec Vettraino Strine
Debra Watson
John Zawiskie

2009-2010
Beth Beadle
Jeanne & Ralph Graham
Drew Miller
Frank Norton

2008-2009
Kathleen Ball & Virginia Miller
Kirk Brain
Mike Reynolds
Nancy Swords

2007-2008
Dorothy Cotton
Marcy De Craene
Mike Paradise
Chevy Pratt

2006-2007
Tony Hepburn
Sue Sweeney
Randy Tufts
Wes Williams

2005-2006
Edie Coyle
Debbie Kridler
Mary Kuthy
Greg Miller

2004-2005
Andy Heitsch
Keith Kleckner
Tom & Cindy Mecsey
Vern and Evie Wheat

2003-2004
Susan Cooper
Tom De Craene
Gene Hunt
Del Walden

2002-2003
Pat Hartmann
Craig Hoernschemeyer
Sue Lucre
Andy Weidenbach

2001-2002
Tom Burgess
Violet Capuchina
Marsha Miro
Ann Nesbitt

2000-2001
Fran Dagbovie
Roberta Stewart
Barb Vettel
John Winter

1999-2000
David Antoff
Jeff Bass
Gary Griffin
Mary Davey

1998-1999
Norma Evans
Bette Gay
Roger Gay
Richard Heavenrich

1997-1998
Dan Appleman
Paulynn Auger & Norma Borsheim
Patti Cari
David D.J. Rau

1996-1997
Ray Carson
Judy Dyki
Claudia Schuette
Patty Shea

1995-1996
Shelley Gerson
Sarkis Halajian
Ira Jaffe
Mattie Jones

1994-1995
Don Carlson
Jimmy Keck
Honnie McClear
Katherine McCoy

1993-1994
Mark Coir
Josephine Harreld Love
Jeffrey Egan Welch
Gregory M. Wittkopp

1992-1993
Elizabeth (Betsy) Felix
Marino Melaragni
Robert Saarinen Swanson
John B. Twedt

1991-1992
Virginia Fox
Dan Hoffman
Warren Parden
Harold & Jean Smart

1990-1991
Rita Mason
Corajoyce Rauss
Frederic Roth
Kathleen Roth

1989-1990
Thomas Grant
Janet Johnson
Charles Shaw
Marcia Wiltshire