Past AMI Award Winners

George Kastler Interpretive Scholarships Honoring Aubree Schmid – Undergraduate Category
• 1992 – not given
• 1993 – not given
• 1994 – Judith A. Richey, University of Missouri, Columbia (Cuivre River SP, DNR)
• 1995 – Naomi D. Millsaps, NW Missouri State University (Lake of the Ozarks SP, DNR)
• 1996 – Sara Nenninger, Westminster College (Jefferson Landing SHS, DNR)
• 1997 – Terri L. Harwood, NW Missouri State University (Wallace SP, DNR)
• 1998 – Shanna K. Beck, University of Missouri, Columbia (Johnson’s Shut-Ins SP, DNR)
• 1999 – Stacia M. Hentges, Truman State University (Montauk SP, DNR)
• 2000 – not given
• 2001 – Jean N. Freeman, Truman State University (Thousand Hills SP, DNR)
• 2002 – Christina King, Missouri Southern State University (Crowder SP, DNR)
• 2003 – Jamie Hubert, University of Missouri, Columbia (Sam A. Baker SP, DNR)
• 2004 – Amber L. Spohn, University of Missouri, Columbia (Onondaga Cave SP, DNR)
• 2005 – Bethany Meyer, University of Missouri, Columbia (Mark Twain SP, DNR)
• 2006 – Heather M. Priest, University of Missouri, Columbia (Sam A. Baker SP, DNR) & Kimberli R.
Watson, Central Missouri State University (Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, MDC)
• 2007 – Heather M. Priest, University of Missouri, Columbia (Sam A. Baker SP, DNR)
• 2008 – Matthew Schrum, Mineral Area College (St. Francois SP) & Elizabeth Drake, Missouri Southern
State University (Prairie SP, DNR)
• 2009 – Kathy Wildhaber, Lincoln University (Runge Nature Center, MDC) & Amy J. DeClue, Jefferson
College (Washington & St. Francois SP, DNR)
• 2010 – Amanda Adams, SE Missouri State University & Stephanie Shaner, Mineral Area College (St.
Francois SP, DNR)
• 2011 – Christopher Cain, NW Missouri State University (Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery
Center, MDC)
• 2012 – Sarah Huber, University of Missouri, Columbia (Johnsons Shut-Ins SP, DNR)
• 2013 – Kelly Koch, University of Missouri, Columbia (Roaring River SP, DNR) & Cody Cantwell,
Missouri State University (Roaring River SP, DNR)
• 2014 – Laura Hagen, University of Missouri, Columbia & Victoria Carson, Missouri State University
• 2015 – Ashleigh Long, Missouri Southern State University & Aubree Schmid, Missouri State University
(Stockton SP, DNR)
• 2016 – not awarded
• 2017 – Bethany Bolander, Missouri Western State University, Gabriel Danbeck, Lindenwood University
& Collin Gilmore, Missouri State University (Roaring River SP, DNR)
• 2018 – Jacob Lutes, Missouri Western State University (NW Regional Office, MDC) & Melissa Nyga, SE
Missouri State University (Powder Valley Nature Center, MDC)
• 2019 – Marissa Ginger, University of Central Missouri (Rockwoods Reservation, MDC) & Anna
Skalicky, Macalester College, Minnesota (Roaring River SP, DNR)
• 2020 – Shayleen Richert, Arkansas Tech University (Roaring River SP, DNR) & Bailee Romaker,
Missouri Western State University
• 2021 – Mariah Arrocha, University of Central Missouri (Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center,
MDC)
• 2022 – Mariah Arrocha, University of Central Missouri (KC Area Office, Missouri State Parks, DNR) &
Lauren Baker, University of Missouri St. Louis (Cuivre River SP, DNR)
• 2023 – Lauren Akin, Ozark Technical Community College (Roaring River SP, DNR), Abby Harper,
University of Missouri, Columbia (Rockbridge Memorial SP, DNR), & Alison Wagner, College of the
Ozarks
George Kastler Interpretive Scholarships – Graduate Category
• 1992 – not given
• 1993 – not given
• 1994 – not given
• 1995 – not given
• 1996 – Thara Baker-Alley, University of Missouri, Columbia (Jefferson Landing SHS, DNR)
• 1997 – Tiffani Addington, SE Missouri State University (Trail of Tears SP, DNR)
• 1998 – Nathan Arnett, University of Missouri, Columbia (Columbia Parks & Recreation)
• 1999 – not awarded
• 2000 – James E. Barry, Park University (MDC)
• 2001 – not given
• 2002 – Lisa LaCombe, Central Missouri State University (Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center,
MDC)
• 2003 – Jeremy Soucy, University of Missouri, Columbia (Montauk SP, DNR)
• 2004 – Carla Fairbanks, Pittsburg State University
• 2005 – A. Jennifer Stegmann, University of Missouri, Columbia
• 2006 – Kendra Swee, Missouri State University (Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center, MDC)
• 2007 – Kendra Swee, Missouri State University (Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center)
• 2008 – Bryan Danford, University of Missouri, Columbia
• 2009 – not given
• 2010 – not given
• 2011 – not given
• 2012 – Bethany Henry, University of Arkansas
• 2013 – Meagan Duffee, Pittsburg State University (Prairie SP, DNR)
• 2014 – Not given
• 2015 – Yun Ho, University of Missouri, Columbia (Johnson’s Shut-Ins SP, DNR)
• 2016 – not given
• 2017 – Leif Nordstrom, University of Missouri, Columbia
• 2018 – Emily Deeba, St. Louis University & Cole Hoover, University of Central Missouri
• 2019 – not awarded
• 2020 – Teddy Pashia, University of Central Missouri (Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center, MDC)
• 2021 – not given
• 2022 – not given
• 2023 – not given
Outstanding Interpretive Effort
• 2011 – not awarded
• 2012 – Angela Pierce, Day on the River (Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center, MDC)
• 2013 – Steve Bost, Cheyne Matzenbacher & AJ Hendershott for the Ozark Chinquapin Foundation
• 2014 – Jamie Hubert, Michelle Soenksen, & Kendra Swee, for SHINE Training (Missouri State Parks,
DNR)
• 2015 – not awarded
• 2016 – not awarded
• 2017 – Dayna McDaniel, Fran Snow, and Jo Roff for Nature Nuts (Anita Gorman Discovery Center,
MDC)
• 2018 – Bonebrake Center of Nature and History, for Bonebrake Discovery Day Camp
• 2019 – not awarded
• 2020 – Cyndi Cogbill, for nature and art classes (Pawpaw Patch Productions)
• 2021 – not awarded
• 2022 – Alison Bleich, Ashlee Huerta & Gala Keller, Virtual Missouri State Symbols Painting Series
(Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center, MDC)
• 2023 – not awarded
Outstanding Interpretive Media
• 2011 – not awarded
• 2012 – not awarded
• 2013 – Jamie Hubert, Be a Guardian, AMI newsletter article (Cuivre River SP, DNR)
• 2014 – Amanda Coonce, The Power of a Sunrise, AMI newsletter article (Watkins Mill SHS, DNR)
• 2015 – Candace Davis, Discover Nature, podcasts and radio spots (MDC)
• 2016 – Steven Juhlin, I’d Like to Swap My Program for an Experience, AMI newsletter article (St. Louis
Regional Office, MDC)
• 2017 – not awarded
• 2018 – Jamin Bray, Take a Hike, CD
• 2019 – David Spear, Susie Wachowski & Lisa May, Oh Deer!, digital interactive book (Outreach and
Education, MDC)
• 2020 – Chris Edmondson, Identifying Animal Tracks, Virtual Hike (Knob Noster SP, DNR)
• 2021 – not awarded
• 2022 – not awarded
• 2023 – Jesze Doleh, In Search of a Home, Children’s Book (Thousand Hills SP, DNR)
Outstanding Interpretive Volunteer
• 1996 – not awarded
• 1997 – Amy Smolinski (Rock Bridge Memorial SP, DNR)
• 1998 – not awarded
• 1999 – not awarded
• 2000 – not awarded
• 2001 – not awarded
• 2002 – not awarded
• 2003 – Judee Sachleben (Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center, MDC)
• 2004 – Kathy Magruder Miller (Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center, MDC)
• 2005 – Kathy Thiele (Busch Conservation Area, MDC) & Jim Hawes (Burr Oak Woods Conservation
Nature Center, MDC)
• 2006 – Rick Edwards (Prairie SP, DNR)
• 2007 – Scott Kelly (Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center, MDC)
• 2008 – Michael Devlin (Mastodon SHS, DNR)
• 2009 – Shelly Cox (NW Regional Office, MDC)
• 2010 – Elizabeth Cosbey (Powder Valley Nature Center, MDC)
• 2011 – Paul Oldham (Watkins Woolen Mill SHS & Babler SP, DNR)
• 2012 – Joe Polka (Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, MDC)
• 2013 – Christine Kline (Weston Bend SP, DNR)
• 2014 – Russell Feurst (Sam A. Baker SP, DNR)
• 2015 – Phyllis Boyd, Jennifer Chapin, Ruth Farrand-Cox, Dianna Lentz, Judy Oetting, & Kathey
Torres, The Wild Ones (Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, MDC)
• 2016 – Michael Fiehler (Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center, MDC)
• 2017 – Ed Rotkvic (Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center, MDC)
• 2018 – Dennis Burd (Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery, MDC)
• 2019 – Barney Combs (Historic Daniel Boone Home)
• 2020 – not awarded
• 2021 – not awarded
• 2022 – Angie Jungbluth (Echo Bluff SP & Current River SP, DNR) & Gala Keller (Shepherd of the Hills
Conservation Center, MDC)
• 2023 – Dockery Family (Thousand Hills SP, DNR) & Marty Falkenstien (Roaring River SP, DNR)
Outstanding New Interpreter
• 1996 – not awarded
• 1997 – Dusty Reid (Roaring River SP, DNR)
• 1998 – Jim Dickerson (Long View Lake, Corps of Engineers)
• 1999 – Sam Faith (Knob Noster SP, DNR)
• 2000 – not awarded
• 2001 – Christopher Crabtree (Prairie SP, DNR)
• 2002 – Amy J. Dozier (Roaring River SP, DNR)
• 2003 – Christy Dablemont (Pomme de Terre SP, DNR)
• 2004 – Maureen “Reenie” Sailer (Johnson’s Shut-Ins SP, DNR)
• 2005 – L. A. Lowrance (Bennett Spring SP, DNR) & KyLee Brockman (Busch Conservation Area,
MDC)
• 2006 – Chad Doolen (Roaring River SP, DNR)
• 2007 – Christy Hubinsky (Table Rock SP, DNR)
• 2008 – Morgan Wyatt (Springfield Conservation Nature Center, MDC)
• 2009 – Lisa Stork (Meramec SP) & Mary Jane Fieser (Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center,
MDC)
• 2010 – Pete Roland, Mary Tucker, & Lauren Opperman (Johnson’s Shut-Ins SP, DNR)
• 2011 – not awarded
• 2012 – Kathie Brennan (Trail of Tears SP, DNR)
• 2013 – not awarded
• 2014 – not awarded
• 2015 – Elizabeth Bradley (Johnson’s Shut-Ins SP, DNR)
• 2016 – Sherie Wymore (Sam A. Baker SP, DNR)
• 2017 – not awarded
• 2018 – Karen Seward (Mark Twain SP, DNR)
• 2019 – not awarded
• 2020 – Shelby Smith (Northwest Regional Office, MDC)
• 2021 – not awarded
• 2022 – Marissa Ginger (St. Louis Regional Office, MDC)
• 2023 – Jesze Doleh (Thousand Hills SP, DNR)
Outstanding Professional Interpreter
• 1996 – not awarded
• 1997 – Glenn D. Weaver (University of Missouri, Columbia)
• 1998 – George A. Kastler (Missouri State Parks, DNR)
• 1999 – not given
• 2000 – Janet E. Price (Johnson’s Shut-Ins SP, DNR)
• 2001 – Cyndi Cogbill (Prairie SP, DNR)
• 2002 – Jamin Bray (Montauk SP, DNR)
• 2003 – Grady Manus (Nathan Boone Homestead SHS, DNR)
• 2004 – Marian Goodding (Northern Hills District, Missouri State Parks, DNR)
• 2005 – Dana Hoisington (Bennett Spring SP, DNR)
• 2006 – Tara M. Flynn (Missouri Mines SHS, DNR)
• 2007 – Eugene Vale (Missouri State Parks, DNR) & Leah Eden (Shepherd of the Hills Conservation
Center, MDC)
• 2008 – Lisa LaCombe (Burr Oaks Nature Center, MDC)
• 2009 – Bob Fluchel (Anita Gorman Discovery Center, MDC)
• 2010 – Pat Whalen (Anita Gorman Discover Center, MDC)
• 2011 – not awarded
• 2012 – Phillip Schulze (Fort Osage National Historic Landmark)
• 2013 – John Cunning (Director, Resource Management & Interpretation Program, Missouri State Parks,
DNR)
• 2014 – John Miller (Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center, MDC)
• 2015 – Kathleen Savaiano (Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, MDC)
• 2016 – Steve Jacobsen (Anita Gorman Discovery Center, MDC)
• 2017 – Jeff Cantrell (Neosho Office, MDC)
• 2018 – not awarded
• 2019 – not awarded
• 2020 – Michelle Soenksen (Sam A Baker SP, DNR)
• 2021 – not awarded
• 2022 – Kelly Koch (Roaring River SP, DNR)
• 2023 – Jamie Hubert (Cuivre River SP, DNR)
Outstanding Service (established 2015)
• 2016 – Jamie Hubert, for leadership as AMI president during AMI/NAI transition (Cuivre River SP, DNR)
• 2019 – Steve Jacobsen, for holding multiple positions and guidance as the AMI president during the
AMI/NAI separation (Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center, MDC)
Interpretive Giant (established 2015)
• 2016 – Cyndi Cogbill (Pawpaw Patch Productions)
• 2017 – John Miller (Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center, MDC)
• 2018 – George Kastler (Missouri State Parks, DNR)
• 2019 – Janet Price (Moon Shadow Moments)
• 2022 – Dana Hoisington (Prairie SP, DNR)
• 2023 – Eugene Vale (Interpreter Emeritus)
Outstanding Concurrent Session
• 1997 – Molly Postlewait, Story Telling (Johnson County Parks & Recreation, KS)
• 1998 – Rhonda Anderson, Puppets & More Puppets (Maramec Spring Park, James Foundation)
• 1999 – Grady Manus, How to Develop a First-Person Character (Nathan Boone Homestead SHS, DNR)
• 2000 – Grady Manus, Tie-Hack (Nathan Boone Homestead SHS, DNR)
• 2001 – Shanna Beck & Kathy Thiele, Lewis/Clark Programs (August A. Busch Conservation Area,
MDC)
• 2002 – Ted Cable, Interpretive Challenges (Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS)
• 2003 – R. Craig Hensley, Bird Banding Demo & Using Birds in Programs (Burr Oak Woods Conservation
Nature Center, MDC)
• 2004 – Ken McCarty, MO’s Native Prairies & Grasslands (Missouri State Parks, DNR)
• 2005 – Ted T. Cable, What Interpreters Can Learn From The Business World (Kansas State University,
Manhattan, KS)
• 2006 – Catherine McGrane, Endangered Species (Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, MDC)
• 2007 – Diane Neal, Interpretation for Preschoolers (Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, MDC)
• 2008 – not awarded
• 2009 – Staff from Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, David Letterman Show, (Discovery
Center, & Planning Committee, MDC)
• 2010 – not awarded
• 2011 – Tiffani Martin & Janet Price, Duct Tape and Twine: Creating Eureka Moments (Washington SP
& Johnson’s Shut-Ins SP, DNR)
• 2012 – Michelle Soenksen, Memorable Time Fillers: Finding Fill-ins for those Dead Spaces (Sam A.
Baker SP, DNR)
• 2013 – Janet Price, Building Blocks: Presentation Tips for Interpreters (Johnson’s Shut-Ins SP, DNR)
• 2014 – Dakota Price & Andy Senters, Tune in your Audience with Music (Dr. Emdmund A. Babler SP &
Mastodon SP, DNR)
• 2015 – Rob Hunt, Preparing the Fertile Soil (Valley Water Mill Park)
• 2016 – Michelle Randecker, Crafting Legacies Early by Targeting Parents and Toddlers (Cape
Girardeau Conservation Nature Center, MDC)
• 2017 – Kelly Koch, Color Your Interpretive Path (Roaring River SP, DNR)
• 2018 – Phillip Brinkley, What’s The Story? Unleashing Creativity Using Ordinary Objects (Burr Oak
Woods Conservation Nature Center, MDC)
• 2019 – Jo Schaper, Coming to Know This Place (Geo Communications Services)
• 2020 – not awarded (Covid)
• 2021 – not awarded (Covid)
• 2022 – Eugene Vale & Jo Schaper, Solar Eclipses–Two for the price of One (GEO Communication
Services & Interpreter Emeritus)
• 2023 – Chris Edmondson, Lunchbox Investigation (Knob Noster SP, DNR)
Lou Clairmont Interpretation Grant (established in 2021)
• 2021 – Kendra Swee (Maramec Spring Park, The James Foundation)
• 2022 – Janet Price (Moon Shadow Moments)
• 2023 – Janet Price (Moon Shadow Moments)
Special Awards
• 2004 – Lifetime Memberships: Glenn D. Weaver (University of Missouri, Columbia) & Ted T.
Cable (Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS)
• 2005 – Special recognition of longtime service to AMI and NAI: Cyndi Cogbill (Prairie SP, DNR)
• 2008 – All scholarships named in honor of: George Kastler (Missouri State Parks, DNR)
• 2016 – Undergraduate scholarships named in honor of Aubree Schmid (Stockton SP, DNR)
• 2016 – Special Service Award to Jim Winn, Ryan Boatwright, & Rick Wright for their assistance with
the AMI 501 (c)3
AWARDS COMBINED AND REVISED IN 2011
Best Interpretive Effort – Individual
• 1997 – not awarded
• 1998 – Fred Rust (U.S. Amy Engineer Museum, Fort Leonard Wood)
• 1999 – not awarded
• 2000 – Sheri Medlock (Burr Oaks Woods Conservation Nature Center, MDC)
• 2001 – Jan & George Syrigos (Runge Conservation Nature Center, MDC)
• 2002 – Tiffani Addington (Onondaga Cave SP, DNR)
• 2003 – Rita M. Martin (HaHa Tonka SP, DNR)
• 2004 – John Miller (Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center, MDC)
• 2005 – Allison Vaughn (HaHa Tonka SP, DNR)
• 2006 – Janet E. Price (Johnson’s Shut-Ins SP, DNR)
• 2007 – Tiffani Addington (Onondaga Cave SP, DNR)
• 2008 – Luann Cadden (NW Regional Headquarters, MDC)
• 2009 – Eric Hertlzer (HaHa Tonka SP, DNR)
• 2010 – Adam Brandsgaard (Chillicothe Office, MDC)
Best Interpretive Effort – Group
• 1997 – not awarded
• 1998 – not awarded
• 1999 – Volunteers of Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary
• 2000 – not awarded
• 2001 – not awarded
• 2002 – Kathy Thiele & Shanna Raeker (August A. Busch Conservation Area, MDC)
• 2003 – Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park (DNR)
• 2004 – not awarded
• 2005 – Interpretive Staff at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center (MDC)
• 2006 – Jess and Nancy Thee (Nathan Boone Homestead SHS, DNR)
• 2007 – Interpretive Staff at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center (MDC)
• 2008 – Kevin Badgely & Chris Pistole (Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center)
• 2009 – Shanna Raeker & Anna-Lisa Tucker (Rockwoods Reservation, MDC)
• 2010 – Eugene Vale & John Miller (MSP Resource Management and Interpretation Program, DNR &
Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center, MDC)
Best Interpretive Effort – Company
• 1997 – not awarded
• 1998 – not awarded
• 1999 – not awarded
• 2000 – Sonya Estes (WOW Conservation School, Bass Pro Shops, Inc.)
• 2001 – not awarded
• 2002 – not awarded
• 2003 – not awarded
• 2004 – not awarded
• 2005 – not awarded
• 2006 – not awarded
• 2007 – not awarded
• 2008 – Jamin Bray (Shortleaf Interpretive Services)
• 2009 – Mervin Wallace (Missouri Wildflower Nursery)
• 2010 – Jo Schaper (Geo Communications Services)
Best Interpretive Effort – Organization
• 1997 – not awarded
• 1998 – not awarded
• 1999 – not awarded
• 2000 – not awarded
• 2001 – not awarded
• 2002 – not awarded
• 2003 – not awarded
• 2004 – not awarded
• 2005 – not awarded
• 2006 – Libby Sanders (Bonebrake Center for Nature and History)
• 2007 – not awarded
• 2008 – not awarded
• 2009 – Kathy Miller, President of the Southwest MO Herpetological Society
• 2010 – St. Louis Zoo Education Department
Best Interpretive Media – Newsletter Article
• 2006 – not awarded
• 2007 – Janet Price, Gift of Silence
• 2008 – A.J. Hendershott, Mud Is Magnetic
• 2009 – Michelle Neubauer, A Naturalist’s Heart (in memory of Christy Hubinsky)
• 2010 – Alane Dubert, I AM a Naturalist