As part of the 2025 DCI World Championships in Indianapolis a number of individuals were recognized for their outstanding leadership during the DCI Summer Tour.
Dr. Bernard Baggs Leadership Award
Russ Gavin (R), Santa Clara Vanguard
The Dr. Bernard Baggs Leadership Award annually recognizes the World Class corps director of the year as voted on and determined by World Class directors.
At the end of a season that saw his corps make a competitive statement, rising to the level of “medalist” in just its second year returning from a 2023 hiatus, Santa Clara Vanguard’s Russ Gavin was honored with the award.
Gavin’s corps was one of the most notable competitive breakouts of 2025. Under his leadership, Vanguard has returned to the DCI Tour in its pre-hiatus form, jumping from sixth place a year ago to third place this past summer.
Gavin credited both his award, as well as the corps’ standout success, to the team of professionals and performers by which he’s surrounded.
“It’s an honor, but really it’s a group award,” Gavin said. “I get to work with such an amazing team at Vanguard, from the entire admin team through the designers, through the board, through the staff, through the members. It represents the work of so many people who are committed to making sure Vanguard is strong now and for many, many years in the future.”
Dr. David Kampschroer Leadership Award
Paul LaFlamme, Spartans
Receiving the 2025 Dr. David Kampschroer Leadership Award, which recognizes the Open Class Director of the Year, was Spartans’ president Paul LaFlamme.
2025 was a special year for Spartans, a corps that has grown immensely over the past decade. The Nashua, New Hampshire organization completed one of its most extensive tours ever this summer, under a “hybrid” classification, coupling Open Class and World Class competitive status.
The end of that unique summer saw Spartans earn a third-consecutive Open Class gold medal, its fourth such honor in the last five competitive seasons, and an all-time high overall DCI World Championship placement of 18th.
“I’m not one to really celebrate individual awards for myself, but that particular award is incredibly meaningful to me because I know it came from my peers who I’ve been working with for the last 15 years,” LaFlamme said. “As we start to leave the class, for those peers to recognize me, it just means the world to me.”
All-Age Director of the Year
Russ Thompson (R), Atlanta, CV
In the second season of the DCI All-Age classification, Atlanta CV’s Russ Thompson was honored as director of the year.
Thompson’s corps celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025, and once again completed one of the most long-distance tours to the DCI World Championships of any All-Age organization. Competitively, Atlanta CV improved its final score from a year ago, and celebrated its quarter-century season
“I love the All-Age medium,” Thompson said. “I love representing it and what it means to this activity. (Being recognized by fellow All-Age directors) means a lot, because I know that they are also grinding during the summer, every weekend. We’re all doing the same things in terms of trying to make the best experience for our members from a performance level as well as an experience level.”
George Bonfiglio Chairperson’s Award
John Masterson
Also awarded at the 2025 DCI World Championships was the George Bonfiglio Chairperson’s Award. Named for the former 27th Lancers director, the annual presentation is made to an individual within the drum corps community who has displayed unparalleled leadership, service and effort on behalf of Drum Corps International.
This year’s edition of the award was presented to John Masterson, an advisor to DCI’s Board of Directors who previously spent years serving directly on the board.
According to board chair Jonathan Powell, Masterson’s expertise has played a pivotal role in advancing the overall work of the organization during a period of leadership transition.
“John has been instrumental in helping guide and advise the board, serving on the board for nine years and then coming on as an advisor after (former CEO Dan Acheson’s) retirement, as well as just being a spiritual advisor on all things DCI,” Powell said. “John continues to help guide the board and set us in the right direction.”
