Volunteer of the Year Award Nominations

Photo by: Drum Corps International

For more than 35 years, Drum Corps International with the help of members of the Friends of DCI program, has recognized the hard working volunteers of drum corps for their countless hours of dedication and unpaid efforts.

As a corps director, you see first-hand the amazing efforts and selfless acts contributed each year by your volunteer workforce. Because of that, we once again ask you to nominate any of those individuals to be considered for the 2025 Volunteer of the Year awards.

Nomination Guidelines

Nominee must be an unpaid volunteer
Nominations may be submitted by any associated corps regardless of competing class
Up to three nominations may be submitted by one organization
Nominee should not have been a previous recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award
Nominee should be in adherence to DCI Community Code of Conduct and Ethics Guidelines
Travel expenses for those selected as Volunteer of the Year award recipients are not covered by DCI

All names and corps affiliations will be removed from each submission before it is reviewed by a voting panel of current Friends of DCI members. The selected volunteers will be notified and announced in May and will be recognized at the 2025 DCI World Championships in Indianapolis.

Nomination Process

Application form asks for the following info:

The name, address, phone number and email of the volunteer you wish to nominate
The name, address, phone number and email of the person submitting the nomination
Description of the volunteer’s work and accomplishments for your corps (200 words or less)
Statement about why volunteer should be honored as a Volunteer of the Year (200 words or less)

Deadline

Please submit all nominations via the form above by Friday, February 21, 2025.

Questions?

Contact Sarah Rabin: [email protected], 317.275.1216

Past DCI Volunteer of the Year Award Winners

2024

Nathalie Fournier Les Stentors, Dr. Jake Levy The Cavaliers, David Trombley Carolina Crown

2023

Dr. Tom Freeman The Cavaliers, Yvonne Moss Blue Devils, Rick Woodall Boston Crusaders

2022

Dr. Gail Hansen Colts, Kathleen Bakergrumprecht-Davies Mandarins, Lori & Mike Cole Carolina Crown

2021

Nicolas Carrier Les Stentors, Jim O’Neil 7th Regiment, Lauren Ripley The Academy

2019

Ken Adams Blue Knights, John Baumgartner Phantom Regiment, Linda Vitale The Cadets

2018

Jim Williams Carolina Crown, Stephanie Hebert Santa Clara Vanguard, Scott Rhebergen The Cavaliers

2017

Jeff Manion Madison Scouts, Tina Guy Bluecoats, Bill Symoniak Colts

2016

Frank Raffa and the Cardinal Alumni Association, William Nylund Pioneer, John Schoenknecht Pioneer

2015

René Veillette Les Stentors, John Chow Mandarins, Mike Ottoes Troopers

2014

Terry Maurer Blue Devils & Santa Clara Vanguard, Gabriel Francoeur Les Stentors, Mike Wolfe Colts, Geoff
Thompson Jersey Surf

2013

Frank Milina Blue Devils B, Erik Haelman Pioneer, Bruce Chaffee Racine Scouts

2012

Sarah Bowling Blue Devils B, Mary DeSchepper Colts, Tom & Peggy Kosin DCI

2011

Rick Vale The Cadets, Surf-Six (Jersey Surf): Bill & Terri Ives, Tom & Naomi Piatek, Ted & Beverly
Vallies, Daisy Johnson 7th Regiment

2010

Steve Stueck Blue Stars, Dr. Randall W. Chaffee & Thomas Chase Racine Scouts, Becky Nelson Phantom
Regiment

2009

Helen Turner The Cavaliers, Tom & Linda Weiss The Cadets, Denise Troyer Crossmen

2008

Thelma Fung Blue Knights, Greg Lowe Carolina Crown, Marie Limpel Pioneer

2007

Romelia Evans Santa Clara Vanguard, Ray & Mary McCrary Carolina Crown, Marty & Lois Fricke Jersey Surf

2006

Friedel Cramer Pioneer, Tim Farrell Phantom Regiment, Steve Tant Carolina Crown, Bill & Pat Croissant The Cadets

2005

Joan Borden The Cadets, Dorothy Chaffee Racine Scouts, Jon & Cherrie Terry Crossmen

2004

Dorothy Jeanne Johnson Blue Stars, Pauline Sosnowich Targets

2003

Diana Kupinski Pioneer, Raymond Luniewski Lake Erie Regiment, Curt & Judy Schmidt Pioneer

2002

Teri Brinson Carolina Crown, Donald Heitzman The Cavaliers, Daniel Greer Boston Crusaders, Donald Kaihatsu Pioneer

2001

Roland Dupuy Les Stentors, Ron Gaus Dutch Boy, Carol Srdar & Doug Madar Carolina Crown

2000

Mary Cloyd Blue Devils, Carol Niklaus Lake Erie Regiment, Judy Luongo Citations, Richard Peabody Spartans

1999

Gilles Bolduc Les Etoiles, John Dvorak Madison Drum Corps Association, Joe & Phyllis Ratterman Blue Knights, Barry Woods Dutch Boy

1998

Jean Earl St. John’s, Kevin Smith Carolina Crown, Connie & Tony Bestreski Raiders

1997

Bob Fields Illusion, Bob “Archie” Irwin Crossmen, Becky Patterson Delta Brigade, The Staff of Jersey Surf Drum & Bugle Corps

1996

Traute Gilbert Troopers, Yanny Newman Spartans, Donald Vallimont Lake Erie Regiment

1995

Maye Dill Black Gold, Shirley Leslie Northwind, Harold McJury Genesee Quest, Ida Pituch Glassmen

1994

Dean Bassett Nite Express, Joe DiMaggio Delta Brigade, Dorothy Johnson Quad City Knights, Sandy Poglitsh Bluecoats

1993

Kathy Hartig The Cavaliers, Jeannie Houck Blue Devils, Betty Reirden Crossmen, Sonja Williams Blue Devils

1992

Verna Bagby Marauders, Gene Emmer Freelancers, Conrad & Dorothy Maryanski The Cavaliers, Maureen Fallon Repperet Crossmen

1991

Art Drukenbrod Bluecoats, Florence Fay Phantom Regiment, Ed Fraser Marauders, Barb Loeffelholz Madison Scouts, Pat Omilianowski Madison Scouts, Betty Short Various New York corps

1990

Paul DeLiberto Cadets of Bergen County, Denise Golden Crossmen, Neil & Iva Johnson Bluecoats, Anthony Smith Boston Crusaders

1989

Frank Davila Northern Aurora, “Aunt Nellie” DiDomenico Cadets of Bergen County, Gene Herring Quad City Knights, Mike Pituch Glassmen, J.C. Wells Velvet Knights

1988

Ted Gilbert Troopers, Wayne Huntley Quad City Knights, Neltia Kettleson Americanos, George Lucas Garfield Cadets, Marian Newcomer Blue Knights