Award Honorees
2025 Award Honorees
Congratulations to our 2025 Award Honorees!
We are incredibly grateful for each one of you, the amazing work you've done over the year(s), and your continued commitment to our mission. ACA Illinois could not do the awesome, transformative work that we do without you!
Susan E. Rochlis Lifetime Achievement Award Dale Adkins Distinguished Service Award Catherine "Cat" Curry Emerging Professional Award Peggy Aylmer Cierrae Cavor-Chouhan Gracie Paul Katie Trchka Honor Award Megan Owens Gordon E. Kaplan Award for Program Excellence Timber Point | Special Recognition Award - for Leadership & Engagement in Government Relations Government Relations Committee: Gwyn Emigh Colette Marquardt Dave Thoensen Special Recognition Award - for Collaboration and Partnership with the Illinois Summer Camp Field & ACA Illinois Western Illinois University Visitor of the Year Award Joel Bennett |
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From top left to bottom left: Dale Adkins, Catherine "Cat" Curry, Peggy Aylmer, Cierrae Cavor-Chouhan, Gracie Paul, Katie Trchka, Megan Owens, Gwyn Emigh, Colette Marquardt, Dave Thoensen, Joel Bennett
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Past Honorees
Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award is the second highest honor given by ACA Illinois, awarded to individuals who have given outstanding leadership and service to our association for at least ten years.
The following honorees have demonstrated outstanding service, going above and beyond expected volunteer commitment; are actively ongoing in their service; and participate(d) in our Board of Directors as either an executive or committee member:
Catherine "Cat" Curry, 2025 Mike Selep, 2023 Dan King, 2022 Michael Brandwein, 2020 Sandra "Sam" Thompson, 2016 Dale Adkins, 2014 Mark Burkhardt, 2010 Cathola HIll, 2010 Jack Thomas, 2006 | Susan Rochlis, 2004 Gordie Kaplan, 2002 Elaine Finnegan, 2001 Russell Hogrefe, 1999 Bob Brower, 1997 Marcy Brower, 1996 Katheryn Heidrich, 1995 Virginia Spiller, 1994 Robert Chorley, 1994 |
Emerging Professional Award
The Emerging Professional Award is given by ACA Illinois to honor an outstanding emerging professional in the camp profession with ten or less years of full-time service.
Peggy Aylmer, 2025 Cierrae Cavor-Chouhan, 2025 Gracie Paul, 2025 Katie Trchka, 2025 Hannah Long, 2024Lily Paukstys, 2024 Megan Lynch, 2023 George Pascoulis, 2023 Laura Harres, 2022 Mark Feldman, 2022 Shauna Guglielmo, 2020 Stacy Harper, 2020 Kimberly Steiner, 2019 Gwyneth Emigh, 2019 Hanna O'Toole, 2016 Kimberly Steiner, 2016 | Karen Hedden, 2015 Bryce Post, 2014 Jessica Brenner, 2014 Jessica Stachulak, 2013 Colette Marquardt, 2012 Cathi Fabjance, 2010 Beth Brodzeller, 2009 Judith Stanton, 2008 Kevin Gordon, 2008 Sabrina Hirschfeld, 2007 Jill Rudolph, 2007 DJ Newport, 2006 Graham Little, 2005 Kurt Podeszwa, 2002 Laura Galindo, 2001 David Leveron, 1998 |
Gordie Kaplan Award for Program Excellence
The Program Excellence Award is given by ACA Illinois to honor programs that develop effective, creative responses to the needs of people and/or societal problems using the camp environment; to encourage continued development of such ideas; to stimulate the exchange of creative ideas; and to present to the public examples of positive contributions camp has made to the well-being of individuals and society.
Timber Point, 2025 SRCA Camp Fire Side Virtual Day Camp Program, 2024 Association of Horizon, 2023 Holiday Home Camp, 2022 Tourette Syndrome Camp, 2019 Camp One In A Hundred, 2017 The Road Less Traveled, 2016 Northwestern Settlement House: House in the Wood, 2015 JCYS Camp Red Leaf, 2014 Harand Camp for the Theatre Arts, 2013 Brookfield Zoo Day Camp, 2013
| Skokie Park District, 2012 Crystal Lake Park District, 2010 YMCA Camp Duncan, 2010 Camp Care A Lot, 2009 YMCA North Lawndale, 2008 Student Camp Leadership Academy, 2007 Heritage YMCA Group Day Camp, 2006 ADA, 2005 Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois: Bright Horizons, 2002 Illinois Fire Safety Alliance: Camp I Am Me, 2002 Chicago Camping Committee, 1999 |
Honor Award
The Honor Award is given to honor individuals for meritorious service to the camp profession and ACA Illinois. Honorees must be a current or former member of ACA, and have served in camp programs for at least ten years.
Megan Owens, 2025 Gwyneth Emigh, 2023 Shena Willbrandt, 2022 Hanna O'Toole, 2020 Michael Selep, 2020 Jeanette Marnholtz, 2019 Susan Chansey, 2017 Michael Brandwein, 2014 Sabrina Hirschfield, 2013 Catherine "Cat" Curry, 2012 Michael Hoffenberg, 2009 Dayna Hardin, 2008 DJ Newport, 2008 | Heidi Strand, 2007 Dr. Sandra Hupp, 2006 Sandra "Sam" Thompson, 2004 Toby Cohen Litin, 2002 Kim Kiser, 2002 Mark Burkhardt, 2001 William Will, 1999 Jack Thomas, 1999 Susan Rochlis, 1999 Richard Mertz, 1998 Elaine Finnegan, 1997 |
Marcy & Bob Brower Award for Innovative & Intentional Professional Development
The Marcy and Bob Brower Award for Innovative and Intentional Professional Development is given by ACA Illinois to a person, camp, organization, or group that demonstrates commitment and intention for creating or implementing Innovative Professional Development space, programs, or services.
Shauna Guglielmo, 2024 Annie Labus-Silvain, 2024 Chris Rehs-Dupin, 2022 Jolly Corley, 2019 Travis Allison, 2018 Jack Schott, 2017 Laura Kreigel, 2017 Camp Stomping Ground, 2017 | Michael Brandwein, 2016 Colette Marquardt, 2016 Gordie Kaplan, 2015 YMCA Camp Benson, 2014 Camp Bethel Horizons, 2013 Camp Eagle Ridge, 2013 Swift Nature Camp, 2013 |
Special Recognition Award
The Special Recognition Award is given by ACA Illinois to honor groups, organizations, or individuals, such as parents, volunteers and/or board members, for their efforts to advance the value of the camp profession.
Gwyn Emigh, 2025 Colette Marquardt, 2025 Dave Thoensen, 2025 Western Illinois University, 2025 Dr. Christopher Wangard, 2022 Illinois Department of Public Health, 2022 Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, 2022 Margy Moore, 2020 Ruby Compton, 2019 Gabrielle Raill, 2019 Beth Allison, 2019 Stacy Harper, 2019 Kimberly Steiner, 2019 Colette Marquardt, 2019 Susan Rochlis, 2019 Marcy Brower, 2017 Bob Brower, 2017 The Mid States Camp Conference Steering Committee, 2017 | Rosalind Dirks, 2009 Susan Hicks, 2006 Dayna Hardin, 2005 Mary Walker, 2004 David Schwartzwald, 2004 Jennifer Edwards, 2003 Dale Estes, 2003 Bonita Ghess, 2003 Mary Beth Ryan, 2003 Branda Brown, 2003 Cathleen Trudelle, 2003 Pat Metz, 2003 Kim Hogrefe, 2003 JoAnn Zimmerman, 2002 Kathy Holland, 2002 Tom Masloski, 2001 Leonard Lieberman, 2001 Theresa Nagel, 1999 Delores Moses, 1999 |
Susan E. Rochlis Lifetime Achievement Award
The Susan E. Rochlis Award for Lifetime Achievement is the pinnacle of recognition within ACA Illinois and the broader camp community. With its stringent requirements of 30 years of leadership and service to ACA Illinois, coupled with 25 years or more dedicated to the camp community, it truly highlights individuals who have devoted a substantial portion of their lives to advancing the goals and values of the American Camp Association, Illinois.
Receiving such an award acknowledges the individual's long-term commitment and signifies their exceptional contributions and impact over the years. It's a testament to their enduring dedication, leadership, and positive influence on their peers, colleagues, and the community at large.
Dale Adkins, 2025
Gordie Kaplan, 2024
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