District Recognition
This page highlights national awards available to district leadership and the most recent winners.
Bronze, Silver, Gold District Chair Awards
Each year, the top district and district chair based on chapter strength are awarded 8 units, the next three receive 4 units, and the next nine receive 2 units. All others receive 1 unit. Chairs accumulate units, and when a chair has accumulated 4 units they are given bronze, 6 units they are given silver, and 8 units they are given gold.
2025 Winners
Alan Bates – Western Ohio
DJ Brynteson – Southern Minnesota
Mariel Cruz – California Coast
Irlonde Gagnon – Wind River (WY)
Adam Jenkins – Greater Illinois
Kim Lenger – Heart Of America (MO)
Tanya Roundy – Sundance (UT)
James Rye – Mockingbird (AL)
Joseph Ugalde – East Los Angeles (CA)
Shannon Chamberlain – Utah-Wasatch
Micah Everson – Magnolia (MS)
Hannah Flake – New Mexico
Vicky Hyde – Inland Empire (WA)
Julie Laflen – South Kansas
Shannon O’Donnell – Montana West
Rachel Page – Kentucky
Maggie Rietz – East Iowa
Julie Roos – Golden Desert (NV)
Andrew Tichy – Northern Lights (MN)
Marcus Viney – Hole In The Wall (WY)
Lisa Bompiani-Smith – Pennsylvania
Scott Caron – New England (MA & NH)
Pamela Childress – Georgia Southern Peach
Carolyn Cook – East Kansas
Chris Coovert – Western Washington
Patrick Daniels – Chesapeake (MD)
Donnie Drobny – Idaho Gem of the Mountain
Kathleen Hamm – Florida Flamingo
Talana Hinson – Carver-Truman (MO)
Kelley Kirkpatrick – Puget Sound (WA)
Chris Mosmeyer – Yellow Rose (TX)
Noah Recker – Gulf Coast (TX)
LeAnne Schmidt – Michigan
Jeremy Starkweather – Northwest Indiana
Adam Thane – Montana East
Grant Thomas – Rocky Mountain-South (CO)
David Yastremski – New Jersey
District Leader Commendations
These awards recognize non-chair committee members in a district! Chairs usually nominate leaders for their outstanding service and contributions to the community. The national office evaluates those nominations for awards.
2025 Winners
Shiela Berselli – Golden Desert (NV)
Katie Burke – New Jersey
Elise Matton – New Mexico
Megan Troutman – Puget Sound (WA)
Tyler Will – Hole in the Wall (WY)
District Growth Award (Most New Schools)
This goes to the district that added the most number of new schools in the season.
2025 Winner – William Waddell, Virginia
District Growth Award (Highest Percentage of New Schools)
This goes to the district with the highest percentage of new schools added in the season.
2025 Winner – Terence Abad, San Fran Bay (CA)
District Charter Award
This goes to the district that chartered the most schools in the season.
2025 Winner – Cathy Brown, Florida Panther
District Degrees Award For Greatest Number of New Degrees
This goes to the district with the most number of new degrees in the season.
2025 Winner – Mariel Cruz, California Coast
District Degrees Award For Highest Percentage Growth of New Degrees
This goes to the district with the most number of new degrees in the season.
2025 Winner – Michael Piccoli, Northern Illinois
Nationals Participation Award (Most Schools In Attendance)
This goes to the district with the most number of schools in attendance at the National Tournament from their district.
2025 Winner – Tony Ugalde, East Los Angeles (CA)
Nationals Participation Award (Percentage of Schools In Attendance)
This goes to the district with the highest percentage of schools in attendance at the National Tournament from their district.
2025 Winner – Marcus Viney, Hole In the Wall (WY)
Best Chair Communications
Given to the chair whose efforts in informing and motivating their district leadership are exemplary to others.
2025 Winner – Phillip Helt, Show Me (MO)
Best New Chair
Given to an outstanding chair in their first year of service.
2025 Winner – Victoria Castro-Henriquez, Big Valley (CA)
Chair of the Year
Given to the chair whose work best exemplified the role.
20235 Winner – Leilani McHugh, West Los Angeles (CA)
Ralph E. Carey Award for Distinguished Career Service
Given to the chair whose career in district leadership exemplifies the role.
2025 Winner – Jeff Stutzman, Northeast Indiana