Manni Awards
Overview
One of the special things about Manitou Springs is our community’s willingness to help. This is evidenced throughout all demographics of our town—at the personal level all the way up to our local government and nonprofits. Our collaborative spirit is demonstrated in the way important social institutions of the city work together and come together. It is rare to find a town in which the city government, school district, chamber of commerce, local newspaper, local arts organizations, citizens, businesses, nonprofits and even the local philanthropic foundation work together to acknowledge the people who go out of their way to help others and make the town better.
But that’s exactly what the Manni Awards do. Once a year, Manitou Springs has a celebration and potluck dinner to recognize community leaders, volunteers, and champions who have given outstanding service and demonstrated their ability to collaborate and inspire others to manifest Manitou’s community vision. The sponsors of this year’s Manni Awards are the Manitou Springs City Government; Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Bureau and Office of Economic Development; Manitou Springs School District 14; Sixty35 Media; Creative Alliance Manitou Springs (CRANE); and the Manitou Springs Community Foundation.
Each year, the awards committee asks the public for nominations of people who are making a positive difference in their neighborhood and town. They look at what has been accomplished in the last years by residents, businesses, and employees. Who, through volunteering their time and talent, going above and beyond, have made Manitou a better place because of their selfless service.
Each year, a different local or regional artist creates a unique design for the Manni Award.
It is amazing that Manitou Springs can maintain its sense of small-town connection while sharing it with our summertime tourists and larger neighbor to the east. We actively work to respect our differences and to find solutions to our small town problems and beyond. It takes a lot of listening and compromise to get things done right. Mistakes are often made and corrected. Trust must be grown slowly by working together and helping each other over time. The sponsors of the Manni Awards have learned to do just that and the process reminds us all that it is the power of the people that keeps Manitou strong.
The Manni Awards are given in 10 categories, based on the community visions stated in the town's master plan. The categories are: Artistic Endeavors, Education and Learning, Environmental Stewardship, Business and Economic Vitality, Health and Well-being, Community Champion, Public Service, Movers and Shakers, Youth Visionary Leadership, and Adult Visionary Leadership.
To RSVP, please visit the Manni Awards Webpage.
Manni Awards Winners & Finalists
2023
The 2023 Manni Awards, a community celebration recognizing leaders and champions who have made a difference in Manitou Springs, are taking place on March 23 at 5:30 PM. Be sure to register before then!
Congratulations to the four members of City Staff who were nominated: Chief Bill Otto, Hannah Van Nimwegen-McGuire, Alex Trefry, and Meghan Weiss!
Once the finalists have been decided, this webpage will be updated.
To RSVP, please visit the Manni Awards Webpage.
2022
Molly Wingate: Rockey Artistic Endeavors
Vi Gaunce: Education and Learning
Melody Daugherty: Environmental Stewardship
Armadillo Ranch: Business and Economic Vitality
Randy Perkins: Public Services
Abby Parker: Youth Visionary Leadership
Drum Circle of Manitou Springs: Health and Wellbeing
Becca Sickbert : Mover and Shaker
Ralph Routon: Community Champion
Laura and Lyn Ettinger Harwell: Visionary Leadership
2021
Navaratine, Alain and Maria: Charles Rocky Artistic Endeavors
Wren, Spencer: Business & Economic Vitality
Davis, Becca: Public Service
Faucette, Paula: Education & Learning
Salladay, Caden: Youth Visionary Leadership
Mussi, Lisa: Environmental Stewardship
Yager, Peggie: Health and Well-being
Maio, Michael: Community Champion
Smith, Gary: Civic Achievement
Minch, Neale: Visionary Leadership
2020
Bredvik, De Lane: Rockey Award for Artistic Endeavor
Delwiche, Alan: Lifetime Community Champion
Fatt, Danu: Environmental Stewardship
Forsett, John K.: Public Service
Kezziah, Tweed, and Susan Watkins: Civic Achievement
Lowe, Se’amus: Youth Visionary Leadership
Manitou Brewing: Business and Economic Vitality
Marquardt, Christi: Education and Learning
Merrin, Rev. Susie: Health and Well-being
Schmitt, Annie: Visionary Leadership
2019
Chaney, Roy: Public Service
David, Gwenn: Business and Economic Vitality
Edmundson, Douglass Keithley: Visionary Leadership
Elder, Becky: Environmental Stewardship
Koerner, Bill: Lifetime Community Service
Miller, Tracy: C.H. Rockey Award for Artistic Endeavor
Moran, Pat: Outstanding Educational Accomplishment
Omi, Jayden: Student Leadership
Shogren, Tracy: Civic Achievement
Tudor, Kat, and Don Goede: Health, Healing and Well-being
2018
Baker, Rich and Linda: Civic Achievement
French, Kevin: Public Service
Haas, Tim: Business and Economic Vitality
Kurschner, Dan: Health and Well-being
Loftin, Melissa: Education
Nichols, Ann: Community Champion
Plush, Nathan: Youth Visionary Leadership
Stuart, Dan: Visionary Leadership
Wells, Andy: Humanitarian
Wilson, Nancy: Environmental Stewardship (couldn’t attend – have no closeup photos)
Wong, Mark: C.H. Rockey Artistic Endeavors
2017
Buller, Rachel: Business and Economic Vitality
Fortuin, Nancy: Environmental
Gillis, Mark: Public Service
Heiniger, Mo: Youth Visionary Leadership
Ito, Chifumi: Civic Achievement
Johnson, Natalie: Visionary Achievement
Morrow, Kathleen: Health and Well-being
Rykovich, George: Education
Snyder, Kelly: Community Champion
Wood, Steve: C.H. Rockey Artistic Endeavors
2015/2016
Garrison, Joanne: Lifetime Humanitarian
Heidenrich, Debbie: Lifetime Education Achievement
Hokanson, Del: Health & Well-being
Jaray, Ken: Adult Visionary Leadership
Milar family/The Keg: Business Vitality
Morrison, Marcy: Lifetime Public Service
Snyder, Marc: Public Service
Toll, Shanti and Coreen: Environmental Stewardship
Vestal, Chris: Entrepreneurship
Walters, Brad: Civic Achievement
White, Samantha: Youth Visionary Leadership
Wright, Julia: Charles Rockey Artistic Endeavors
2014/2015
Anthony, Michelle: Civic Achievement
Bell, Oliver: Youth Visionary Leadership
Elder, Jack and Ben Kuckel: Rockey Artistic Endeavors
Johanson, Rod: Lifetime Education Achievement
Manitou Springs Volunteer Fire Department: Public Service (Rev. David Hunting accepted)
McDonough, Farley and David: Business Vitality
Purna, Joy: Adult Visionary Leadership
Rockey, Charles: Lifetime Artistic Achievement
Sharpton, Terry and Dave Wolverton: Environmental Stewardship
2013
Beebe, Julie: Youth Visionary Leadership
Wood, Laurie: Adult Visionary Leadership
2012
Chorpenning, David: Adult Visionary Leadership
Mohon, Megan: Youth Visionary Leadership