History of Living The Dream Award Winners
Agency/Organization Award
1993 - The Marion Clinic
1995 - Boys and Girls Club of Topeka
1996 - Elecentro De Services os Para Mexicanos, Happy Days Reunion, and Topeka Center For Peace
1997 - Spirit Four Indian Center
1998 - Catholic Community Center
2003 - Batter Women’s Task Force, Golden City Sertoma Club, and Prarie Band Potawatomi Nation
2004 - Native American Family Services
2006 - Coleman Hawkins Legacy Jazz Festival
2007 - Topeka League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC# 11071)
Civil Rights and Political Action Award
1993 - The Brown Foundation and Judith Jackson
1995 - Richard Jones
1996 - C.E. (Sonny) Scroggins and Rev. Kenneth E. Hill
1997 - Elias Garcia
1998 - Rev. John DeVeaux Jr.
1999 - Susan Briggs
2000 - James E. Butler
2003 - Lawrence C. Wilson
2004 - Shauna Holman-Harris and Robert Wilkerson
2005 - Alfonso Gonzales
2006 - Cindy White
2008 - YWCA Programs: RACE and Battered Women’s Task Force
2008 - Doris Williams
2019 - Marty Patterson
Clementine “Prim” Martin Community Service Award
1996 - Lou Allen
1997 - Charles Mason
1998 - Nadine Burch
1999 - Evelyn Lassiter
2000 - Terry L. Crowder
2001 - QB Low
2002 - John Ramon Williams
2006 - Joseph E. Marshall Sr. and Johnnie Powell
2007 - Kathy Smith and Leo Taylor
2008 - Steve McDonald and Dona Walker
2009 - Norma J. McGill
2010 - Elizabeth Averill Rosen
2011 - Timothy Ramirez
2012 - Renee Walker Wiggins
2013 - Foster Chisholm
2014 - Delores Anderson
2015 - Craig Johnson
2016 - Janel Johnson
2017 - C. Patrick Woods
2018 - Ronnie Moore
2019 - Lindsey Freeman
2020 - Debra Sabb
2021 - Liz Garcia (Posthumously) and Randy Wheat
2022 - Norma Avery
2023 - Jennie Falk
Community Service Award
1996 - Jimmy Bullocks, Delores Gonzales, Odell Jones, Dr. Gilbert Parks, BC Program, and Marceline Taylor
1998 - Antonio Augusto and Rita Wolfe
Economic and Justice Award
1996 - Walter Harrison Sr.
1997 - Larry Johnson
2002 - Quinton Heights Elementary
Elizabeth Ross Community Action (Individual) Award
2017 - Lisa Davis
2018 - Jerry Hudgins
2019 - Joan Wilson
2020 - Jared Boyles
2021 - Kelm Lear
2022 - Terrell Terry (T-Rell)
2024 - Sterling Scales
Elizabeth Ross Community Action (Organization) Award
1993 - Roy Abbott
1995 - Mexican America National Association
1997 - Michael Martinez
1999 - Dedria Dane
2000 - Kathryn Wabnum
2003 - Leroy Garvin (Posthumous)
2005 - Attorney Sherman Parks (Posthumous)
2006 - Major Gerald Herman and Supt. Dennis Vasquez
2008 - John Nave
2009 - Chief Judge Nancy Parrish and Judge Joseph D. Johnson
2014 - Sheyvette Dinkins
2015 - Larry Gonzales
2016 - Susan Duff
2017 - Topeka Jump
2018 - Topeka Habitat For Humanity
2019 - Gil Carter Initiative
2022 - Omni Circle Group
2023 - Seaman High School National Honor Society
2024 - One Can/One Kid - Andre Banks
Education Award
1993 - Dennis Rodgers
1995 - Elizabeth Ross
1996 - Lesia Carter, Dr. Merlyne-Hines Ph D., Kansas of Color 1-6, and Larry Mack Sr.
1997 - Beverly Caruthers-Thompson
1998 - Preston Williams
1999 - Flora Ann Johnson (Posthumous) and Wayne Lee
2000 - Esmond Alleyene and Valerie Jo Patterson
2001 - Mark Camacho
2002 - Kathy Clark, Theodore “Ted” L. Heim, Beryl New, Deborah A. Robbs, Deb Stewart, and Clardy Vinson
2004 - Cheryl Brown- Henderson, Constacio Garay, and Washburn University
2005 - Michael Kaye
Education: Clem “Prim” Martin
2002 - W. Lazone Grays
2003 - RIck Jackson
2004 - James Brewer and Glenda Overstreet
2005 - Ron Browning, Edward Johnson, and Mary LeClere
Education: Pauline J. Barker
1995 - Barbara Davis
1996 - Reverend Delmar White
1997 - Ruby Lontena Gentry
1998 - Leocadia Navarro
1999 - Ethel Edwards
2000 - Jean E. White, PhD
2001 - Dennis Rogers
Growth and Economic Development Award
1998 - Rosa’s Mexican Restaurant
1999 - Sue Ferguson
2000 - John and Stepanie Carter
2001 - Young Entrepeneur’s Club - Topeka High School
2003 - Ed Carmon and GO Topeka
2004 - John Dicus
2005 - Renita and Rhonda Harris
2006 - Moses Huggins
2007 - James and Emma Cameron (Fish Market) and Lonnie Williams - L&C Building Maintenance LLC
2008 - Above All Books and Gifts LLP and Randy Wheat - Haus Janitorial
2009 - Artemus Birgil Lewis
2018 - James and Gina Herman - Herman’s Beef and Sausage House
2019 - George Kearse
2022 - Tim and Ambroja Watson - Soul Fire Food Co.
Hazel and Robert Gomez ALMA Award
2002 - Antonio Augusto and Mike Padilla
2003 - Monica Augusto
2004 - Augustine and Jesse Ramirez
2005 - Nick Cobos
2006 - Carlos Gomez
2007 - Michelle Stubblefield
2008 - Sal Cruz
2009 - Judge Cherly Rios Kingfisher
2010 - Veronica Padilla
2011 - Patricia Valdivia
2012 - MANA de Topeka
2013 - Jean Gonzalez
2014 - Virginia Mendoza
2015 - Gina Barron
2016 - Blas Ortiz
2017 - Sarah Lucero
2018 - MaryLou Escobar
2019 - Jennifer Gonzales Kirmse
2020 - Sal Cruz
2021 - Huascar Medina
2022 - Richard Martinez
2023 - Andy Valdivia
Larry Johnson Humanitarian Award
1993 - Black Women’s Network
1995 - Leroy Garvin
1996 - Grant Cushinberry
1997 - Dr. Robert Harden
1998 - Robert Shuckahosee
1999 - Blanche Parks
2000 - The Honorable Daniel L. Mitchell
2001 - Citizen Review Board
2002 - Jessie Mae Brice-Thompson and The Honorable Eric Rosen
2003 - Roy Menniger, M.D.
2004 - Dr. Jerry Farley
2005 - Barney and Marjorye Heeney Jr.
2006 - Larry and Harriett Johnson
2007 - Dr. James McHenry
2008 - Gelinda DuBoise-Kearney
2009 - Missionary Josephine Minter and Wayne Radford
2017 - Rev. Max Manning
2018 - Pauline Johns
2019 - Dr. Gilbert Parks
2020 - Sharon Meissner
2021 - Foster Chisolm
2022 - Cindy White
2023 - Leo Taylor
2024 - John R. Williams
Lonnie J. Williams Executive Leadership Award
2006 - June Jones
2007 - LoRenda M. Bradley
2008 - Kimberly Brown, SBC
2013 - Alonzo Harrison and Lonnie Williams
2014 - Harvesters of Topeka
2015 - Larry Robbins
2016 - Mark Ruelle
2017 - Joan Wagnor
2018 - Advisor Excel
2019 - Dawn McWilliams
2020 - Lloyd Rainge
2021 - Greg Schwerdt
2022 - Matt Pivarnik
2023 - DeAngela Burns Wallace
Nick Chiles Communication and Journalism Award
1996 - Ann Card, Sam Elliott, KMAJ-FM 108, Myrna Llull, and Jacalyn Mindell
1997 - National Public Radio RANU
1998 - K Marvin Ross
1999 - Sandra Olivas
2000 - Michael F. Ryan and Karen Sipes
2001 - JR Mendoza and Amy Wittenbach
2003 - Vincent Brydon
2004 - Mike Hall and Sam &Doretha Jordan
2005 - Vernon McFalls
2006 - LsTonya Caraway
2008 - Barbara Hollingsworth and Mark Nusbaum
2011 - Jim Ogle
2018 - Keith Horineck
2019 - Deneshya Richards
2021 - Madeline Gearhart
2022 - Rodney Harmon
Organization Award
1993 - Battered Women’s Task Force
1995 - Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
1999 - STRAPP - Topeka High School
2000 - American GI Forum
2001 - Stars and Moon Program
2002 - Black Women’s Network, Let’s Help, and Jim Parrish
2005 - Antioch Family Life Center
2009 - Topeka City of Character
2011 - India Association of Topeka
2012 - Scotch Fabric Care Services
2013 - Midland Care Hospice Service
Pauline J. Barker School Award
1995 - Lowman Hill Elementary School
1996 - Williams Magnet School
1997 - Chase Middle School
1998 - Topeka High School
1999 - Our Lady of Guadalupe
2000 - Linn Elementary
2001 - Williams Science and Fine Arts
2006 - Capital City School
2007 - Topeka Collegiate School INC
2008 - Highland Park HIgh School
2009 - Hope Street Academy
2010 - Eisenhower Middle School
2011 - Avondale East Elementary School
2012 - Scott Computer Technology Magnet School
2013 - Quincy Elementary
2014 - Shawnee COunty Juvenile Detention Center
2015 - Tallgrass Learning Center
2016 - Lawrence Gardner HIgh School
2017- Scott Dual Language School
2018 - McClure Elementary
2019 - Pathway Learning Center
2020 - Ross Elementary
2021 - Lowman Hill Early College Prep Academy
2022 - McCarter Elementary and North Fairview Elementary
2023 - Highland Park High School and Northern Hills Elementary
Political Action Award
1996 - America Local 307, Harry Perry, Committee on Political Education (COPE), and United Steel Workers
1997 - Velda Duette
1998 - Victor Miller
1999 - James McClinton, Rocky Nichols, and Kathleen Sebelius
2000 - Joan M Hamilton
2001 - Elizabeth Ensley
2006 - Rehan Reza
2008 - NAACP
Reverend Wayne Franklin Religion Award
2004 - Rev. AJ Pearson, Rev. WL Templeton, and Rev. Melvin C. Wakes
2005 - Rev. David C. Fulton and Rev. Thaddeus Patterson
2006 - Rev. Evan Thomas Watson II
2007 - Rev. Cecil T. Washington
2008 - Rev. Aletha Cushinberry
2009 - Rev. Joseph E. Fisher Sr.
2010 - Randell Ministries
2011 - Pastor T.D. Hicks Jr.
2012 - Christian Lord Ministries
2013 - Rev. Carlotta Massey Andrews
2014 - Pastors Raymond and Pam Berry
2015 - Willie and JoLynn Carter
2016 -Jim McCollough
2017 -Pastor Terry Stanley and Dr. Rita Stanley
2018 - Joe Hishmeh - Fellowship Bible
2019 - New Mount Zion Outreach Ministry
2020 - Jerem yWynee - Fellow Bible Church
2021 - Pastor Carl Frazier
2022 - Johnathan Sublett
2023 - Hal Smith - TRM Retired pastor
Robert and Jacqueline Bugg Lifetime Achievement Award
1999 - Colonel William E. Richard Sr. and Troy Scroggins Jr.
2002 - Pamela Johnson-Betts
2003 - Edwin “Train” Hughes
2004 - Juanita Clardy and Veryl Switzer
2005 - Merril & Barbara Ross and Hattie Norman
2006 - Clyde Howard
2008 - Delores Ruth Collins and Dr. Kathryn Rainbow-Earhart
2009 - James and Lissa Reynolds
2020 - Veryl Switzer
2021 - Senator Anthony Hensley
2022 - Jack Alexander
2023 - Harriett Johnson
2024 - Jim and Nancy Parrish
Special Recognition Award
1997 - Senator Anthony Hensley
2005 - Jacquie Bugg
2007 - Wynn Wesley (Trey) Lewis III
Special Recognition for Community Leadership
2007 - John Carlin and David Kerr/AT&T
2008 - John Dicus/Capital Federal and Nancy Perry/United Way
2009 - Esmond Alleyne, Michelle Cuevas Stubblefield, and Robert Wheeler/Hill’s Pet Nutrition
2011 - Neil Dobler/Bartlett & West and Nancy Knopp of KS Big Brothers & Big Sisters
2014 - Kansas Bureau of Transportation, Kansas Highway Patrol, Shawnee County Sherriff’s Office, and Topeka Fire Department
2015 - American Medical Response
Vivian Scales Education
2006 - Carolyn Campbell
2007 - Teresa Leslie-Canty
2008 - Anton Aherns and Darlene Palmer
2009 - Jerome C. Plunkett and Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
2010 - Ken & Karen Darting
2011 - Dr. Jennifer Gordon
2012 - Rodney Johnson and David Nichols
2013 - Pat & Stanley Seidel
2014 - Shirley Johannsen
2015 - Dr. Aaron Gray
2016 - Dr. Beryl New
2017 - Juli Watson
2018 - Sandra Lassister
2019 - Dr. Tiffany Anderson
2020 - Frank Henderson
2021 - Kathleen Foster
2022 - Keisha Cross (Elementary) and Nicolas Gardner (Secondary)
2023 - Leosha Giardina (Secondary) and Mallory Jacobs (Elementary)
Youth Award
1995 - Tia Stewart and Amy Wurtz
1996 - Jason Jones and Topeka West High School Heritage Club
1997 - Billy Brown
1998 - Lanise Babb, Raymond Jerome Horton Jr. (Posthumous), Tiffany Johnson, Alphonso Maxwell Jr., Justin Ramirez (Posthumous)
1999 - Toya Dudley and Anna Riphahn (Posthumous)
2000 - Don Ross Griffin (Posthumous)
2001 - Philescione Marcel Canty II, John “Bo” Freeman, and Doretha KaMay Rashon Green
2005 - Alicia Guerrero and Jared Huske
2006 - Portia Milan Faulkner and Joaquin Sumaya
2007 - Anelissa Rodriguez and Kaelyn Seymour
2008 - Jaide Ramirez and Erika Lyn Williams
2009 - Sierra Contee
2010 - Addison Keegan Harris
2011 - Capri Salas
2012 - Shacore Nelson
2013 - Miranda Deeds-Rookstool
2014 - Alisha White
2015 - First Southern Baptist Church
2016 - Nachelle Reann Culpepper
2017 - Olivia Morris
2018 - Jett Canfield
2019 - Kiora Brooks
2020 - Cheyenne James
2021 - Chrishayla Adams
2022 - Aaliyah Smith
2023 - Rene Carbrera