From 40 North‘s press release:
Champaign, IL – 40 North | 88 West proudly 
announces the winners of the 2012 ACE (Arts,Culture, and Education) Awards. All seven ACE Award winners embody the spirit of the local arts community with their passion, energy, and dedication to the creative culture of Champaign County. Please join us on October 16th, 5:30pm at the Canopy Club in honoring their outstanding contributions!
The winners of the 2012 ACE Awards are:
Advocate ACE Award – Parkland College Art Gallery for expanding our community’s appreciation of various contemporary art forms by making the arts accessible to our culturally diverse community through exhibitions and programs.
Artist ACE Award – Lisa Meid Hamelberg, Creative Director at Surface 51, for offering diverse community access to collaborative artistic endeavors that drive economic growth and encourage the practice of art professionally here in Champaign County.
Volunteer ACE Award – Jamie Gossett for his long-time, ardent support of the Champaign Park District’s Youth Theatre program.
Business ACE Award – Adams Outdoor Advertising for their outstanding support of the arts through Sky Gallery, and their dedication to enhancing the community in which we live.
Teacher ACE Award – Betty Allen, Elementary dance and drama teacher for Urbana elementary schools, for her dedication to teaching the elements, skills and concepts of dance and drama, and her extensive involvement with the Urbana elementary fine arts program.
Student ACE Award – Peyton Stewart, Fine and Applied Arts student, UIUC, for her overarching artistic talent and willingness to look for inventive ways for her art to impact her environment.
Lifetime ACE Award – Ollie Watts Davis, University Scholar, Professor and Chair of the Voice Division, School of Music, UIUC, for her tireless service as teacher and mentor for countless young people in the performing arts, and her lifetime of achievements in music and teaching.
The winners were chosen from public nominations by an independent panel of community-based judges representing a broad cross-section of Champaign County.
Judges: Karen Foster, Champaign City Council Member, at large; Michele Plante, Coordinator of Career Services, Career Services, College of Fine and Applied Art, UIUC; Stacey Gross, Centennial High School Fine Arts Teacher, Unit 4 Schools; Phil Strang, Local artist, Foellinger Auditorium Manager, UIUC; and Cynthia Johnson, Urbana Business Association Executive Director.
Tickets
Tickets to the 8th Annual ACE Awards are $10 each and are available online at www.40north.org or by calling 40 North at 217.351.9841. Tickets can also be purchased in advance at the 40 North office at 106 S. Neil Street. Tickets will be available at the door for $15.
Special thanks to our sponsors; The News-Gazette, The Canopy Club, and the Krannert Art Museum.
40 North | 88 West
40 North – Champaign County Arts Council – is dedicated to cultivating creativity in Champaign County. Through advocacy, information and collaboration, 40 North works to stimulate a vibrant, thriving environment for the arts, culture and education essential to the quality of life in Champaign County. For more info, visit www.40north.org.
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.