Honoring Excellence:
WATG Award and Scholarship Recipients
The Wisconsin Association for Talented & Gifted (WATG) proudly recognizes the outstanding individuals who have received our awards and scholarships over the years. These honorees — including educators, advocates, students, and leaders — exemplify dedication, innovation, and commitment to advancing gifted education across Wisconsin.
This page serves as a tribute to those whose contributions have strengthened our community, inspired learners, and shaped meaningful change in gifted education. We celebrate their achievements and thank them for the lasting impact they continue to make.
2025
Nicholas Green Award: Zarita Asgar
Summer Scholarships:
Oscar Grummert, Marie Kim, Ashima Mukerji, Ellie Sage Richmond, Avery Suchomel, and Sophia Michelle Watson
Outstanding Administrator: Mandi Buehl
Outstanding Coordinator:
Rachel Scherrer and Mary Kennedy
Outstanding Organization:
Multi-Health Systems (MHS)
President’s Award:
Mary Pape
Sylvia Rimm Champion of Gifted Education and Children:
Kimberly Lansdowne
2024
Nicholas Green Award: Nithin Karthick Sathish Kumar
Summer Scholarships:
Camryn Cole, Legacy Cribbs, Megan Meier, Sammy Neuman, Zoe Pasierb, Ellie Sage Richmond, Andrew Scott, and Avery Suchomel
Outstanding Administrator:
Mallory Umar and Shantee Williams
Outstanding Coordinator:
Terese Weiler
Outstanding Educator:
Nancy Stipiich
Outstanding Parent:
Heidi Perez
Sylvia Rimm Champion of Gifted Education and Children:
Dal Drummer
2023
Nicholas Green Award: Philippe-Christophe Geli
Outstanding Administrator:
Theresa Christensen
Outstanding Coordinator:
Nicole Radcliffe and Michelle Burch
Outstanding Educator:
Lisa Sullivan and Sheryl Wartman
WATG Historian:
Ruth Robinson
2022
Nicholas Green Award: Oliver Pape
Summer Scholarships:
Chloe Barganz, Ruby Bergman, Violet Bergman, Roshan Bonick, Wells Draper, Sarah Gay, Elena Johansen, Lucas Labeau, Oliver Pape, Andrew Scott, Avery Suchomel, and Leonard Zahn
Outstanding Coordinator:
Susan O’Brien
Outstanding Educator: Kim DeTennis
Outstanding Higher Education Representative:
Scott Peters
Outstanding Organization:
CESA 7 GT Consortium
2021
Nicholas Green Award: Elena Johansen
Summer Scholarships:
Ali Abbas Abidi, Wellington (Wells) Draper, Lucas LaBeau, Mae Loewen, Raylea Richmond, Mason Rodwell, Anabelle Rook, Zebadiah Adam Struck, and Nathan Wagner
Leadership in the Field of Gifted and Talented:
Cathy Schmit
Outstanding Administrator:
Michelle Morris Carter
Outstanding Educator:
Michelle Taylor
Outstanding Innovator:
Dawn Nordine
Outstanding Legislator:
Senator Kathy Bernier
2020
Nicholas Green Award: Laura Friemark
Summer Scholarships:
Sarah Lyn Gay, Lillian Kirkpatrick, Owen Kirkpatrick, Dylan McKillips, Megan Meier, and Andrew Scott
Outstanding Administrator:
Larry Smalley
Outstanding Coordinator:
Rene Jungers
Outstanding Legislator:
Representative Warren Petryk
2019
Nicholas Green Award: Julia Robbins
Summer Scholarships:
Bryan Aviles, Victor Kiedrowski, Zachary Lemke, Eleanor Marso, and Dylan McKillips
Olivia Dahl Scholarship:
Eleanor Marso
Outstanding Educator: Mari Capati
Past President Award:
Nancy Woodward and Hillarie Roth
President's Award:
Cathy Schmit
2018
Nicholas Green Award: Elizabeth Barganz
Summer Scholarships:
Angel Galvan, Lillian Kirkpatrick, Owen Kirkpatrick, Wilson Lyke, and Michaela Redfearn
Outstanding Coordinator:
Lalitha Murali
Outstanding Organization:
Jeff Storch
Outstanding Parent:
Maida Qazi
2017
Summer Scholarships: James Banks, Connor Boorman, Megan Flood, John Garbi, Evan Hansen, Jolie Hnilicka, Bennett Hogeland, Samantha Mallin, Santana Vannarath, and Ophelia Whitley
Olivia Dahl Scholarship:
Elena Himmerich
Clasen Scholarship:
Katie Hayden, Maria Klassy, and Nicole Zeroth
Shirley Paulson Scholarship: Abhirami Coimbatore Gowrisankar
Outstanding Coordinator:
Elizabeth Mallegni
Outstanding Educator:
Christine Turner
Outstanding Parent:
Janet Foust
Outstanding School Board Member: Oregon School Board
2016
Summer Scholarships: Grace Amundson, Marina Bernovich, Anita Drapkin, Michal Drapkin, Evan Hansen, Evan Halverson, Sophia Sun, Elizabeth Thelke, and Teresa Wan
Outstanding Administrator:
John Flannery
Outstanding Educator:
Kristine Springer
Outstanding Parent:
Kate Bernovich
2015
Summer Scholarships: Karlie Cecil, Anita Drapkin, Keiler Dunbar, Isaac Gorres, Evan Hansen, Sam Huber, Aiden Jacobsen, Owen Jacobsen, Vaishnav Kumar, Maia Kurr, Briana Orta, Henry Poulter, Lavi Schwartz, and Sophia Sun
Outstanding Coordinator:
Amy Miller
Outstanding Organization:
Waukesha Community Art Project
Past President Award:
Deb Kucek
2014
Summer Scholarships: Karli Cecil, Olivia Dahl, Carly Davis, Anita Drapkin, Misha Drapkin, Katelyn Feuling, Kelsey Fraley, Madalyn Gray, Evan Hansen, Rylie Hendren, Aidan Jacobsen, Will Karls, Katharine Kennedy, Vaishnav Kumar, Mason Lawrenz, Olivia Lechnir, Connor MacDonald, Evan Martin, Karina Mose, Julia Steinke, Ellen Steitzer, Jack Sullivan, Derek Vowels, and Alexandra Weiss
Outstanding Educator:
Jennifer Petruska and Sara Tlachac
Outstanding Parent:
Christina Gomez-Schmidt
2013
Outstanding Administrator: Lori Mueller
Outstanding Higher Education Representative:
Dr. Joseph Tullbane
Rossmiller Lifetime Achievement:
Dr. Sylvia Rimm
2012
Outstanding Administrator: Tammy Van Dyke
Outstanding Coordinator:
Kelli Kwiatkowski
Outstanding Organization:
John Michael Kohler Arts Center
2011
Nicholas Green Award: Oskar Puerner Houck
Outstanding Coordinator:
Cindy Clark
Outstanding Educator: Lisa Borowski
Outstanding Parent:
Lorie Raihala
2010
Nicholas Green Award: Faraz Masroor
Outstanding Administrator:
Roger Thorson
Outstanding Educator:
Peggy Eserkain
Outstanding Higher Education Representative:
Pam Clinkenbeard
Outstanding Legislator:
David Obey
Outstanding School Board Member:
Frank Finman
Rossmiller Lifetime Achievement: Michael Piechowski
2009
Nicholas Green Award: Thomas Monfre
Outstanding Administrator:
Bobbi Kinsinger
Outstanding School Board Member:
Doug Mering
Rossmiller Lifetime Achievement:
Bob and Donna Rae Clasen
2008
Nicholas Green Award: Laura Yenchesky
Outstanding Administrator:
Keona Jones
Outstanding Coordinator:
Andrea Thiry-Wenz
Outstanding Parent:
Deb Kucek
Outstanding School Board Member:
Bill Murphy
1997
Outstanding Administrator: Team from Oshkosh
Outstanding Coordinator:
Kieta Takkunen
Outstanding Educator:
Sara Wadleigh
Outstanding Parent:
Mary Chemotti
Outstanding State Leadership:
Penny Larson
1990
Education Outreach: Robert Schramm and Nancy Schuster
Outstanding Administrator:
Patricia Hoffman
Outstanding Coordinator:
George Affeldt
Outstanding Educator:
Louise Schotz, Deborah Smith, and Wonza Canada
Outstanding Higher Education Representative:
Phil Perrone
Public Service:
Marilyn Bendiksen and Carol Wright
Rookie of the Year:
Charlotte Kulla and Phil Eickstaedt
1988
District Service: Gunnard Swanson
Outstanding Administrator: Don Mrdjenovich and Al Kaczmarek
Outstanding Coordinator: Welda Swed
Outstanding Educator: Joan Bruce, Tom DeFazio, Larry Jozwik, Mary Gifford, and Rose Willman
Outstanding Higher Education Representative: Janet Boyle
Public Service: Deborah Hust
