Missed the Old Town Stomp and 2:5:1 Community Turnaround Awards? Watch the awards ceremony on YouTube!

Opening remarks by Terry Terry, MICA president, and Mayor Virg Bernero

Good Neighbor Award: Pablo Maldonado, Pablo’s Panaderia

Pablo is someone who steps up and helps out in a variety of ways, donating time and materials to support the the many festivals of Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art (MICA) and its sponsors and guests. He does so over and over, always with a smile on his face, feeding guests with delicious foods from one of Old Town’s favorite meeting places, Pablo’s Panaderia.

Musician Volunteer Award: Benjamin Hall

Where would Lansing be without the great musical talent we have in community and the great talent featured at the festivals? The festivals are also directed by fantastic musician volunteers who help with band selection, stage management … truly understanding the needs of each band and the challenges of festival timing. Someone who’s been around and helping out for a long time and who stepped it up for the past year to help make a top-notch show.

Visual Artist Award: Bruce Thayer

MICA is known for the truly outstanding fine art that can be found on every poster. People have them framed and in their homes. Sponsors adorn their hallways and walls and offices with them. MICA understands the importance and convergence of all the arts and has strived to have the finest artwork on each poster since the first festival in 1994. Today’s recipient is a prolific artist, whose work is shown nationwide. He resides in Mason and his work has been on many of our posters throughout the years.

New Volunteer Award: Bob Titus

Bob is someone who was new to the festivals and committee and who did such an amazing job that everyone was talking about how so many things that seemed like they were about to fall through the cracks suddenly got handled. This made for a smooth program. He worked long hours, often the first to arrive and last to leave. Bob is well deserving of this year’s New Volunteer Award.

Print Media Award: Anne Erickson, Lansing State Journal

As a producer of free festivals, MICA doesn’t have much of an advertising budget—and so we rely on the media to help tell our story. This award goes to a reporter who is passionate about music, appreciative of hard working musicians, and understanding of the effort it takes to put on each festival.

Broadcast Media Sponsor Award: Jane Aldrich, WLNS TV 6

When it’s festival time, everyone knows it—and that’s in part because of the great coverage we get from local TV stations. This year’s Broadcast Media Award goes to someone who started covering Old Town before we even started calling it Old Town. She recognized it as a hidden treasure and has produced many features about us. We recognize Jane’s continuing support for Old Town with this year’s Broadcast Media Sponsor Award.

Outstanding Supporter Award: Doug Barr, M&M Distributing

MICA was struggling a number of years ago, running things on a shoestring. We wanted to step it up and offer more—more music, more programming for kids, more workshops—but needed a sponsor to enable that, and to allow us to think ahead and know that we’d have some sustaining support. And at just the right time, support arrived. The most professional, quality act and fun to work with sponsor, who handled all of our crazy and last-minute requests always with a smile and hug.

Collaboration Award: Joe McDonald, Community Outreach Coordinator, City of Lansing

Joe is truly one of the unsung heroes of Lansing’s city government. He is someone who understands the meaning of public service and who is able to cut through the red tape so that MICA can then do its best. He is a tireless worker, always laughing, and who can weave his way through the issues and make things happen—like the Michigan Mosaic Music Festival.

Volunteer of the Year Award: Katie Kiter

MICA has always been fortunate to have hundreds of volunteers to make all of the programs happen. The volunteer experience should be fun, but there is no denying it still demands a lot of time and effort. There are those special volunteers who really know how to get things done without fanfare, without drama, who can handle issues without ego. This year’s Volunteer of the Year is an inspiring team leader.

Lights of Michigan Award: David Hollister, Prima Civitas

There are special people in the community who have dedicated their lives to making Michigan truly better and have succeeded at many levels in doing so. People who inspire others, who know how to bring people and ideas together. David saw the potential of Old Town during the early days of its revitalization efforts and supported it. He served as a state representative, as mayor of Lansing and as the leader of Prima Civitas, always working to improve our area.

Game Changer Award: Therese Roth

This award goes to someone who understands transformation. There are times when someone joins the team, adds incredible energy, challenges us to do better and really turns things around. The Game Changer Award goes to the newest MICA board member and its sponsor development chair, Therese Roth.

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