Hats Off! Awards
Purpose: To recognize individuals and families who represent the continuing commitment, the artistic and personal growth, and the willingness to contribute to all areas of productions that are the heart and soul of OSHP.
Everyone who works with OSHP deserves recognition and our deepest thanks. The people honored with these awards have been selected as representatives of the Straw Hat spirit that is in all of us, the spirit of selfless dedication, service to the group as a whole, and the striving for excellence that we all aspire to. In honoring these people, we honor everyone who helps make OSHP possible.
Hats Off! Award Recipients
2025
Lexa B. Walker
2024
Stephanie Drahozal, Kaleb Hann, Nicholas Kapusta
2023
Evelyn Becker, Jordan Hake, Sydney Hake, Tracy Hines
2022
Sami Elmer, Bonnie Hann, Kyle Kapusta, Sierra Rottier, The Black Family, The Jacobs Family
Duane Draper Lifetime Achievement Award: Pete Nichols
2019
Tom Elmer, Querida Funck, Will Karls, Sue Milleville, John Unertl III
2018
Randy Moore, Curtis White, The Briski Family
Duane Draper Lifetime Achievement Award: Jen Nichols, Julie Wood
2017
Ashton Florence, Emily Richardson, The Unertl Family
2016
Caty Abitz, Jacob Berggren, Wade Crary, The Kapusta Family
Duane Draper Lifetime Achievement Award: Pamela Crary
2015
Maddie Fitzgerald, Elliot Jacobs, Kyle Kapusta, Lianna Schmidt, The Reynolds Family
2014
Brenda Abitz, Becky (Cripps) Rosenow, Laurie Fellenz, Rebekkah and Sarah Schultz, Steve Schumacher, Jonas Temte, The Crary Family, The Milleville Family, The Family of OSHP Orchestra Players
2013
Jessica Brooke, Erin Milleville, Alexander Smith, John Unertl IV, Ryan Wood, Steve Zach, The Abitz Family, The Fitzgerald Family
Duane Draper Lifetime Achievement Award: David Lawver, Jeanne Jacques O'Malley
2012
Pam Elmer, Caleb Mathura, Christopher Phistry, Karen Weber, Patty Zach
Duane Draper Lifetime Achievement Award: Sarah Karlen
2011
Pam Crary, Mike Gorman, Brett Kapusta, Emily Niemeyer, Dana Stein, Isabella Stein, The Wood Family
2010
Sami Elmer, Tom Elmer, Theresa Fosbinder, Gerry Karlen, Matt Rittenhouse, Larissa Root, Caitlin Zach, The Martin Family
Duane Draper Lifetime Achievement Award: Joel Kapusta
2009
Amanda, Olivia, and Tarah Crary; Nicholas Kapusta; Tiffany Root; Dan Subach; Allison Weber; Maureen Zach; The Wendy Jones Hill and Stan Hill Family; The Schmidt Family
2008
Shane Dammen, Jeff Fosbinder, Nathan Fosbinder, Alison Janssen, Jacque Milski, Emma Syth, The Weber Family, The Zach Family
2007
David Gooze, José Polansky, Stephanie Rittenhouse, Willy Subach, The Stein Family
Duane Draper Lifetime Achievement Award: Duane Draper (awarded retroactively)
Duane Draper Lifetime Achievement Award: Patricia Gullo Hetland
2006
Wade Crary, Sami Elmer, Rachel Hetland, Patrick Mielke, Jen Nichols, Jeanne Jacques O'Malley, The Oemichen Family, The Karlen Family
2005
Erin Dammen, Mary Gooze, Beth Hetland, Stan Hill, Joel Kapusta, The Crary Family, The Fosbinder Family
2004
Dale Bartz, Mike Gorman, Megan Hottman, Sarah Karlen, David Lawver, Bridget Zach, The Elmer Family, The Subach Family
2003
Amy Dachenbach, John Hetland, Wendy Jones, Chelsea Merrigan, Annette Nichols, Annie Oemichen, Joe Wilson, Steve Witherspoon, The Hetland Family, The Hill Family, The Nichols Family
2002
Duane Draper, Rachel Hetland, Dee Mitchell, Larry Serna, Charlie Uphoff, The Gooze Family
2001
Tammy Albrecht, Rebecca Crook, Querida Funck, Elizabeth Hetland, Joel Kapusta, Jace Nichols, Jen Nichols, Peter Nichols, Christopher Phistry, Christine Weigt, Laura Wineland, The Albrecht Family
2000
Patricia Gullo Hetland, David Lawver
1999
Matt Albrecht, Sarah Karlen, Jeanne Jacques O'Malley, Julie Seaborg, Eric Tissot, Louise Uphoff, Brendan Younger, The Wineland Family
1998
Emilea Pickett, Roger Allen Rickman, Clarissa Shockley, Robin Talley, Steve Witherspoon, The Hillary Family, The Kiss Me Kate Family
1997
Nancy Cox, Duane Draper, Peter Nichols, The Tissot Family
1996
Ryan Bertelson, Alison Janssen, James Mach, The Albrecht Family
Board Members Special Recognition: Duane Draper
1995
Nate Guenther, Patricia Gullo Hetland, Joel Kapusta, Annette Nichols, Jen Nichols, Deb Veenstra, Dan Williams, J. David Wright, The Hetland Family, The Nichols Family
1994
Christopher Brown, Laura Pitt, Bethanie Rufer, Fred Younger, The Uphoff Family
1993
Richard Atwood, Peter Nichols
1992
Julie Brindley Wood, Carrie Kummer, Jean Schaefer, Alice Seeliger
1991
Karen Tyler
1990
Duane Draper, Patricia Gullo Hetland, Phyllis Hanson, Paul Heitmann, Julie A. Hustad, Joel Kapusta, Kurt Schnabel, Karen Shockley
1989
Judy Heitmann, Jace Nichols, Jeanne Jacques O'Malley, Mary Rowe-Schmitz, Julie Seaborg, Michael A. Watts
Click here to read the guidelines for selection.