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.