Michigan Museums Association - Past Award Recipients

Past Award Recipients

The Michigan Museums Association is pleased to recognize excellence and service in the Michigan museum community.

Peninsulas Prize recipients are selected annually by the MMA Board of Directors after a public nomination process. Awards are presented for leadership; diversity, equity, access, inclusion or community engagement projects; and for advocacy.

Colleague Champion awards are presented to individuals who have been nominated by a colleague for their efforts on a project or team, or for their service to their museum or community.

Winners are listed by year awarded. Click the year to see the press release and recipient photos.

2025
Kim Kelderhouse - Peninsulas Prize: Leadership
Nathan Kemler - President's Award
Sanilac County Historic Village & Museum - Peninsulas Prize: Community Engagement

Rep. Will Snyder - Peninsulas Prize: Advocacy
Colleague Champion - 31 awarded, full list at link.

2024

Tami Fauver - Peninsulas Prize: Leadership
Tim Chester & Henry Matthews - President's Award
Detroit Historical Society - Peninsulas Prize: Community Engagement/DEAI
Colleague Champion - 23 awarded, full list at link.

2023

Katie Trzaska-Miller - Peninsulas Prize: Leadership
George Moroz - President's Award
Holland Museum - Peninsulas Prize: DEAI/Community Engagement
Colleague Champion - 21 awarded, full list at link.

2022

Phil Porter - Peninsulas Prize: Leadership
Mark Heppner - President's Award
Saugatuck-Douglas History Center - Peninsulas Prize: DEAI/Community Engagement
Colleague Champion - 17 awarded, full list at link.

2020

The 2020 awards were presented to 57 individuals for good works throughout 2020. Please click on link above to learn more about the recipients.

2019

Louise Stewart Beck - MMA Volunteer of the Year
Dr. Bradley Taylor - President's Award
Michigan State University Museum - Peninsula's Prize
Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Campus - Outreach Award
Grand Rapids Children's Museum - Outreach Award Honorable Mention

2018

Julie Cook - MMA Volunteer of the Year
John Bracey - President's Award
Daniel Truckey - Peninsulas Prize
Birmingham Museum - Outreach Award

2017

Melanie Parker - MMA Volunteer of the Year
Sandra Sageser Clark - President's Award
Detroit 67 Collaboration - Peninsulas Prize (Detroit Historical Society, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit Institute of Arts)

2016

Bettina Cousineau - MMA Volunteer of the Year
Juanita Moore - President's Award
Sloan*Longway - Peninsulas Prize

2015

Sanam Arab - MMA Volunteer of the Year
Marilyn Merdzinski - President's Award
Nancy Bryk - Peninsulas Prize
David Pilgrim - Peninsulas Prize

2014

Fannie Hoeksema - Unsung Hero
Gene Jenneman - President's Award
Peninsulas Prize - Graham Beal
Birmingham Historical Museum and Park - Best New Experience

2013

Tom Howes - Unsung Hero
Steve Arseneau - President's Award
The BEL - Best New Experience
Grand Valley State University Art Gallery - Best New Publication (Budget less than $500,000)
Kalamazoo Valley Museum - Best New Publication (Budget greater than $500,000)
Collections Objects and Hands-on Exhibits/Interactions - Most Thought Provoking Conference Session

2012

Lew Crusoe - MMA Volunteer of the Year
Gregory Witkopp - President's Award
Muskegon Museum of Art - Peninsulas Prize

2011

Bill Falkenberg - MMA Volunteer of the Year
Ray Silverman - President's Award/Peninsulas Prize
Devos Art Museum at NMU and Marquette Regional History Center - Most Awesome Experience

2010

Publication Awards

Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society
Cranbrook Art Museum
The Henry Ford
Mackinac State Historic Parks

The Michigan Museums Association is supported in part by an award from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council.

Thank you to our Partners!

Michigan Museums Association 313-334-7643 PO Box 5246, Cheboygan, MI 49721 lcbrisson@michiganmuseums.org