Nominations for the Arts Person of the Year award are being accepted until January 24, 2025.
This award was created in 2014 by the Arts Council to recognize those who have made a significant positive impact on the arts in Stanly County, and who have worked diligently to support, promote, and create quality arts experiences for the whole community.
Anyone who lives or works in Stanly County can nominate someone for this award. The nominees should also live or work in Stanly County and should meet the previously mentioned award criteria.
Winner will be announced at the upcoming Celebration of the Arts, Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center. The Awards Ceremony will be held at 2 pm. The Celebration of the Arts is open to the public from 9 am – 2:00 pm . The recipient of the Arts Person of the Year award will be honored with a $250 donation to the arts group of their choosing in Stanly County.
2014 Fine Arts Educator of the Year: Lori Watson, Music Teacher at Stanfield & Locust Elementary
2014 Arts Person of the Year: Charlotte Maness
2015 Fine Arts Educator of the Year: Michelle Osborne, Central Elementary Art Teacher
2015 Arts Person of the Year: Angela Moore
2016 Arts Person of the Year: Wes Tucker
2016 Fine Arts Educator of the Year: Stacy Bottoms, West Stanly Middle School Art Teacher
2017 Arts Person of the Year: Carmella Hedrick
2017 Fine Arts Educator of the Year: Jessica Alvarez Kiser, Albemarle Middle School Band Director
2018 Fine Arts Educator of the Year: Frank Poolos, North Stanly Middle School & High School Band Director
2018 Arts Person of the Year: Tim Harris
2019 Fine Arts Educator of the Year: Rebekah Crisco, North Stanly Middle School Visual Art Teacher
2019 Arts Person of the Year: John Williams
2020 Fine Arts Educator of the Year: Derek Smith, West Stanly High School Band Director
2020 Arts Person of the Year: Aza Hudson
2021 Fine Arts Educator & Arts Person of the Year:
Honored all Stanly County Schools Visual Art, Music, and Theatre teachers (Elementary, Middle School & High School)
2022 Arts Person(s) of the Year: Kent Harkey & Edna Lipe-Harkey
2022 Fine Arts Educator of the Year: Randy Fike, West Stanly High School Visual Art Teacher
2023 Fine Arts Educator of the Year: Wanda Maness, South Stanly High School Visual Art Teacher
2023 Arts Person of the Year: Tim Hedrick
2024 Arts Person of the Year: Lisa Ewers
2024 Fine Arts Educator of the Year: Julie Starnes, Locust Elementary Visual Art Teacher
