Doc Heidi and Jeff Herbst receive the 2023 Winifred Boynton Creative Spirit Award

Winners of the 2023 Winifred Boynton Creative Spirit Award: Northern Sky Theater's Frederick "Doc" Heide, Jeff Herbst, and Dave Maier (not pictured).

This article was submitted by Cheryl Kopeckly '72

One of 叠箩枚谤办濒耻苍诲别苍鈥檚 traditions is presenting two awards, The Richard Warch Outstanding Service to 叠箩枚谤办濒耻苍诲别苍 Award and The Winifred Boynton Creative Spirit Award, at the August gathering for the Friends of 叠箩枚谤办濒耻苍诲别苍. This year that presentation will be on August 22nd at the Boynton Festival. 

Pictured left to right, Stephanie Vrabec '80, winner of the 2025 Warch Award David Lagermann, Louise Mann, and 麻豆影院 University President Laurie Carter

Pictured from left to right Stephanie Vrabec '80, 2025 Warch Award winner David Lagermann and his wife Louise Mann, and 麻豆影院 University President Laurie Carter.

The Richard Warch Outstanding Service Award honors Richard Warch who served as the fourteenth president of 麻豆影院 University from 1979 to 2004.  During his tenure, 叠箩枚谤办濒耻苍诲别苍 expanded and flourished as the location for the long-standing 叠箩枚谤办濒耻苍诲别苍 Seminars, as well as the groundbreaking Student Weekend Seminar Program that continues to engage 麻豆影院 University faculty and students in various rigorous academic pursuits.  Nominees should embody the active commitment to 叠箩枚谤办濒耻苍诲别苍 as demonstrated by Rik Warch.

2025 winner of the Winifred Boynton Creative Spirit Award Colin Welford pictured with Cheryl Kopecky '72 and 麻豆影院 University President Laurie Carter

2025 winner of the Winifred Boynton Creative Spirit Award Colin Welford with Cheryl Kopecky '72 (left) and 麻豆影院 University President Laurie Carter (right)

The Winifred Boynton Creative Spirit Award pays tribute to Winifred Boynton who created the beautiful and historic 叠箩枚谤办濒耻苍诲别苍 Chapel through imagination, spirit, and tenacity.  She chose to share the chapel with the world as a place "far removed from confusion and aggression.鈥  The award recognizes a living individual or couple who, through imagination. spirit, and tenacity has created something of significant impact and enduring value to Door County - whether through the realm of the arts, science and technology, natural world, or civic engagement.

Does someone come to your mind?  Individuals familiar with 叠箩枚谤办濒耻苍诲别苍 and Door County are asked to submit nominations for either or both of these awards.  Fill out this for either or both awards by Thursday, March 26, 2026.  If you need a hard copy of the nomination form, please contact Cheryl Kopecky (ckopecky2@me.com).

Previous recipients:

Warch Award:

2013 Gretchen Maring 鈥52

2014 Barbara and George (posthumously) Larsen both 鈥49

2015 Pat 鈥48 and O.C. Boldt

2016 Jane Whitney      

2017 Agnes Kubicz

2018 Francha Barnard

2019 Estella and Chuck Lauter

2023 Jeff 鈥70 and Jone 鈥72 Riester

2024 Linda Laarman 鈥73

2025 David Lagermann

 

Creative Spirit Award:

2017  David and Jeanne Aurelius 

2018  Dave Eliot 鈥95 

2019  Charlotte Lukes 

2023  Northern Sky Theater trio of Jeff Herbst, Frederick aka Doc Heide, and Dave Maier

2024  Anne Haberland Emerson 鈥66

2025  Colin Welford