THE GARDEN CLUB OF EVANSTON AWARDS
Garden Club of America National Medals and Awards
Eloise Payne Luquer Medal | Special Achievement in the Field of Botany
1952 Dr. Margery Claire Carlson
Sarah Gildersleeve Fife Award | For exceptionally fine publications, unusual design in planting, horticultural research and other rare accomplishment or service to the world of gardening.
1954 Dr. Margery Claire Carlson
Founders Fund
1947 Waukegan Dunes, Waukegan, IL
1983 Grosse Point Lighthouse Park, Evanston, IL ($2,000)
1984 Grosse Point Lighthouse Park, Evanston, IL ($4,500)
2023 Sowing and Growing Evanston Grows: Urban Gardens and Community, Evanton, IL ($30,000)
Elizabeth Abernathy Hull Award
2013 Linda Kruhmin, The Talking Farm | Proposed by Garden Club of Evanston, Kim Perutz
Certificate of Honor
2015 The Garden Club of Evanston, 100th Anniversary
2019 Mark R. Brand for the layout and design of The History of the GCE Book
GCA Chair of Scholarship
2021 - 2022 Claudia Lane
GCA Horticulture Award
2022 Cie Bond | For contributions to the GCE community in creating the Levy Center vegetable gardens
Zone XI Awards
Zone Director’s Award
2012 Reed Hagee
2017 Virginia M. Noyes
Medal of Merit
2004 Mary K. Nahse
2005 Ruth Connor
2007 Teiko Jordan
2007 Virginia M. Noyes
2013 Kathy Hardgrove
2013 Mary Lu O’Malley
2013 Jane Peterson
2015 Nancy Dorr
2015 Sue Durburg
2015 Claudia Lane
2015 Barbara Rosborough
2016 Victoria Wagner
2017 Ann Ziegelmaier
2018 Joan Schneider
2019 Mary Nahser and Mary Lu O’Malley
Barbara Spaulding Cramer Award | Floral Design Education
1996 Virginia M. Noyes
2019 Bryn Wagner Hanson and Andrea Knohl
Creative Leadership Award
1998 Elizabeth R. Schroeder
Club Appreciation Award
1996 Mary K. Nahser
1998 Ellen Newcomer
1999 Mary Ann Grumman
2001 Virginia M. Noyes
2002 Nancy Dorr
2003 Reed Hagee
2004 Nancy Dorr
2005 Olga Balch
2007 Teiko Jordan
2009 Margo Brown
2010 Alex Piper
2016 Trish Barr
2017 Bryn Wagner Hanson
2017 Andrea Knohl
2018 Lisa Hershenson
2019 Maureen Conway
2020 Kristy Brown
Civic Improvement Award
2005 Pam Elesh
2005 Colleen Houlahan
2007 Pam Elesh
Communication Award
2013 Mary K. Nahser
2017 Kim Cohen
2018 Tracy Gallun
2020 Marg Gambow
2021 Bonnie Shapiro
Conservation Award
1980 Margaret Carlson
1982 Eleanor Boynton
1998 Pam Elesh
2005 Joan Jenkins
2010 Reed Hagee
2016 Barbara Putta
2018 Judy Iacuzzi
2018 Barbara Putta
Historic Preservation Award
1989 Elizabeth R. Schroeder
2007 Mary Ann Grumman
2012 Pam Elesh
2017 Garden Club of Evanston for Shakespeare Garden Renovation
Horticulture Award
1976 Gary Owen
1990 Elise Felton
2006 Victoria Wagner
2013 Susan Carlson
2019 Linda Eggers
Horticulture Achievement Certificate
1969 Bess Kelly
1969 Mrs. Warren Buckley
1976 Jean Haas
2002 Victoria Wagner
Photography Award
2016 Mary Ann Grumman
2018 Erica Granchalek
Judging Award
2010 Virginia M. Noyes
Marilyn Sward Photography Award | Created by GCE in honor of member Marilyn Sward, who excelled in paper art and photography
2009 Nancy Dickie
Club Garden History & Design Award | In appreciation for dedication in documenting the Dorr garden for entry into the Smithsonian Archives of American Gardens
2020 Mary Ann Grumman
Garden Club of America Flower Show Awards at Show of Summer
Ann Lyon Crammond Award | For Education
1998 Nancy Dorr
2002 Coni Lyman
2008 Mary Ann Grumman
2008 Erica Granchalek
2014 Kim Cohen
2014 Linda Clarke
2017 Garden Club of Evanston, Lin Clarke and Victoria Wagner
Dorothea Wallace Medal
An arrangement of exceptional beauty | Betty Collins, Mrs. Alfred, President of GCE 1967-69, was the daughter of DorotheaWallace
1980 Virginia M. Noyes
1980 Elizabeth R. Schroeder
1998 Claudia Lane
1998 Elizabeth R. Schroeder
The American Horticultural Society Award
1981, ’83 Elise Felton
The American Horticultural Society Citation, Show of Summer Challenge Garden
1981, ’84, 86, ’88, ’90, and ’92 The Garden Club of Evanston
The Chicago Horticulture Society Medal
1959 Betty Collins
1981, ’82, ’84, ’86, ’87, ‘88, and ’90 Elise Felton
2011 Bernice Valantinas
Krasberg Award
1988 Elise Felton
Elizabeth Platt Corning Medal | An entry of exceptional merit notable for its cultural difficulty
1986 Elise Felton
1987 Elise Felton
Fenwick Medal | A work of creative, outstanding beauty for an arrangement of cut plant material, fruits, or vegetables
1988 Joan M. Porter
1988 Elizabeth R. Schroeder
2004 Nancy Dorr
2004 Claudia Lane
Marion Thompson Fuller Brown Conservation Award
1995 The Garden Club of Evanston, Judith Ferguson
Certificate of Excellence in Conservation
1998 Nancy Dorr
2002 Coni Lyman
2008 Erica Granchalek
2008 Mary Ann Grumman
2010 Reed Hagee
Certificate of Excellence in Horticulture
1982, ’83, ’85, ’86, ’87 and ’89 Elise Felton
2000 Victoria Wagner
Best in Show, Flower Arranging
2004 Nancy Dorr
2004 Claudia Lane
2014 Claudia Lane
Novice Award in Flower Arranging
2008 Melissa Clary
2008 Jennifer O’Shaughnessy
Best in Show, Horticulture
2002 Victoria Wagner
2004 Victoria Wagner
2014 Sue Carlson
Novice Award in Horticulture
2008 Sue Carlson
2011 Karen Vroegh
Novice Award in Photography - First Place
2020 Laura Boylan
Best in Show Photography
2008 Mary Ann Grumman
2014 Mary Ann Grumman
Best in Show, Flower Arranging Club Challenge
2008 Ann Bartling, Pam Elesh, Claudia Lane, Marti Lannert,, Coni Lyman, Virginia Noyes and Barbara Putta
2017 Garden Club of Evanston for Charlotte’s Web
Blue Ribbon for Club Challenge
2002 Kathy Hardgrove, Mary Ann Grumman, Marilyn Sward, Victoria Wagner
Judges Commendation for Flower Arranging Schedule
1995 The Garden Club of Evanston, Virginia M. Noyes
Judges Commendation for Horticulture Class
1995 The Garden Club of Evanston, Victoria Wagner
Judges’ Commendations for Show of Summer (32 Commendations)
2014 The Garden Club of Evanston, Nancy Dorr, Claudia Lane, Barbara Rosborough
Chicago World Flower and Garden Show
Bulkley Medal | Minimum of three exhibits of special merit
1974 The Garden Club of Evanston
1976 The Garden Club of Evanston
Dorthea Wallace Medal
1968 Garden Club of Evanston
1970 Garden Club of Evanston
Gold Medal for Non-Commercial Small Exhibit
1969 Garden Club of Evanston
Blue Ribbon – Flower Arranging
1962 Mrs. John C. Meiners
1962 Mrs. Barton H. Cameron
1968 Mrs. Stewart Owen and committee
Award of Excellence – Horticulture
2005 Victoria Wagner
Best in Class – Horticulture
1998 Victoria Wagner
Best in Class – Photography
2006 Mary Ann Grumman
First Place – Horticulture
1961 Mrs. Alexander M. Thompson
2006 Sally Dumas
First Place – Photography
2006 Nancy Dickie
First Place – Topiary
2005 Olga Balch
The Garden Club of Evanston Club Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award - for contributions of consistent involvement with and mentoring of members and leadership in so many areas.
2021 Mary Ann Grumman
50-Year Service Award
2021 Beth Schroeder
2022 Abby Goddard
45-Year Service Award
2021 Margaret Carlson (posthumous)
2021 Connie Lyman
2021 Nancy Freeman
35-Year Service Award
2021 Jan Walsh
2021 Joan Wing
2023 Mary Nahser
2023 Vickie Wagner (Emeritus)
30-Year Service Award
2021 Pam Elesh
2021 Jackie Crichfeld
2021 Claudia Lane
2022 Terri Hummel
2022 Margo Brown
2022 Judy Ferguson
2022 Olga Balch
2023 Sally Dumas
2023 Mary Jo Crosby
2023 Claudia Lane
25-Year Service Award
2022 Ann Ziegelmaier
2022 Nancy Dickie
2022 Kathy Hardgrove
2023 Joanne TerMolen
2023 Marti Lannert
2023 Sue Durburg
2023 Freddi Hoyt
Certificate of Appreciation - Civics
1997 Susan Heiberger
1998 Judith Ferguson
1999 Janna Caldarelli
2020 Anne Berkeley
Certificate of Appreciation
2005 Ann Ziegelmaier
2006 Meta Dalton
2006 Pat Graham
2006 Terri Hummel
2006 Kathy Riley
2007 Sue Durburg
2007 Kathy Hardgrove
2008 Sally Dumas
2008 Erica Granchalek
2008 Marilyn Sward
2009 Sue Carlson
2010 Trish Barr
2010 Reed Hagee
2010 Liz Rorke
2011 Jane Peterson
2012 Trish Barr
2012 Lora Swanson
2012 Joannie TerMolen
2012 Susan TePas
2013 Ann Bartling
2013 Marti Lannert
2014 Olga Balch
2014 Lin Clarke
2015 Margo Brown
2015 Mary Ann Grumman
2015 Mary Nahser
2015 Virginia Noyes
2015 Elizabeth Schroeder
2015 Sarah Wright
2016 Olga Balch (History)
2016 Linda Beck (Treasurer)
2016 Ceil Bouchet (GCA Annual Meeting)
2016 Rose Caldwell (Flower Arranging)
2016 Lin Clarke (NAL)
2016 Nancy Dickie (History)
2016 Kathy Hardgrove (History)
2016 Freddie Hoyt (History)
2016 Judy Iacuzzi (Photographer)
2016 Mary Nahser (History)
2016 Mary Lu O’Malley (History)
2016 Jane Peterson (History)
2016 Regina Wootton (GCA Annual Meeting)
2016 Sarah Wright (Flower Arranging)
2017 Jill Callian (Bylaws)
2017 Pam Elesh (Butterfly garden)
2017 Marti Lannert (Lighthouse Landing Wildflower Trail)
2017 Alex Piper (New Project)
2017 Barbara Rosborough (Shakespeare Garden)
2018 Trish Barr (Bylaws)
2018 Emily DeStefano ( Weddings)
2018 Nina Donnelly ( All Around Help)
2018 Joanne Ter Molen ( Membership)
2019 Ceil Bouchet (New Fundraiser)
2019 Cie Bond (Shakespeare)
2019 Erica Granchalek (Photography)
2019 Mark Brand (History Book)
2020 Leslie Sevcik ( Programs)
2020 Nina Donnelley ( Newsletter)
2021 Katie Porter (Fundraising)
2021 Kim Pigozzi (Education)
2021 Donna Frett (Education)
2021 Joan Schneider (Club Bylaws)
2022 Kim Moloney (Recording Secretary)
2022 Kim Cohen (DEI Initiatives)
2022 Donna Frett (Nominating Committee)
2022 Amy Ward (Newsletter)
2022 Kim Perutz (Shakespeare Weddings)
2023 Monica Martinson (Corresponding Secretary)
2023 Donna Frett (DEI, Horticulture)
2023 Nina Donnelly (Flower Show Co-Chair)
2023 Pam Elesh (Flower Show Co-Chair)
2023 Kristy Brown (Fundraising)
2023 Loreen Mershimer (Horticulture Chair)
2023 Maureen Conway (Civic Projects and Grants)
2023 Julia Sagraves (GCA Founder’s Fund Grant)
2023 Ann McMahon (Special Medal of Merit from the GCA for her work for Evanston Grows)
Horticultural Award
1960 Mrs. George Sollitt
1986 Jean Haskin
2011 Liz Rorke
Awards to Non-Members
The GCA Zone XI Historic Preservation Certificate
2002 Donald J. Terras, Director, Lighthouse Park District and Grosse Pointe Lighthouse
Horticulture Award
2002 James Schuster, Educator, University of Illinois Extension
The GCA Club Civic Improvement Commendation
2010 Eleanor Revelle
Garden Club of Evanston Certificate of Appreciation
2010 Thomas M. McMahon
2015 City of Evanston
2020 Paul D’Agostino ( Evanston Environmental Specialist)
Garden Club of America Horticulture Commendation
2012 Adam Schwerner, Director, Chicago Department of Natural Resources
Garden Club of America Historic Preservation Award
2015 Northwestern University | For sustaining Shakespeare Garden on its campus for 100 years
2022 Eden Perlman Evanston History Center | For shepherding multiple projects at EHC which is located in the Charles Gates Dawes House.
Garden Club of America Certificate of Appreciation
2015 William Stafford, Chief Financial Officer, Evanston Township High School for Arboretum Project
Other Special Awards
National Register of Historic Places
1988 Shakespeare Garden
Evanston Preservation Commission and the Preservation League Award
1985 Lighthouse Wildflower Trail Garden
Community Service Award, Illinois Parks and Recreation Association
1990 Lighthouse Wildflower Trail Garden Volunteers
Illinois Association of Park Districts
1990 Lighthouse Wildflower Trail Garden Volunteers
The Garden Club of America – National Flower Arranging Judge and Artistic Judge
1982 Virginia M. Noyes
National Federated Judge
1982 Virginia M. Noyes
The American Herb Society – Highest Award
1986 Jean Haskin
National Council of State Garden Clubs – Life Master Judge
1997 Virginia M. Noyes
The Garden Club of America – National Horticulture Judge
1998 Victoria Wagner
Horticulture Certificate of Merit-Professional Gardener Level 1
2018 Karen Doherty
Master Gardener Certificates
1993 Holly Sunshine
1995 Victoria Wagner
1996 Mary Jo Crosby
1996 Jan Walsh
1998 Susan Heiberger
1998 Ellen Newcomer
1998 Mary O’Meara
1998 Vicki Verity
2001 Paula Twilling
2003 Erica Granchalek
2012 Donna Frett
National Garden Clubs, Inc. | Certificate of Merit in recognition 100th Anniversary
2015 The Garden Club of Evanston
Garden Clubs of Illinois
Certificate of Appreciation in recognition 100th Anniversary of The Garden Club of Evanston
Garden Club of America Zone XI Committee Members
Elizabeth R. Schroeder
1983-84 Zone XI Horticulture Committee
1994-96 Zone XI Chair
1996-98 Zone XI Director, GCA Board
1997-99 Zone XI Representative, GCA Admissions Committee
Vicky Verity
2000-02 Zone XI Representative, GCA Public Relations Committee
Victoria Wagner
2001-03 Zone XI Representative, GCA Horticulture Committee
Nancy Dorr
1995-97 Zone XI Representative, GCA Public Relations Committee
2005-07 Zone XI Representative, GCA Bulletin Committee
Pamela Elesh
2007-09 Zone XI Representative, GCA Founders Fund Committee
Marilyn Sward
2007-09 Zone XI Vice-Chair, Photography
Virginia Noyes
2015-2017 Zone XI Vice-Chair
Trish Barr
2015-2017 Zone XI Representative, GCA Admissions Committee
Claudia Lane
2017-2019 Vice Chair, GCA Scholarship Committee and GCA Liaison to the Royal Horticultural Society, United Kingdom