IESA Headlines

2022 Fine Art Award Winners: Lisa Lox, Susie Lafary, and Carole Rogers

The recipients who earned the Fine Art recognition awards -- the Distinguished Service Award and the Class Act Award -- are teacher-coaches who have set the bar high.

Given for the first time during the 2009-10 school year, the criteria for the two awards is similar. The recipients must be actively involved in IESA Speech. The recipients must demonstrate the ability to develop and promote standards of good performance practices, integrity and life skills within their students. The contributions of both award winners must have positively impacted students and the school community.

For the Distinguished Service Award winner, the contributions must be significant and/or long term for someone involved with Speech for over eight years of coaching. For the Class Act Award winner, the contributions are from someone involved with Speech for at least 3 and not more than 8 years of coaching.

Lisa Lox, who has coached the speech team for over 20 years at Stronghurst West Central, is the 2022 Distinguished Service Award winner. Lisa has always put her whole heart into coaching. Within her small school, she has cultivated a program that welcomes all members of her school community. Her dedication to her students has seen her students' continued participation throughout their junior high and high school careers. Lisa encourages her students to participate in as many performances as possible by setting up multiple opportunities in her school and community to showcase their hard work. She has also served the activity as a judge, served on the Speech Advisory Committee and hosted many contests.

Susie Lafary, the coach at Lewistown Junior High for over 20 years, is also a recipient of the 2022 Distinguished Service Award. Susie works to highlight performance within her community. She is involved with speech at the junior high, high school and within her community theatre program. She is a true advocate for the activity and believes that speech fosters confidence in students, builds camaraderie among team members and promotes a strong work ethic. Susie is an active recruiter for the activity within her school and has a knack for guiding those that have joined her troupe to perform successfully at events.

The Ken Bradbury Lifetime Service award is presented to individuals in the Speech community who have given considerable time and talent to the activity.

This year the Ken Bradbury Award is being presented to Carole Rogers. Carole has been a staunch supporter of IESA Speech for over 40 years. She was a part of the Speech Advisory Committee that has shaped and guided the growth of the activity. Carole has served as a coach and built a tremendous program, she has been a member of the Speech advisory committee, workshop presenter, and loyal advocate for the students/coaches/and activity. Her work as a judge and judge representative has been insightful and supportive. IESA is, and continues, to be one of the finest programs offered because of the active support of individuals like Carole Rogers.

Congratulations to Lisa Lox, Susie Lafary and Carole Rogers.