At the IRA 57th Annual Convention in Chicago, many councils were honored at a special ceremony on Sunday, April 29, 2012 in Chicago Hilton & Towers’ International Ballroom.
The Award of Excellence is presented to those state and provincial councils that have distinguished themselves through organizing and implementing a wide range of programs and activities that, in their respective state or province, (1) serve and support councils, (2) contribute to education, and (3) coincide with and support the programs and goals of IRA.
The Honor Council program recognizes local, student and special interest councils that organize and conduct well-rounded programs serving both the council and the community.
Below are Award of Excellence and Honor Council recipients listed alphabetically by state, territory, or Canadian province. The number listed designates the total number of years Honor Council status has been achieved. The Honor Council program began 30 years ago, so councils with "30 years" next to their name have achieved Honor Council status for the entirety of the program.
Congratulations to all of these councils, and thank you for all of your hard work in the field of literacy!
ALABAMA
Alabama Reading Association
Peggy S. Teel, President
Award of Excellence
Baldwin County Reading Council
Rose M. Mitchell, President
Honor Council - 13 years
Elmore County Reading Council
Cindy Cochran, President
Honor Council - 6 years
Heritage Reading Council
Cathy Woodruff, President
Honor Council - 5 years
Jacksonville Reading Council
Lesley Ingram Bean, President
Honor Council - 5 years
Metro-Mobile Reading Council
Pamela McDade, President
Honor Council - 25 years
Northwest Alabama Council
Katie Kinney, President
Honor Council - 13 years
Rainbow Reading Council
Rachel Harbison, President
Honor Council - 22 years
Tennessee Valley Reading Council
Sharon Walker, President
Honor Council - 11 years
University of Mobile Reading Council
Candace Early, President
Honor Council - 5 years
ALASKA
Cook Inlet Literacy Council
Jessica Willis, President
Honor Council - 18 years
ARIZONA
Arizona Reading Association
Nancy Jean Brown, President
Award of Excellence
Central Arizona Reading Council
Carolee Sopicki, President
Honor Council - 20 years
Greater Paradise Valley Reading Council
Julie Berlin, President
Honor Council - 14 years
Phoenix West Council
Melissa Sue Selby, President
Honor Council - 27 years
Tucson Area Reading Council
Kristin Maynard, President
Honor Council - 29 years
Yavapai Reading Council
Joan Masaryk, President
Honor Council - 4 years
ARKANSAS
Arkansas Reading Association
Paula Findley, President
Award of Excellence
Arkadelphia Area Reading Council
Kaila Murphy, President
Honor Council - 13 years
Arkansas River Valley Reading Council
Sandra Mitchell, President
Honor Council - 3 years
Central Arkansas Council
Sarah Brown, President
Honor Council - 26 years
Grant County Reading Council
Tara Derby, President
Honor Council - 20 years
Jefferson County Council
Susan Bitely, President
Honor Council - 18 years
Mountain Home Area Reading Council
Marjorie Rosenkotter, President
Honor Council - 2 years
North Central Arkansas Reading Council
Jeanne Harvey, President
Honor Council - 28 years
Northeast Arkansas Council
Viola Snow, President
Honor Council - 12 years
Northwest Arkansas Council
Donna Owen, President
Honor Council - 19 years
Pinnacle Special Interest Reading Council
Francie Ross, President
Honor Council - 3 years
SEARK Reading Council
Julie Workman, President
Honor Council - 20 years
South Arkansas Reading Council
Dana Kelly, President
Honor Council - 16 years
Three Rivers Reading Council
Michele Newnum, President
Honor Council - 20 years
BRITISH COLUMBIA
British Columbia Literacy Council
Carrie Froese, President
Award of Excellence
CALIFORNIA
California Reading Association
Lynda Griblin, President
Award of Excellence
Alameda County Reading Association
Michele McKinley, President
Honor Council - 28 years
Contra Costa Reading Association
Grace Helen Maes, President
Honor Council - 28 years
East San Gabriel Valley Council
Gloria Ramos Gonzalez, President
Honor Council - 21 years
Gateway Reading Council
Nancy Rogers-Zegarra, President
Honor Council - 18 years
Greater San Diego Reading Association
Maureen Begley, President
Honor Council - 29 years
Inland Empire Reading Council
Loretta Cudney, President
Honor Council - 19 years
Kern Reading Association
Linda Stacey, President
Honor Council - 22 years
Orange County Reading Association
Laura Emerson, President
Honor Council - 30 years
Placer Area Reading Association
Taffy Maurer, President
Honor Council - 18 years
Sacramento Area Reading Council
Rosemary Rankin, President
Honor Council - 29 years
San Joaquin County Reading Association
Dr. Anne Werolin Weisenberg, President
Honor Council - 16 years
Santa Clara County Reading Council
Rachelle Romander, President
Honor Council - 29 years
COLORADO
Colorado Council
Cynthia Bryant, President
Award of Excellence
Fort Collins Council
Mary Stewart, President
Honor Council - 17 years
Jefferson County Council
Brian Fassbinder, President
Honor Council - 27 years
Pikes Peak Council
Claudia Miller, President
Honor Council - 24 years
Thompson Council
Jessica Elizabeth Endres, President
Honor Council - 23 years
Weld County Reading Council
Michele Warner, President
Honor Council - 24 years
CONNECTICUT
Connecticut Association for Reading Research
Judy Stone Moeller, President
Honor Council - 8 years
Connecticut Northwest Council
Agnes Burns, President
Honor Council - 1 year
Greater Hartford Area Council
Laura Caruso, President
Honor Council - 14 years
Southeastern Council
Andrea Sadler, President
Honor Council - 12 years
DELAWARE
Diamond State Reading Association
Maureen Keeney, President
Award of Excellence
IRA Student Literacy Council of the University of Delaware
Melanie Bugher, President
Honor Council - 2 years
Kent Council
Lindsay Osika, President
Honor Council - 19 years
Reading Council of Northern Delaware
Maureen Kenney and Mark Pietuszka, Presidents
Honor Council - 16 years
FLORIDA
Florida Reading Association
Maria Callis, President
Award of Excellence
Bay County Reading Association
Maggie Odom, President
Honor Council - 9 years
Duval County Reading Council
Lisa Wells, President
Honor Council - 24 years
Lee County Reading Council
Shannon Barone, President
Honor Council - 29 years
Okaloosa Reading Council
Angelle Crosby, President
Honor Council - 12 years
GEORGIA
Georgia Reading Association
Sallie Mills, President
Award of Excellence
Henry Heritage Reading Council
Anita Beasley, President
Honor Council - 7 years
GUAM
Guam Council
Neldie Pendon-Limtiaco, President
Honor Council - 16 years
ILLINOIS
Illinois Reading Council
Cynthia Wilson, President
Award of Excellence
Chicago Area Reading Association
Veronica Robinson, President
Honor Council - 19 years
East Central-EIU Reading Council
Jacquelynne Brosam, President
Honor Council - 15 years
Lewis & Clark Reading Council
Stephanie McAndrews, President
Honor Council - 9 years
Mid-State Reading Council
Teresa Arendell, President
Honor Council - 13 years
Northern Illinois Reading Council
Elizabeth Hoelting, President
Honor Council - 2 years
Prairie Area Reading Council
Ellen Kacic, President
Honor Council - 2 years
South Eastern Reading Council
Theresa Coker, President
Honor Council - 3 years
Suburban Council
Laura Polkoff, President
Honor Council - 18 years
Two Rivers Council
Priscilla Dwyer, President
Honor Council - 8 years
INDIANA
Indiana State Reading Association
Jessica Heidelberg, President
Award of Excellence
East Central Indiana Council
Chyenne Wilder, President
Honor Council - 3 years
Evansville Area Reading Council
Laura Specht, President
Honor Council - 27 years
Gary Reading Council
Steven Mitchell, President
Honor Council - 26 years
Hamilton County Reading Council
Lori Silbert, President
Honor Council - 13 years
IOWA
Iowa Reading Association
Julie Neal, President
Award of Excellence
Eastern Iowa Reading Council
Patricia Johnson, President
Honor Council - 14 years
Hardy Reading Council
Karla Bronzynski, President
Honor Council - 28 years
KANSAS
Kansas Reading Association
Donna Knoell, President
Award of Excellence
Eisenhower Area Reading Council
Janelle Riedy, President
Honor Council - 20 years
Flint Hills Council
Dawn Moews, President
Honor Council - 15 years
Geary County Council
Diana Spriggs, President
Honor Council - 27 years
KENTUCKY
Kentucky Reading Association
Cindy Parker, President
Award of Excellence
Blue Grass Area Council
Lisa King, President
Honor Council - 4 years
Greater Louisville Council
Synthia Selby, President
Honor Council - 7 years
Jesse Stuart Council
Marcia Ellis, President
Honor Council - 13 years
Lake Cumberland Area Reading Council
Angela Ballinger, President
Honor Council - 5 years
Murray, Kentucky Area Council
Chhanda Islam, President
Honor Council - 3 years
Pennyrile Council
Peggy Stirsman, President
Honor Council - 1 year
Western Kentucky Council
Jennifer Montgomery, President
Honor Council - 25 years
LOUISIANA
Louisiana Reading Association
Deborah Rickards, President
Award of Excellence
Acadiana Reading Council
Christine Menard, President
Honor Council - 4 years
North Louisiana Reading Council
Loretta Jaggers, President
Honor Council - 18 years
Northeast Louisiana Reading Association
Dewanna Eady, President
Honor Council - 8 years
St. Charles Parish Council
Shannon Diodene, President
Honor Council - 23 years
Zachary Area Reading Council
Angela Cassard, President
Honor Council - 1 year
MANITOBA
Manitoba Reading Association
Barb Galessiere, President
Award of Excellence
Manitoba Council of Reading Clinicians
Monique Gendre, President
Honor Council - 2 years
Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg
Cathy-Ann Winters, President
Honor Council - 26 years
MARYLAND
State of Maryland IRA Council
Leslie Sunderland, President
Award of Excellence
Anne Arundel County Reading Council
Lenora Fox, President
Honor Council - 26 years
Baltimore County Council
Heather Hollenbeck, President
Honor Council - 27 years
Carroll Reading Council
Susan Schultz, President
Honor Council - 23 years
Eastern Shore Reading Council
Amanda Banks, President
Honor Council - 23 years
Garrett Reading Council
Ruth Georg, President
Honor Council - 10 years
Harford County Reading Council
Susan Bollinger, President
Honor Council - 30 years
Howard County Council
Maria Moy, President
Honor Council - 27 years
Mid-Shore Reading Council
Susan Frank, President
Honor Council - 16 years
MASSACHUSETTS
Massachusetts Reading Association
Nancy Witherell, President
Award of Excellence
Berkshire Reading Council
Catherine Salvini, President
Honor Council - 8 years
Cape Cod Council
Judith Werner, President
Honor Council - 16 years
Central Massachusetts Reading Council
Martha Strachan, President
Honor Council - 27 years
Greater Boston Council
Jean Helstrom, President
Honor Council - 29 years
Massachusetts Association of College and University Reading Educators
Pamela Mason, President
Honor Council - 13 years
Nobscot Council
Marlene Correia, President
Honor Council - 28 years
Phyllis Allen Smith North Shore Council
Irene Duros, President
Honor Council - 25 years
Southeast Regional Reading Council
Janice Standring, President
Honor Council - 23 years
MICHIGAN
Michigan Reading Association
Sue Sharma, President
Award of Excellence
Kent Council
Robin MacQueen, President
Honor Council - 10 years
Wayne County Reading Council
Hakim Shahid, President
Honor Council - 28 years
MINNESOTA
Arrowhead Reading Council
Michelle Bowker, President
Honor Council - 29 years
Central Minnesota Reading Council
Sara Kathryn Martini, President
Honor Council - 17 years
Southwest Minnesota Reading Council
Cynthia Whaley, President
Honor Council - 16 years
MISSOURI
Missouri State Council
Terry Sherer, President
Award of Excellence
Lee's Summit Reading Council
Jessica Cox, President
Honor Council - 28 years
Northwest Missouri Council
Suzanne Thomas, President
Honor Council - 16 years
Springfield Council
Kerri Lyn Bruce, President
Honor Council - 29 years
St. Louis Suburban Council
Mitzi Brammer, President
Honor Council - 28 years
MONTANA
Montana State Reading Council
Leslie Ferrell, President
Award of Excellence
Central Montana Reading Council
Jennifer McAllister, President
Honor Council - 15 years
Northeast Montana Council
Jane Kolstad, President
Honor Council - 10 years
NEBRASKA
Nebraska State Reading Association
Dennis Dubry, President
Award of Excellence
Central Nebraska Council
Rebecca Bartlett, President
Honor Council - 30 years
Metropolitan Reading Council
Laurie Schmidt, President
Honor Council - 29 years
NEW JERSEY
Monmouth County Reading Council
Tara Barry, President
Honor Council - 16 years
Reading Council of Southern New Jersey
Christe Leakan, President
Honor Council - 19 years
West Jersey Reading Council
Susan Yoder, President
Honor Council - 29 years
NEW MEXICO
New Mexico State Council
Sheri Leckie, President
Award of Excellence
Gadsden Council
Nancy Bellagamba, President
Honor Council - 14 years
NEW YORK
New York State Reading Association
Joanne Joyner-Wells, President
Award of Excellence
Brooklyn Reading Council
Jacqueline Streets, President
Honor Council - 28 years
Central New York Council
Marguerite Sundberg, President
Honor Council - 29 years
Nassau Reading Council
Mary Dickinson, President
Honor Council - 24 years
Niagara Frontier Reading Council
Mary Beth Scumaci, President
Honor Council - 8 years
Rochester Area Council
Carole Pelttari, President
Honor Council - 3 years
NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina Reading Association
Mary Jo Floyd, President
Award of Excellence
Crystal Coast Reading Council
Dona Styron, President
Honor Council - 4 years
Moore County Council
Mary Ellen Skidmore, President
Honor Council - 24 years
Raleigh-Wake Council
Anita Stack and Jean House, Presidents
Honor Council - 22 years
Robeson County Reading Council
Anthony Spallino, President
Honor Council - 11 years
Twin Rivers Council
Janet Zinni, President
Honor Council - 20 years
NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota Reading Association
Leslie Hagemeister, President
Award of Excellence
North Central Reading Council
Melessa Bosh, President
Honor Council - 23 years
South Central North Dakota Reading Council
Melody Alme, President
Honor Council - 27 years
Valley Council
Alyssa Gilbertson, President
Honor Council - 16 years
OHIO
Euclid Council
Hanna Harad Szabo, President
Honor Council - 27 years
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma Reading Association
Laura Anderson, President
Award of Excellence
Northwest Reading Council
Connie Wise, President
Honor Council - 18 years
Tulsa County Reading Council
Meagan Moreland, President
Honor Council - 28 years
OREGON
Oregon Reading Association
April Hoy, President
Award of Excellence
Capital Reading Council
Kathleen Moran, President
Honor Council - 27 years
Driftwood Reading Council
Melia Jasso, President
Honor Council - 7 years
Emerald Empire Council
Kacey Kintscher, President
Honor Council - 13 years
Mid-Valley Reading Council
Cheryl Graham, President
Honor Council - 28 years
Portland Council of the International Reading Association
Rebecca Bard, President
Honor Council - 26 years
Sunset Reading Council
Judy Fisher, President
Honor Council - 6 years
Three Sisters Reading Council
Mary Hawes, President
Honor Council - 9 years
Umpqua Reading Council
Sandra Wright, President
Honor Council - 7 years
Vineyard Valleys Reading Council
Heidi Reinker, President
Honor Council - 9 years
PENNSYLVANIA
Keystone State Reading Association
Bethann McCain, President
Award of Excellence
Chester County Reading Association
Carol Harris, President
Honor Council - 20 years
Colonial Association of Reading Educators Council
Dale Harper, President
Honor Council - 25 years
Delaware County Council
Annemarie Jay, President
Honor Council - 9 years
Delaware Valley Reading Association
Theresa Deckebach, President
Honor Council - 29 years
Erie Reading Council
Anna Landers, President
Honor Council - 30 years
Lancaster-Lebanon Reading Council
Karen Heisner, President
Honor Council - 23 years
Seneca Reading Council
Sarah Seaton, President
Honor Council - 21 years
Tri-County Reading Council
Stacie Michelle Yanez, President
Honor Council - 21 years
SASKATCHEWAN
Kewetin Nene Council
Debby Noble, President
Honor Council - 12 years
SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina State Council
Faye Johnston, President
Award of Excellence
Berkeley Reading Council
Cathy Delaney, President
Honor Council - 21 years
Cherokee Reading Council
Tina Morris, President
Honor Council - 12 years
Columbia Area Reading Council
Beth Gilbert, President
Honor Council - 28 years
Edgefield Reading Council
Melinda Zipf, President
Honor Council - 3 years
Georgetown County Reading Council
Cynthia Kennington, President
Honor Council - 5 years
Greenville Area Council
Donna Tesner, President
Honor Council - 19 years
Laurens County Reading Council
Eddie Marshall, President
Honor Council - 11 years
Newberry County Reading Council
Rebekah Bruyere, President
Honor Council - 13 years
Palmetto Council
Mary Freeman, President
Honor Council - 28 years
Piedmont Reading Council
Denise Schweikart, President
Honor Council - 20 years
Saluda Reading Council
Ashley Brooke Oxner, President
Honor Council - 14 years
Spartanburg County Council
Amanda Cox, President
Honor Council - 16 years
TENNESSEE
Tennessee Reading Association
Deborah Setliff, President
Award of Excellence
Benton County Reading Association
Judith Matheny, President
Honor Council - 7 years
North Central Council
Mary Truka, President
Honor Council - 28 years
Smoky Mountain Reading Council
Liz Norton, President
Honor Council - 22 years
Tennessee Tech Council
Kim Wright, President
Honor Council - 27 years
VIRGINIA
Virginia State Reading Association
Jennifer Jones, President
Award of Excellence
Chesapeake Reading Council
Erin Stephens Royster, President
Honor Council - 27 years
Greater Washington Reading Council
Tiffany Lynne Brocious, President
Honor Council - 30 years
New River Valley Reading Council
Peggy Kincaid, President
Honor Council - 20 years
Newport News Reading Council
Sherry Edbauer, President
Honor Council - 30 years
Piedmont Area Reading Council
Joyce Spencer, President
Honor Council - 17 year
Portsmouth Council
Lisa Blount, President
Honor Council - 13 year
Richmond Area Reading Council
Caroline Head, President
Honor Council - 30 years
Roanoke Valley Council
Charles Richards, President
Honor Council - 24 years
Shenandoah Valley Reading Council
Anne Perdue, President
Honor Council - 23 years
Virginia Beach Reading Council
Eva Bryant, President
Honor Council - 30 years
WASHINGTON
Washington Organization for Reading Development (WORD)
Kristin Elizabeth Wobker Courtney, President
Award of Excellence
City of Seattle Council
Dr. Denise Gudwin, President
Honor Council - 2 years
Lake Washington Council
Megan Porter, President
Honor Council - 22 years
WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia Reading Association
Kimberly Burris, President
Award of Excellence
Brooke County Reading Council
Dr. Maryann Ehle, President
Honor Council - 6 years
Cabell County Reading Council
Summer James, President
Honor Council - 28 years
Harrison County Reading County Chrisanne Diaz, President
Honor Council - 28 years
Lincoln County Reading Council
Carol Turley, President
Honor Council - 1 year
Marion County Reading Council
Twyla Rote, President
Honor Council - 28 years
Marshall County Reading Council
Jennifer Lipinski, President
Honor Council - 12 years
Mason County Reading Council
Elaine Hussell, President
Honor Council - 19 years
Roane County Reading Council
Bruce Neal, President
Honor Council - 7 years
Webster County Highlander Reading Council
Tila Boyce, President
Honor Council - 13 years
Wood County Reading Council
Lois Meadows, President
Honor Council - 26 years
WISCONSIN
Wisconsin State Reading Association
Sandra Vander Velden, President
Award of Excellence
Headwaters Reading Council
Colleen Konicek and Brian Perriodin, Presidents
Honor Council - 16 years
Madison Area Reading Council
Janet Farnan and Robin Umber, Presidents
Honor Council - 21 years
Mid-East Area Reading Council
Emily Schwanke, President
Honor Council - 19 years