Awards

Every two years ACE gives awards to celebrate our thriving community and the individuals who inspire and drive circus education forward.

Nominations for the 2022 ACE Awards closed Sept 15, 2022.

Excellence in Education Award

This biennial award is given to an individual based in the USA who demonstrates excellence in circus education. The recipient of this award will demonstrate the following qualities:

– outstanding and unique contributions to the field of circus education
– serves as an inspiration, role model, and mentor for students and other educators
-significant impact on students achievement and passion for circus and/or the success of other circus educators
– 10 years or more dedicated to circus arts education

Innovation in Education Award

This biennial award is given to an individual based in the USA who demonstrates innovative techniques, approaches, or methods in circus education for any population.   Their innovation may be recognized on the local, national, or international level.  The recipient of this award will demonstrate the following qualities:

– steadfast devotion to innovating circus education techniques
– notable efforts to make their innovative methods available to the greater circus education community through outreach, publication, workshops, presentations, etc.
-significant impact on students achievement and passion for circus and/or the success of other circus educators
– innovates methods that can be adapted in diverse circus settings
-fosters new instructional approaches that represent advances over existing approaches

Lifetime Achievement Award

This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated a lifetime of contribution to the circus education community in the USA. They have demonstrated the following qualities and characteristics over the course of an entire career as as a circus educator:

– steadfast devotion to circus education in the USA
– has been a pioneer for innovation and specialization in education techniques
– has enabled future generations of circus artists and educators
– has a notable legacy throughout the entire USA
– has made positive and quality contributions of national scope.

Previous Award Winners

2022 Award Winners:

Innovation in Circus Education – Erin Ball

Excellence in Circus Education – Troy Wunderle

2020 Award Winners:

Innovation in Circus Education – Veronica Blair

Excellence in Circus Education – Jackie Davis

Lifetime Achievement Award – Hovey Burgess

2018 Award Winners:

Innovation in Circus Education – Jen Crane

Excellence in Circus Education – Carrie Heller

2016 Award Winners:

Innovation in Circus Education – Jaron Hollander & Victoria Angello, Kinetic Arts Center

Excellence in Circus Education – Elsie Smith and Serenity Smith Forchion

Lifetime Achievement Award – Judy Finelli

Legacy Award – Rick Davis

2014 Award Winners:

Innovation in Circus Education – Craig Quat

Excellence in Circus Education – Jessica Hentoff

Lifetime Achievement Award – Master Lu Yi

Questions about our awards? Contact info@americanyouthcircus.org