SDMEA OUTSTANDING ADMINISTRATOR AWARD
Don Hotchkiss, Freeman

A Pickstown, S.D. native, Don Hotchkiss graduated from Andes Central High School in Lake Andes, S.D. in 1973. While in high school, Don participated in Boys and Mixed Chorus, Concert, Jazz and Marching Band. Mr. Hotchkiss earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Yankton College in 1977 and began his teaching and coaching career at Ipswich High School in Ipswich, S.D. In 1988, he earned his Masters Degree in Secondary School Administration from Northern State University in Aberdeen. Mr. Hotchkiss accepted the positions of Secondary Principal and Athletic Director in Freeman, S.D. in the fall of 1989. In 1994, Mr. Hotchkiss accepted the Superintendent position at Freeman High School. Mr. Hotchkiss earned his Educational Specialist Degree from the University of South Dakota in 1996.

Over the past 28 years, Mr. Hotchkiss has been involved with various professional organizations as a Principal, Athletic Director and Superintendent. Don has served as the Cornbelt Conference, District 10 and Region 5 Chairman for various athletic activities and served as the Region I Music Chairman for 7 years. Mr.Hotchkiss states, I have had the good fortune to work with dedicated, talented musicians and professional staff during my career in education. These talented individuals play a huge role in making Public Education fun and exciting each and every day. Thanks to all of you for what you add to our lives and our schools. Keep up the great work!

SDMEA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO MUSIC AWARD
Glenyta Hanson, Sioux Falls

Glenyta Hanson is currently in her fifteenth year as head Choral Director at Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls. Mrs. Hanson holds both a BA and an MAA from Augustana College and has done extensive post-graduate work at various colleges and universities across the United States.

Glenyta has taught in Sioux Falls her entire career. She began in the elementary schools of Cleveland, Irving, South Sioux and Hayward then taught junior high at Patrick Henry and Axtell Park. At her current position, she directs the Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Cadet Choir and Canto Fratelli, a boy s ensemble. In addition to teaching at Lincoln, Mrs. Hanson is also the choir director at East Side Lutheran Church and has been the director of the Singing Boys of Sioux Falls since 1988. Her High School and Singing Boys choirs have traveled and performed extensively across the United States. Many of her students have been chosen to sing in state, regional and national Honors Choirs. She is also the choir director at East Side Lutheran Church.

A graduate of Canton High School, Glenyta was very active in vocal and instrumental groups and accompanied many vocal groups and soloists. She recalls with fond memories her first experience as a student at All-State Chorus and the thrilling moment of the first chord with the hundreds of students singing together.

Very active in professional organizations, Mrs. Hanson is a member of MENC, SDMEA, NEA, Delta Kappa Gamma and a lifelong member of ACDA. She currently serves as State Manager of SDMEA. Also an active member of the community, she has served on various boards. She has been selected for Who s Who Among American Teachers.
 

SDMEA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO MUSIC AWARD
Corliss Johnson, Brookings

Dr. Corliss Johnson holds both Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Science in
Music Degrees from Kansas State Teacher s College. Before joining the Music Department faculty at South Dakota State in 1972, he completed work toward the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at the University of Colorado. Since that time Dr. Johnson has served SDSU, the state, and the region in diverse ways.

Within the South Dakota State University Music Department, he functioned as Associate Director of Bands, music literature teacher, applied clarinet and saxophone instructor, jazz improvisation teacher, Director of Jazz Activities, and served as Department Head from 1994 to 2005. In addition, Dr. Johnson has been an active recitalist in both jazz and classical music traditions and has premiered several compositions written expressly for him. He served as Principal Clarinetist with the SDSU-Civic Symphony for twenty-one years.

He has been active in the state and region as an adjudicator in the following ways: the South Dakota All-StateBand, All-State Orchestra, and All-State Jazz Ensemble; the Iowa Tall Corn Jazz Festival and Iowa Jazz Championships; the University of Nebraska/Omaha Jazz Festival; and the Six Flags (St. Louis, Missouri) Jazz Festival. He chaired the Jazz Education column in the South Dakota Musician, and wrote more than forty articles for that publication. In addition, he has given clinics, performances, and workshops throughout
South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming.

Dr. Johnson served as a humanities scholar and lecturer. He served as a media consultant on music to SD Public Television and has hosted a series of two-hour programs for SD Public Radio on Jazz and American music. He has written a number of original compositions including two film scores.

Dr. Johnson has received numerous awards and honors in recognition of his efforts including an F.O. Butler Award for Excellence in Teaching and Creative Activities, the Phi Beta Mu Service Award, and was selected to present the Eleventh Annual Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Lecture at SDSU in 1991. In 1997, he received a Griffith Foundation Development Grant in the Arts. In recognition of Dr. Johnson s service to South Dakota State University, the South Dakota Board of Regents conferred upon him the title Professor Emeritus of
Music in July, 2005.

In his retirement, Dr. Johnson continues to perform and grow as a jazz musician. He serves as musical director of the newly formed South Dakota Jazz Orchestra and performs with Kind of Blue, a jazz sextet. He enjoys traveling and hanging out with his wife of forty years, Anne, and his children Kerry, Kristen, and Adam.

SDMEA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO MUSIC AWARD
David Elder, Yankton

David began his career in music at the age of 10 with a violin from his parents and
lessons from J. Laiten Weed at the Yankton College Conservatory. He graduated
from Yankton High School and Yankton College, and received his Master s Degree
from the University of Louisville, where he also played in the Louisville Symphony.

David spent three years in Chile as a member of the Peace Corps, where he taught at
the Escuela de Musica , played in the Symphony, and met and married his wife,
Lelia. David returned to Yankton in 1970 and began teaching orchestra for the
Yankton Public Schools, where he taught for 35 years.

David was a member of the American String Teachers Association and the National
Education Association, the Elks, and the Yankton Area Arts Association. He was also a member of the South Dakota Symphony for 36 years and the Sioux City Symphony for 38 years. He and Lelia have three daughters, a granddaughter and a grandson.

David passed away on June 28, 2005.

SDHSAA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Clayton Southwick, Rapid City

Clayton Southwick is no stranger when it comes to music in South Dakota. Born and raised in Stockholm, he was a student of band leader Tommy Matthews at South Shore High School. At Northern State, he studied with Dr. John Berggren. He received a Masters of Arts for Teachers at Colorado State University and has pursued postgraduate work throughout his career.

Clayton is currently in his twenty-seventh year as vocal director at Rapid City Central
High School. He has also served as director of the Shrine of Democracy Chorus for fifteen years and as conductor of the Aberdeen Elks Chorus for nine years. He directed the Black Hills Chorale and has served as assistant conductor of the Dakota Choral Union. Clayton is Secondary Vocal Coordinator for the Rapid City Area Schools and has served as President of the South Dakota Choral Directors Association and Choral Chair for the South Dakota Music Educators Association. He has organized and hosted Rapid City appearances of the South Dakota All-State Chorus and the South Dakota Junior and Senior Honor Choirs, and the North Central Division of the American Choral Directors Association. In addition to his directing duties, Clayton sings lead in the quartet Black Hills Silver and has soloed with university and community choral ensembles.

Over his forty year career in choral conducting, Clayton has served as clinician and guest conductor in South Dakota, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, the International Music Camp, and the University of Wyoming summer Camp. He has been high school choral director in Wayne, Nebraska; Fort Morgan, Colorado; and Aberdeen, South Dakota; before taking his current position in Rapid City. Choirs under his direction have performed in South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, Illinois,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Canada, England, France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany.
 

SDHSAA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Anella Southwick, Rapid City

Anella Southwick has been Choral Director at Steven s High School in Rapid City since 1983. Her teaching experience also includes serving as an elementary and special education music coordinator with the Aberdeen Public Schools, and teaching junior high music, language arts, foreign language, drama, and speech in the Rapid City Schools. She holds a degree in music education from South Dakota State University and a Masters in Education from Northern State University where she studied with Dr. John Berggren.

Anella has conducted community and church ensembles and is frequently a guest conductor and adjudicator in South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana. Choirs under her direction have appeared for MENC and ACDA conventions as well as on tour in England, France, Switzerland, Austia, and Germany. She served three terms as Senior High Repertoire and Standards Chair for the North Central Division of the American Choral Directors Association. For South Dakota ACDA, she has held the positions of West River Board Member, Treble R & S Chair, Newsletter Editor, Mentor Chair, and Summer Conference Chair; and has received the Encore Award. Anella, along with Clayton, has served as the local Rapid City Chair for hosting the All-State Chorus on numerous occasions. The Southwicks also cochaired the Facilities for the 1994 NC-ACDA Convention and Interest Sessions for the 2004 NC-ACDA Convention.

Anella has appeared as a soloist with the Black Hills Symphony, the Rapid City Municipal Band, and the Black Hills Symphony Big Band; and she has played horn in the Black Hills Symphony for over twenty years.

Other SDHSAA Distinguished Service Award recipients for 2005 are:
ADMINISTRATORS
Benjamin Butch Bachman, Colton (deceased); Dr. Tim Creal, Custer

BOARD OF EDUCATION - Everett Janis, Kyle
COACHES & DIRECTORS
Susan Heitmann, Britton; Cindy Nelson, Webster; Margie Peters, Murdo; Jeanne Sinclair, Milbank; Anella Southwick, Rapid City; Clayton Southwick, Rapid City; Charles Zimiga, Pine Ridge

CONTEST OFFICIALS
M. A. Pal Christensen, Yankton; Jim Johnston, Mitchell

CONTRIBUTOR
Greg Merrigan, Vermillion; Deb Smith, Aberdeen