CATALYST AWARDS
The Waukee APEX Catalyst Award recognizes organizations or individuals that have gone above and beyond to support the Waukee APEX program, students, instructors, and programming. As a winner, they have made our program excel and profoundly impacted our students as they begin their future plans after high school. Here is the history of award winners.
2023-2024 Winners
- Dr. Brian Gentry – Drake University
- Emily Wynn – Iowa State Fair
- IGHSAU
- Mackenzie Leith – Kemin
- Alison Litt – GreenState Credit Union
- Mady Schmidt – Velera (PSCU/Co-op Solutions)
- Jenn Wilkerson – Waukee Community School District
- Joe Roth – 1 Million Cups
- Sheri Vining – UnityPoint Heath
- Al Pieper – Stivers Ford Lincoln
- Dzenana Kahteran – Arbor Springs
- Ingrid Frangenberg – Wellabe
- Jay Borgman – DLR Group
- Anna Jordal – Holmes Murphy & Associates
2022-2023 Winners
- Waukee Fire Department
- DMACC EMS and Fire Science Education
- Eric West, Music League
- Sam Rushenberg, DLR Group
- Dr. Bob Brown, Summerhill Farm
- Derreck Stratton, Hudu
- Kennybrook Village
- Melissa Wicklund, AEA Learning Online
- Chris Costa, Knapp Properties
- Erin Hardigree, WesleyLife
- Tyler Meador, WesleyLife
- Michael Zimmerman, RipRoar
- Alee Phillips, Wesley Acres
- Ramco Innovations
- Sarah Eschoo and Tim Waddell, Des Moines Heritage Center
- Heidi Feltz
- Maria Hoey, Brokers International
- WCSD Operations Team
2021-2022 Winners
- Brian Sender – Sender’s Construction
- Ben McDougal
- Maddie Darveau – Darveau Digital
- Lisa Holtorf – Strategic America
- Beth Honnold – ITA Group
- Dennis Markway – IronHorse
- Kylie Rinehart – MercyOne (two awards given)
- Joey Glenn – Engineered Per4mance
- Dr. Elizabeth Craig – Craig Dental Center – Waukee
- Dr. Chris Whitmer – Parametric Studios
- Blank Park Zoo
- Jamie Champion – Dallas County Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom
- Tina McDonald – EcoImpact REI LLC
2020-2021 Winners
- Sarah Borzo – Metro Waste Authority
- Scott Miller – John Deere ISG
- Mike Webster – Webster Electric
- SSG Zach Brooks – Iowa Army National Guard
- ServiceTitan Design Team
- Jim Morse – Workiva
- Anne Pitts – UnityPoint Health
- Gretchen Stanger – Waukee YMCA
- Executive Team of Tiny Earth – Sarah Miller – Tiny Earth
- Lynne Campbell – Iowa State University
- Maya Hayslett – Iowa State University
2019-2020 Winners
- Laura Peterson – INVISION
- Don Boss – DMACC & Accumold
- Dominic Punelli – PDM
- Mason Cook – 1 Million Cups
- Terry. Dooley – SHAZAM
- Ann Sierzant – DLR Group
- Scott McEachron – McGill June Wealth Management
- Jim Heidt – Nationwide
- Abigail Chihak – Dallas County Public Health
- Amy Short – Dallas County Public Health
- Ryan Esdohr – Superhuman Lab
- Dr. Aaron Santos – DNP123
- Dr. Chris Kliethermes – Drake University
- Chris Eckles – Blank Park Zoo
- Shannon McKinney – Blank Park Zoo
2018-2019 Winners
- Alexander Carl – City of West Des Moines
- Don Boss – Accumold
- Gravitate
- Morgan Hughes – INTL FCStone
- Denise Forney – UnityPoint Health
- Jennifer Connor – UnityPoint Health
- LS2 Group
- Brent Mardis – Sammons Financial Group
- Jeanne Burmeister – Prevent Blindness Iowa
- Sam Huey – Rock Valley Physical Therapy
- Austin Jones – Kemin Industries
- Dr. Elitsa Ananieva-Stoyanova – Des Moines University
- Aleta Chochran – Dallas County Extension
2017-2018 Winners
- Laura Robson – John Deere ISG
- Dr. Angie Gearhart – Iowa Veterinary Wellness
- Diane Heckman – Mercy Medical Center
- Keka Ganga – Mercy Medical Center
- Dr. Pramod Mahajan – Drake University College of Pharmacy
- Josh Larson – Vox
- Meredith Smith – Tigerlily STEM
- Julia Ratekin – Greater Des Moines Partnership
- Ben Bruins – First Heartland Financial
- Mary Griffin – Holmes Murphy
- Mark Woofter – MidAmerican Energy
- Ron Baiotto – Accumold
- Gary Scrutchfield – Lumbermans Drywall and Roofing Supply
- Becca Baldus – Shive-Hattery
2016-2017 Winners
- James Moore – Shive-Hattery
- Rawley King – Meyocks
- Beth Frailey – Dallas County Public Health
- Flynn Wright
- Brad Heyer – Edward Jones
- Sandra Grace – MDP, LTI, BMAI
- Animal Rescue League of Iowa
- Jessie Lowry – Blank Park Zoo
- Logan Welch – Van Meter, Inc.
- Accumold
2015-2016 Winners
- Jim Swanson – Performance Marketing (Anthologic)
- Michelle Huggins – Shive-Hattery
- Cindy Friedrichsen – On With Life
- Laura Kendrick – VA Central Iowa
- John Majeski – Beacon Hill Staffing
- Nate Olson-Daniel – LightEdge Solutions
- Brianne Sanchez – Des Moines University
- Paige Jaeger – UnityPoint Health
- Jeff Heng – FBL Financial Group
- Jason Clausen – SFM
- Ray Hansen – Kidder Benefits Consultants
- Amanda Kinna – Lincoln Savings Bank
- Anne Shimerdla – Blank Park Zoo
- DLR Group
- Dr. Idit Hazan – Grand View University
- Jeremy Harrington – Voce Communications