Two UIndy adjunct faculty members were named the first recipients of awards by the Indiana Music Education Association at their professional development conference in Fort Wayne in January.
Diane Stebbe was awarded the Multi-level IMEA Music Educator of Excellence award; according to the IMEA, the award was created to honor outstanding music educators who teach at two or more levels. Stebbe said she has been teaching for 35 years and is primarily a vocalist but also plays the flute and ukulele. Along with teaching classes in the music department at UIndy, she has also taught at West Newton Elementary School in Decatur Township for six years. She said the nomination came as a surprise but began to suspect something when her colleagues began asking more questions than usual.
“I didn’t know what it was, I didn’t know exactly what they were up to, and then the IMEA sent me an email saying I’m a finalist for this award,” Stebbe said. “So then a few weeks after that, they told me that I was the winner … it was a very nice honor and quite unexpected.”
The IMEA is a professional organization that advocates for the best musical interests of students. According to its website, the organization advocates for music education by providing programs, professional development and services. It has over 1,500 members consisting of active and retired teachers along with music education majors from across Indiana.
Joyce Click, also a vocalist, received the IMEA Community Impact Award, which according to the IMEA, was created to give recognition to “an individual who has contributed to music education within their community by encouraging lifelong musicianship and going above and beyond to support music education for musicians of all ages.”
Click taught K-12 music classes at the Metropolitan District of Washington Township for over four decades before coming to UIndy to teach in the music and education departments. Click was also unaware of her nomination until right before the Fort Wayne conference and was presented the award at the opening assembly.
“It turned out Scott Bradford nominated me, and he’s the head of the Indiana State Music School Association, and he thought that I met the qualifications,” Click said. “Then Dr. Sorley, who is the department chair for the UIndy School of Music, wrote a nomination letter.”
Click said she feels very lucky and honored to be selected as the first ever recipient of the award. She stressed that music education is valuable and that no matter what your career is, you can still enjoy music.
“If there’s something in music you like, stay involved and you don’t have to give it up once you get out of college, you can do it your whole life.” Click said
