Cultural & Heritage Commission

Salute Awards

Ocean County Lifetime Achievement in the Arts

The Commission has created this award category to recognize the extraordinary achievements and contributions of those individuals and organizations to the quality of life in Ocean County. Recipients are selected from the distinguished list of Ocean County artists representing many art forms, nominated by various individuals and organizations.

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Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award

2024: Malcolm Robinson

View Past Awardees 2024: Malcolm Robinson - Decoy Carver 2023: Harry Bower - Visual Artist - Documentary 2022: Mary May - Basket Maker - Documentary 2021: Art Birdsall - Decoy Carver - Documentary 2020: Robert Popovics - Naturalist, Innovator, Artist - Documentary 2019: Thomas E. Rutledge - Visual Artist - Documentary 2018: Eva Lucena Welch - Dance - Documentary 2017: Kate Leigh Cutler - Visual Artist - Documentary 2016: Cathleen Engelsen - Visual Artist - Documentary 2015: Brian Hanlon - Sculptor 2014: Lous N. Riccio - Visual Artist 2013: Francis J. McGinley - Visual Artist 2012: James Murphy - Musician

Pauline S. Miller Lifetime Achievement Award for Ocean County History

The Pauline S. Miller Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual who has demonstrated a passion for Ocean County Heritage and shared that history with the public. Criteria to receive this award is as follows: county wide impact, active in Ocean County for at least 10 years, advocate of Ocean County heritage, special emphasis on scholarship or teaching about Ocean County history.

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Pauline S. Miller Lifetime Achievement Award for Ocean County History

2024: Tom Farner

View Past Awardees 2024: Tom Farner 2023: Gretchen Coyle - Documentary 2022: Eleanor Ditton - Documentary 2020: Deborah C. Whitcraft - Documentary 2019: Margaret Thomas Buchholz - Documentary 2018: Alfred T. Stokely - Documentary 2017: Jeanette Llyod - Documentary 2016: Carl Jablonski - Documentary 2015: Eugene Donatiello 2014: Mary Catherine Kennedy 2013: Claribel Young 2012: Ferdinand F. Klebold

John C. Bartlett, Jr. Government Leadership Award

The commission gives this award to those individuals in government who have demonstrated the highest professional and ethical standards in leadership in the Ocean County non-profit community. They champion the role of the arts and history in the County’s vital tourism industry.

John C. Bartlett, Jr. Gov. Leadership Award

2024: Michael T. Mangum

View Past Awardees 2024: Michael T. Mangum 2022: Bahiyyah Abdullah - Documentary 2019: Elaine H. McConnell - Documentary 2018: J. Mark Mutter - Documentary 2015: Ebony Rivera 2014: Cynthia H. Smith 2013: Barbara W. Steele 2012: John C. Bartlett, Jr.

Virginia E. Haines Historic Advocate Award

The Commission gives this award to an individual or organization that has demonstrated significant efforts to promote and preserve the historic fabric of Ocean County.

Virginia E. Haines Historic Advocate Award

2024: W. Grove Conrad 2024:Kathryn D. Conrad

View Past Awardees 2024: W. Grove Conrad - Documentary 2024: Kathryn D. Conrad - Documentary 2020: Virginia E. Haines - Documentary

Joseph H. Vicari, Ocean County Tourism Award

The Joseph H. Vicari Ocean County Tourism Award is given annually to honor the business, organization or individual who made the greatest contribution to the $4.7 Billion annual Ocean County tourism industry.

Joseph H. Vicari, Ocean County Tourism Award

2023 Commissioner Joseph H. Vicari - LIFETIME TOURISM ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2023 Emery's Farm

View Past Awardees 2023 Commissioner Joseph H. Vicari - LIFETIME TOURISM ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2023: Emery's Farm - Documentary 2022: Ocean County Tourism Workforce 2021: John Crisafulli - Documentary 2020: Steve Steiner and the Surflight Theatre - Documentary 2019: Anthony E. Vaz Ed.D. and Christopher J. Vaz - Documentary 2018: Lori Pepenella - Documentary 2017: The Storino Family

Special Awards

Art Advocate Awards

The commission recognizes the singular contribution of the award recipients on behalf of Ocean County and New Jersey art communities. The sum total of their civic and non-profit involvement has enriched the shared cultural life of their hometown and county.

Art Advocate Awards

View Past Awardees 2020: Carol Ann Herbert 2015: Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation 2013: Judith Gibson Leone 2012: Ocean First Foundation

Founders Awards

The commission presents the founders award to advocates for the arts in Ocean County have enriched the cultural fabric of our community through the creation of significant artistic institutions in Ocean County.

Founders Awards

View Past Awardees 2017: Sherry D. Schnepp from Our Gang Players 2014: Heather Campagno from Brick Children’s Community Theatre 2014: Loretta Campagno from Brick Children’s Community Theatre 2014: Patti Wade from Northern Regional Cultural Council 2014: Pat Shepherd from Pine Shores Art Association

Special Award

The Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission have created the following award categories to recognize the extraordinary achievements and contributions of those individuals and organizations to the quality of life in Ocean County.

Special Award

2024: Cheryl Kirby

View Past Awardees 2024: Cheryl Kirby 2023: Ralph Bertini - For contributions to the cultural fabric and video production of Ocean County - Documentary 2022: Reisa Sweet - Lifetime service to cultural engagement andunderstanding between peopleof diverse communities in Ocean County - Documentary 2021: Ocean County Memories Founded 1850! - Andrew Anderson - Documentary 2021: Ocean County Memories Founded 1850! - Leon Asay - Documentary 2019: William de Camp, Jr. - Recognition for contributions to Barnegat Bay - Documentary 2018: Joseph Lappin - Recognition for lifetime of service to boating on Barnegat Bay 2017: Richard Morris - Historic Preservation Advocate 2017: Valerie Vaughn - Giving Voice to the Stories of Ocean County 2016: Duane M. Grembowicz - Commissioner Service Award 30 years 2016: Roberta Krantz - Commissioner Service Award 30 years 2016: Sidney L. Taylor* - Commissioner Service Award 2006 - 2012 2015: Alison Amelchenko - Commissioner Service Award 30 years 2015: Sam Christopher*- Dean of Ocean County Journalism 2014:Robert O’Brien* - Recognition for lifetime of service to boating on Barnegat Bay 2014: Roy Pedersen - Recognition for Jersey Shore Impressionists 2014: Janet Larson - Recognition for a lifetime of contributions to the O.C. environment 2013: Louis Glanzman - O.C. in the Revolution 2013: Sheldon Wolpin * - Mr. Lakewood 2012: Steve Baeli - O.C. History Volunteer

Special Recognition for Advancement of the Arts in Ocean County

The commission recognizes the significant and important contribution of these awardees to the artistic culture of Ocean County and New Jersey. The recipients have shown excellences of artist production, support of the general artistic community, and have been a major advocate for the arts at a state and regional level.

Special Recognition for Advancement of the Arts Award

2023: Paul Hartelius

View Past Awardees 2023: Paul Hartelius - Documentary 2018: June Sullivan 2016: Marshall Kern 2013: Steve Steiner 2013: Mark B. Retacco 2013: Anthony LaGruth

Ocean County Cultural Response Award

The Commission seeks to recognize the people and organizations that have responded to challenges of unanticipated disasters or challenges. The special award of merit celebrates those who set an example by responding to challenges of sustainability.

Ocean County Cultural Response Award

View Past Awardees 2021: Brick Children's Community Theatre - Regonition for response to Covid 19 - Documentary 2021: Lighthouse International Film Festival - Regonition for response to Covid 19 - Documentary 2021: Ocean Professional Theatre - Regonition for response to Covid 19 - Documentary 2013: Borough of Mantoloking - Recognition for historic preservation efforts in response to Superstorm Sandy 2013: Vintage Automobile Museum of New Jersey - Recognition for Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts