HOOSIER GERMAN-AMERICAN
​ OF THE YEAR RECIPIENTS

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2007 - Kurt Vonnegut
2008 - Dr. Carl Sputh
2009 - Dr. Eberhard Reichmann
2010 - Rev. Arthur Schwenk
2011 - Dr. Ronald Warner
2012 - Senator Richard Lugar
2013 - Dr. Ruth Reichmann
2014 - Jürgen Jungbauer
2015 - Othmar Grueninger
2016 - Dr. Giles Hoyt
​2017 - Matthias Hilger
2018 - Honorary Consul Sven Schumacher
2019 - William (Bill) Selm
​2020 - Friends of Wyneken
​2021 - Dr. Claudia Grossmann
2022 - Indianapolis Liederkranz
​2023 - Gerhard Klemm
​2024 - Patricia Goepfrich
2024 - Jasper Deutscher Verein

Requirements for Annual
​Hoosier-German American Award

​The IGHS will recognize an individual/organization/group who has made significant contributions to the cultural and historical heritage of the Hoosier German-American community. This individual/ organization/group must be or have been active in the German-American Community OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. The award granted to a Hoosier individual/organization/group must have demonstrated ONGOING dedication to promoting and perpetuating German culture. The award will be presented in the fall of each calendar year.
 
An individual must be a person who was born in Indiana or who has moved to Indiana regardless of state or country origin and has maintained residency here for at least FIVE years. 
 
Examples of promoting and perpetuating German culture in Indiana may include, but are not limited to the following:
 
1. Leadership in a German-American organization
2. Cultural Exchange, such as Sister City Program
3. Promotion of cultural events to raise public awareness
4. Historic preservation
5. Promotion of the German language
​6. German-American relations (politics or economy)
 
PERIOD OF TIME means at least TEN years (continuous or non-continuous period of time) of enabling and promoting German culture.
 
Posthumous awarding may be done if no candidates are nominated and/or if nominated candidates do not fulfill the requirements established by the organization for that calendar year. Posthumous awarding must be done within five (5) years after nominee has been deceased.
 
Active IGHS members are eligible to nominate nominees for the Hoosier-German American Award.
 
The IGHS Public Relations committee will review all Hoosier German-American Award nominees. If a Public Relations committee person has submitted a nominee for vetting, that person will abstain from voting for that particular nominee. The PR committee will present to the IGHS Board with the vetted nominees for final vote and approval by the Board in August.