Unsung UU Award

Each year the Board of Trustees presents the Unsung UU Award to a member or friend of our church who works tirelessly behind the scenes, is someone we can always count on, and is always willing to assist when needed.

The Board of Trustees requests nominations from the congregation in the spring and announces the recipient at the Annual Congregational Meeting on the first Sunday after Memorial Day. A plaque with the list of recipients dating back to 1977 is on the wall in the church foyer.

2022: Nicky Keller (posthumous)

Nicky was a very active member of the First Unitarian Church of Des Moines, participating in many social justice initiatives and serving on several committees. She was a beautiful seamstress and avid home remodeler and decorator, and she always had a book she was reading. Nicky was known for her relentless work ethic, her generosity, and her wisdom. To quote a former colleague, “she could see down the road and around the corner.”


2022 Unsung UU Nomination

Deadline: May 12, 2023

The Board of Trustees is currently accepting nominations for the 2022 Unsung UU
Award to be presented at the annual meeting in June. Each year the Board of
Trustees presents this award to a member or friend of our church who works tirelessly
behind the scenes, is someone we can always count on, and is always willing to assist
when needed.

Please help us identify the Unsung UU for 2023 by completing this form and emailing it
to unsunguu@ucdsm.org by Sunday, May 12, 2023.

Unsung UU Nomination

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Your Name

Past Unsung UU Award winners


2021: Sue Huber

2020: Carolyn Spencer
2019: Sally Boeckholt
2018: Mary Hays
2017: Gene McCracken
2016: Eileen Lundberg
2015: Pat Headley
2014: Chris Jorgensen
2013: Alan Billyard
2012: Barbara Martin
2011: Karen Kraemer
2010: Greg Pelley
2009: Bob Glass
2008: Ellen Taylor
2007: Deidre Fudge
2006: Mary Ellen Neal
2005: Bill Leonard
2004: Al Powers
2003: Caroline Adler
2002: Jane Rider
2001 Bob Baker
2000 Denise Mernka
1999 Harvey Harrison
1998 Dwight Saunders
1997 David Witke
1996 Knox Craig
1995 Jodie McKay
1994 Susan Koch Bridgford
1993 Pat Winters
1992 Bill Wilder
1991 Norman Thomas
1990 Beth Saunders
1989 Elien Isom
1988 Julie Audlehelm
1987 Bruce Martin
1986 Terry Swanson
1985 Barb Royal
1984 Wilbur Rose
1983 Edith Bjornstad
1982 Jack Druart
1981 Priscilla Witke
1980 Alice Willis
1979 Edna Williams Harrington
1978 Lea Mould
1977 Eugenie Hafenstein