Specialty Awards

The Golden Apple Award

Presented by the Apple Valley Speech & Debate Alumni Foundation, the Golden Apple Award recognizes the outstanding achievement and dedication of an individual in the debate community. This prestigious award may honor a head coach, assistant coach, judge, tab room worker, friend of the debate community, or any individual who has made significant contributions to the growth and betterment of debate.

Please submit nominations using this form. Nominations are due October 10th,

Previous Recipients

2000 - Wayne Brinton, Apple Valley High School (MN)
2001 - Steve Fetzik, Austin High School (MN)
2002 - Scott Wunn, Iowa City West High School (IA)
2003 - Judy Olson, West Des Moines Valley High School (IA)
2004 - Mike Burton, Eastside Catholic High School (WA)
2005 - Cindi Timmons, Colleyville Heritage High School (TX)
2006 - Paul Bellus, University of Iowa (IA)
2007 - Doug Springer, New Trier Township High School (IL)
2008 - Dave McGinnis, West Des Moines Valley High School (IA)
2009 - DJ Brynteson, Robbinsdale Cooper High School (MN)
2010 - Jo Russel, Edmond North High School (OK) (Retired)
2011 - Tom Fones, St. Paul Academy (MN)
2012 - Aaron Timmons, The Greenhill School (TX)
2013 - George Clemmons, Lake Highland Preparatory School (FL)
2014 - Dan Meyers, Presentation High School (CA)
2015 - Zach Prax, Eastview High School (MN)
2016 - Bob Shurtz, Hawken School (OH)
2017 - Greg Malis, Isidore Newman (LA)
2018 - Sandra Berkowitz, The Blake School (MN)
2019 - Chetan Hertzig, Harrison (NY)
2020 - Courtney Coffman, Northland Christian (TX)
2021 - Joe Vaughan, Scarsdale (NY)
2022 - Shane Stafford, Blake School (MN)
2023 - Sheryl Kaczmarek, Lexington (MA)

2024 - Adam Torson, Marlborough (MN)

Distinguished Alumnus Award

Presented by the Apple Valley Speech & Debate Alumni Foundation, this award was introduced in 2005 during the MinneApple's Twentieth Anniversary. Each year, we recognize an alumnus of the Apple Valley Debate and Speech Team for their contributions, achievements, and service after graduating from AVHS.

Any Apple Valley alumnus is welcome to submit nominations for consideration by October 10th, using this form.

Previous Recipients

2005 - Shannon (Brinton) Heim ('90)
2006 - Douglas Anderson ('90)
2007 - Peter Nikolai ('91)
2008 - Andrea Singh ('94)
2009 - Angela (Zurick) Miller ('95)
2010 - Reuben Advani ('90)
2011 - Cherian Koshy ('97)
2012 - Andy Poker ('98)
2013 - Rachel Poker ('03)
2014 - Beena Koshy ('99)
2015 - Lindsey (Andersen) Poker ('04)
2016 - Caitlin Reikowski Moore ('06)
2017 - Chris Theis ('09)
2018 - Pat Nichols ('04)
2019 - Kathy Brumbaugh Gamble ('06)
2020 - Susan (Gerbensky) Klammer ('07)
2021 - Chris Bentley ('04)
2022 - Ann Kim ('91)
2023 - Sally Koering Zimney ('95)

2024 - Michelle Keohane ('09)