Awards & Recognition

Iowa Reading Association offers many awards and scholarships to deserving individuals throughout Iowa. The following awards and scholarships are available: Service Award, Celebrate Literacy, Iowa Service, Iowa Reading Teacher of the Year, Iowa Reading Administrator of the Year, and Scholarship Winners.

Iowa Reading Association Awards Ceremony

The annual Iowa Reading Association’s Award Ceremony was held during the first day of the state conference. Merit Council Awards were presented by state Merit Council co-chairs Heidi Stangl and Wendy Matson. Each year the local reading councils in our state have the opportunity to participate in Iowa Reading Association’s Merit Council Award program. In order to be considered for the award, a council must complete 6 required items and at least 10 optional items within 4 categories:

  • Membership
  • Program
  • Support of the Iowa Reading Association
  • Support of the International Reading Association

Councils must be in good standing, which means that local council officers are members of both the Iowa Reading Association and the International Reading Association.

Three local councils were recipients of the Merit Council status:  Eastern Iowa Reading Council, Hardy Reading Council, and Midlands of Iowa Reading Council.

Five people standing in a row against a concrete wall, two holding certificates, smiling.

Council representatives accepted the Merit Council Awards. Left to right: Diane Bean of EIRC, Tony Pieper of Hardy, Dani Wagaman of MIRC, with Merit Council co-chairs Heidi Stangl and Wendy Matson.

Reading Teacher of the Year

2024-2025 Recipient

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Jill Swanson

The Iowa Reading Teacher of the Year must be members of the local, state and national associations of the International Reading Association. Criteria involves teaching of children, this should be direct teaching of reading, involvement in the International reading Association and professional growth in the teaching profession.

Service Award

2024-2025 Recipient

Two adults standing side by side, each holding a wooden plaque award and smiling in front of a gray wall.

Tony Pieper & Julie Anderson

The Iowa Service Award may be given for unusual and distinguished service to the Iowa Reading Association. The criteria is admirable service to the Iowa Reading Association in some specific capacity or capacities, requiring special skills, knowledge, and creative effort (eg., as editor, TV producer, founder, etc. on local, state/provincial, national and international levers). Nominee may be a teacher or a school administrator. The results must make a significant impact on the growth of the Iowa Reading Association, on the dissemination of research findings, on the increase of legislation favoring good reading programs or on some other area within the broad field of reading.

Celebrate Literacy Award

2024-2025 Recipient

An older woman with short gray hair and glasses sits smiling in front of a brown chair, wearing a patterned top with large floral designs.

Kathy Murphy

Celebrate Literacy is a project sponsored by the International Reading Association and the Iowa Reading Association. The purpose of this project is to recognize an individual, agency, or institution that has made significant contributions to literacy. This celebration of literacy will familiarize the public with literacy activities actually carried out in local communities and will call attention to work being done by schools in the promotion of literacy as a “universal concern.”

Administrator of the Year

2024-2025 Recipient

A woman in a floral blazer and black skirt stands indoors, holding a wooden plaque award and smiling at the camera.

Dr. Sohyun Meacham

Iowa Reading Administrator of the Year Award may be given to professionals other than those teachers of reading who have demonstrated their interest, concern and leadership in promoting reading within their domain.

Additional Awards & Recognition

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 September 24, 2026 

2026-2027 Award Nominations

Merit Council co-chairs Wendy Matson and Heidi Stangl presented the Merit Council Award to Midlands of Iowa Reading Council, Hardy Reading Council, and Eastern Iowa Reading Council.

 August 20, 2024 

2024 Merit Council Awards

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 June 7, 2024 

ILA 2024 Chapter Awards

Four people stand indoors; one person holds a certificate. Posters and a yellow heart adorn the wall behind them.

 June 20, 2023 

Hardy Reading Council Receives ILA Honor Award

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 June 20, 2023 

2023 ILA Award of Excellence

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 August 20, 2022 

2021-2022 Outgoing State Officers

Two people holding award certificates in a room with framed pictures on the wall behind them.

 June 24, 2022 

2022 Merit Council Awards

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 June 22, 2022 

Iowa Reading Association Named A 2022 Award Recipient