The Outstanding Student Chapter Award was established by the American Choral Directors Association in 1978 as a means for recognizing an ACDA student chapter which, through its activities, best supports the advancement of choral music.
The award consists of a $250 cash award to the student chapter, two complimentary national conference registrations for designated representatives of the chapter to attend the national conference and receive the award for the chapter, and a plaque for the chapter to display on their campus.
The selection is made by a committee consisting of the National R&R Collegiate Choirs Coordinator, College and University Choirs Chair, 2-year Collegiate Choirs Chair and the Student Activities Chairs using the following criteria (not necessarily in order of importance):
- Level of impact on the professional development of its chapter members.
- Level of impact on the local/state/regional choral community in which the chapter resides.
- Innovative and engaging offerings presented by the chapter.
This year’s award winner is The American Choral Directors Association’s Student Chapter at the Florida State University.
The FSU ACDA chapter is recognized for providing a wide range of professional development opportunities, community engagement, and innovative programming within the FSU community. Recently, the chapter has focused on preparing members for careers in music education through sessions such as Teacher Talk: Elements Straight Out of the Classroom and conducting masterclasses for undergraduate pre-service teachers. The annual FSU Choral Ed Symposium serves as a platform for current music education interns and first-year teachers to share their teaching experiences with undergraduates, providing practical insights and advice for those about to enter the field.
The chapter remains committed to engaging with the local community, hosting events like the annual FSU Hymn to the Garnet and the Gold Sing-Along, which reimagines this long-standing university tradition as a community-building event that unites students, faculty, and community members through music. The chapter also collaborates with UKirk, the University Presbyterian Church ministry for college students, which operates a coffee shop with the mission of fostering community at FSU. This aligns closely with the chapter’s goal of building a supportive, connected environment through music.
In the chapter’s ongoing dedication to diversity and inclusion, the FSU ACDA chapter actively supports BIPOC composers and underrepresented voices through initiatives like the student-composed opera Saturday Sorrow. The chapter’s financial support and involvement in this production highlights the chapter’s commitment to elevating diverse voices and fostering artistic innovation. By promoting BIPOC creators and offering platforms for their work, the chapter aims to ensure that the choral art form continues to reflect a wide range of cultural and artistic perspectives.
The Florida State University has enjoyed a rich history with the American Choral Directors Association. During their time teaching at Florida State University, Colleen Kirk and André Thomas were elected to the office of National President of ACDA (Kirk 1981-1983 and Thomas 2021-23). Additionally, FSU students and alumni have been featured in countless state, regional, and national conventions as presenters, featured choir conductors, and guest conductors of convention honor choirs. Participation in the FSU ACDA student chapter has fostered an attitude of service to the choral art that has shaped careers and continues to be of service to ACDA. Currently, FSU alumni Jeffery Ames and Steven Zielke serve as Region Presidents (Southern and Northwest Regions of ACDA), and State Presidents/President-elects include Justin Chase (Florida), Stacy Daniels (Alabama), Holly Grefe (Louisiana), Jose Rivera (North Carolina), and Craig Zamer (Tennessee). The FSU Student Chapter is honored to be recognized as the 2025 Outstanding ACDA Student Chapter.
The FSU Student Chapter will be recognized on Thursday, March 20 at the ACDA National Conference. The chapter advisors are McKenna Stenson, Michael Hanawalt, and Kevin Fenton. The students representing FSU at the National Conference will be Isiah Maxey and Sarita Gustely.
For more information about ACDA’s student chapters and activities, visit https://acda.org/resources-for-student-members.
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