2024 Cleo Curtis Award

Dating back to 1968, Duncan Enterprises implemented the Education Program which was written by Cleo Curtis. Cleo was made Director of Education. Her idea was to implement a program with the Duncan instructors to pass this knowledge onto us. Cleo’s dream was an organization for certified Duncan Teachers. As times have changed, so have we. IADCCT has a new name-IAC. The instructors we knew as Duncan Ambassadors are now known as “Fired Art” Educators Chapter.

After her death in 1988, IADCCT created the Cleo Curtis Award in tribute to her increasing love of ceramics and its teachers. This is now IAC’s most prestigious award and the person chosen to receive this award personifies the ideals that Cleo instilled in us all.

The person receiving the award is a great example of what IAC members should strive for. This person may have started by becoming “Certified” in Duncan products, but I believe also jumped in with both feet. Along with being instrumental in starting a Chapter or 2 in 1 state and keeping them active. This person has also held offices in many groups and other organizations. I’ve seen this person at several Regionals and Retreats and is a sponge for more knowledge. The person in question never fails to ask a question or 2 along the way. It’s like the more you learned meant the more to share with the chapter members when you return home. Taking these classes and more from other companies and using their product line and being certified in most of them were just steps in this journey. Did I tell you that this person has been actively attending this annual Convention for over 20 years? “Learning from the best and taking it back home to share” may be her motto, but the one on their business card reads: Helping Others to Create. This person has also been very involved at the National level. She sat on the Board as Secretary from 2011 till 2014. She then switched to Membership Director from 2015 to 2018. I was happy to see her Teach at the National level in 2022. (Mr. Blue Jay)

Have you ever known someone you could ask for a favor, and they got it done PDQ? Or known a person with a lot of ambition and drive, and an easy person to work with? Well, that’s Deb.

Ladies and Gentlemen….. Please join me in congratulating our 2024 Cleo Curtis recipient, DEB WARD.