LEIST GETS DINGELDEIN AWARD

An instrumental music teacher in the Jackson School District has won the 1994 Otto F. Dingeldein Award.

Nick Leist, a music instructor for grades 7 through 12 at Jackson for 27 years, and well known throughout Southeast Missouri for his outstanding work as a music educator, received the coveted award during the halftime of the Jackson-Farmington football game, at Jackson Friday night.

"I'm almost speechless," Leist said after accepting the award from Southeast Missouri Council of the Arts board member Herb Wickham. "This is a great honor.

"It's an honor just to be nominated for the award," Leist added. "To receive it was a total surprise."

Accompanying Leist to the 50-yard line to accept the award was his wife, Judy.

Wickham said in presenting the award to the surprised Leist: "His tireless efforts to champion instrumental music in schools and communities throughout the area have benefited us all."

Leist was also cited by Wickham for influencing countless numbers of young people and introducing them to the joys of music as both a "vocation and avocation."

The award was established in 1975 by the SEMO Council on the Arts.

The first award was given to Otto F. Dingeldein and named after him as founder of the council.

Leist, who has been involved with teaching 33 years, 27 of them at Jackson, is a graduate of the former Illmo-Fornfelt-Ancell (now Scott City) High School. He has bachelor's and master's degree from Southeast Missouri State University.

Leist started his music teaching career at Advance High School, as band director during the 1962-63 school year. He served as band and choir directors at Hayti High School two years, and as band director at Caruthersville from 1965 to 1968, before moving to Jackson as band and choir director.

He has worked with numerous civic organizations in this area and has served as president of the Jackson C.T.A., SEMO Music Educators Association and SEMO Band Association. He served as treasurer of the SEMO Band Association 20 years and is current executive secretary of that organization.

Leist was honored as "Educator of the Year" by the SEMO Band Association last year and has served as conductor of the Jackson Municipal Band 25 years.

"I became a teacher because I wanted to help many students experience the indescribable feeling that comes from expressing your inner-most feelings through quality performances and to help all students and the entire community to understand and appreciate any and all types of music," Leist said.

"It's a gratifying feeling to see an insecure fumbling instrumentalist become a confident all-state performer," he said. "We at Jackson are fortunate to have the full support of the administration in developing a fine music department."

The Otto Dingeldein award, first presented in 1975, recognizes men and women whose artistic achievements have made considerable impact on the cultural enrichment of the community.

Past winners include Otto Dingeldein, Marjorie Suedekum, Jake Wells, Dan Cotner, Jean Bell Mosley, Aileen Lorberg, Jack and Betty Palsgrove, Wendy Rust, Ruth Knote, Grant Lund, James V. Parker, Mary Ann Gudermuth, Frances Crowley, and Judith Crow, Ruth Alice Knote, James V. Parker, Frances Crowley and last year's winners, Don and Beverly Strohmeyer.

Criteria used for the award include support of the arts in the areas of either drama, writing, visual arts, music or dance; impact on community enrichment or state or national recognition; and the length of time involved in art-related activities.

Dingeldein and his wife, Emily, co-founded the council, formerly the Christian Arts Council of Cape Girardeau, in 1961-1962.

Both were involved in the organization's growth and development, which was formed to offer new opportunities for the public to enjoy and appreciate the arts.