The Numerica Performing Arts Center has announced the recipients of the Stanley Lifetime Achievement Awards. Two awards were given, the first in the professional division and the second in the volunteer division. The winners were announced on December 4 and 5 during the Holiday Spice shows at the Numerica Performing Arts Center.
The recipient of the professional division award is Don Collins. Now a “retired” art teacher, Don Collins began teaching at Wenatchee Valley Alternative High School in 1987 before moving full-time to Wenatchee High School. He taught college and community art classes, held leadership roles in arts organizations—including president of the Washington Arts Education Association—and was named Washington State Art Educator of the Year in 2005. Don holds a Master of Education and earned National Board Certification in 2011. A skilled visual artist, he specializes in clay but works across multiple media. He is the current president of Beauty of Bronze, a nonprofit connecting 5th graders with bronze sculpture making and public art. He is a co-founder of the new Community Clayworks, a nonprofit providing ceramic classes and supporting clay artists. In performing arts, Don has appeared in local theatre productions, Wizard of Oz, Shrek the Musical, Follies, and People of Our Past. He has created large puppets and regularly portrays Ebenezer Scrooge in Leavenworth’s Christmastown celebration. He currently serves as guest curator for the North Central ESD Regional High School Art Show through the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center. Don is grateful to all who have supported him on his life’s journey including his students, colleagues, cast mates, teachers, community, and family, especially his daughter Marissa and wife Heidi.
The recipient of the volunteer division award is Jill Sheets. Jill first got involved in theater when her daughter, Eloise, was cast in The King and I and her sons, Augie and Owen, played in the pit orchestra. She volunteered to help with props, not realizing it would become something she’d love for years to come. Since then, Jill has volunteered with Wenatchee High School and Music Theatre of Wenatchee, spending about ten years working on the Apple Blossom Musicals alongside Barb Visser. She has also produced several shows for both organizations. Over the years, she has had the joy of working on productions like Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Marvelous Wonderettes— but Spamalot will always hold a special place in her heart as her favorite show to prop. The production Jill is most proud of is Mamma Mia!—a show she produced and did props for during the pandemic. Though no one was sure it would even make it to opening night, the cast and crew were phenomenal, and together they created something truly special. What Jill loves most about theater is the collaboration—the way everyone comes together to turn a director’s vision into something real.
The Stanley Lifetime Achievement Awards were created in 2002 to honor the life-long arts and culture commitment of Mr. Bob Stanley. Nominations for the 2026 awards are due by October 31.
Bob Stanley was a prominent businessman who owned several businesses, the largest being Stan’s Merry Mart. He started this store as a small military surplus store after WWII on South Wenatchee Avenue, and it grew into what is now a large general hardware and variety store. Before his death, Bob felt a strong need to contribute to his community, and made a donation of $1M to the nonprofit Supporters of the Center “SOC,” which was the precursor to today’s Numerica Performing Arts Center.
More information on the Stanley Lifetime Achievement Awards, including a list of past winners can be found at: https://numericapac.org/stanley-lifetime-achievement-awards/