Ben Martin ’75, a member of the Alumni Board, received the 2021 Missouri Arts Award. The Missouri Arts Awards celebrate people, organizations and communities that have made profound and lasting contributions to the cultural and artistic climate in Missouri.
Martin says, “Culver-Stockton gave me the sense that volunteering for ‘extra duty’ was a natural part of any professional career. We were a small school and opportunities to be a part of many different programs were always available. On top of a very busy schedule in the speech and theatre programs, I was involved in Greek life, student government and even served on a study group directed by the college president on ways to improve the structure of the college. That served me well because working in Arts Education is all about extra duties and loving being a part of them.”
Martin retired from Missouri Alliance for Arts Education (MAAE) in July 2020, having worked with the Alliance for 10 years in many capacities, including serving as Executive Director from 2013-2020. Before that, his teaching career spanned 34 years. Garnering numerous Teacher of the Year and Hall of Fame awards along the way, Martin taught speech, debate and theater in St. Clair, Harrisonville and Belton before finally landing at Lee’s Summit High School where he stayed for 18 years. Read more about Ben’s Award.
