Two Viola Legacy Awards were given to honor lifetime contributions in the arts and/or sciences in Flagstaff. Dr. Robert Breunig, former Director of the Museum of Northern Arizona, was honored first for his leadership and successes in not only helping the museum recover from past troubles, but also in bringing it to a high level of excellence in all phases of its operation.
The second Legacy Award went to Nando Schellen (1938-2016), former Director of NAU Opera Theatre. Schellen had a major impact on Flagstaff and specifically students at NAU over the course of his fifteen years in the position.
2017 Viola Award Winners



Excellence in Performing Arts:
Dark Sky Aerial for OPIA
Excellence in Performing Arts:
Janice ChenJu Chiang & Shawn Skabelund for Composition for Forests
Excellence in Storytelling:
Klee Benally for Power Lines



Excellence in Storytelling:
Elizabeth Hellstern for The Telepoem Booth
Excellence in Visual Arts:
David Christiana for Portraits of Petrichor
Legacy Award:
Nando Schellen



Excellence in Science Education:
Jillian Worssam
Emerging Artist:
Kristopher Kohl
Business for the Arts:
Melissa Cripps, State Farm



Excellence in Leadership:
Michael Vincent
Legacy Award:
Dr. Robert Breunig
Excellence in Arts Education:
Sheila White