The Sanger B. Powers Award for Excellence This award, established in 1984, recognizes an individual for his or her career contributions to the field of criminal justice. The recipient can be from a private or public agency.  Sanger B. Powers held many levels of positions throughout his prestigious career. He began his career in the social services field with the City of Milwaukee and then promoted to a Dunn County supervisor for public assistance for eight counties.  In 1950, he promoted to the director of the State Division of Probation and Parole and shortly thereafter was selected as the Superintendent of the Wisconsin State Reformatory, now the Green Bay Correctional Institution.  In 1956, he was appointed director of the Division of Corrections, a position he held until his retirement in 1974.  Mr. Powers served in the Navy and was active in the Naval Reserve until he retired in 1969 with the rank of commander.  Mr. Powers served as President of the American Correctional Association as well as in high-level positions on the National Council of Crime and Delinquency, the Council of State Government, and on numerous other state and national organizations

2023 - Grace Knutson
2022 - Beckie Blodgett
2021 - Jean Young
2020 - Deanna Perschke
2019 - Michelle Burton
2018 - Larry Jenkins
2017 - Judy Smith & Denise Symdon
2016 - Rose Snyder-Spaar
2015 - Lori McAllister
2014 - Lawrence Mahoney
2013 - Mary Jane Anttila
2012 - Robert Grusnick
2011 - William Rankin
2010 - James Miller
2009 - Gerald Berge
2008 - John Bett
2007 - Phil Kingston
2006 - Steven Casperson
2005 - Dave Burton
2004 - Marianne Cooke
2003 - John Barian
2002 - Carol Briones
2001 - Ken Sondalle
2000 - Adelaide (Binky) Krahn
1999 - Donald W. Gudmanson
1998 - James W. Mathews
1997 - Gilbert F. Durkin
1996 - Michael J. Sullivan
1995 - Pamela J. Brandon
1994 - John R. Gagnon
1993 - Paul D. Prast
1992 - Darrell A. Kolb
1991 - Donald Clark
1990 - Stephen E. Bablitch
1989 - Gordon Abrahamson
1988 - Elmer O. Cady
1987 - Roland C. Hershman
1986 - Katherine Helmer
1985 - David A. Johnson, Jr.