In 2003, Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation created a tribute to American Indian educators. The Crazy Horse Educator of the Year Award honors an individual who has made significant contributions to Native American education. The award includes a $1,000 grant to fund the recipient’s student projects that make an impact.  The award is announced annually at the Native Americans’ Day Celebration at Crazy Horse Memorial®.

If you know someone that you would like to nominate for the Crazy Horse Memorial Educator of the Year Award, please fill out this 

Past recipients include:

• 2003 - Martin Red Bear Jr., Resource Specialist, Rapid City Central High School
• 2004 - Margery High Horse, Fourth-Grade Teacher, Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School, Porcupine, SD. Terrie Jo Gibbons received special recognition for her work as an Art Teacher for the Shannon County School District
• 2005 - Marlyce Miner, Social Studies Instructor, Jefferson Academy, Rapid City Area Schools
• 2006 - Robert Cook, Social Studies Instructor, Jefferson Academy, Rapid City Area Schools
• 2007 - Earl Bullhead, Lakota Language-Cultural Arts Instructor, Lower Brule High School and Lower Brule Community College
• 2008 - Judy Whirlwind Horse, Fifth Grade Teacher, Cheyenne Eagle Butte Upper Elementary School
• 2009 - Marcel Bull Bear, History-Genealogy-Lakota Culture Instructor, Oglala Lakota College, Kyle, SD
• 2010 - Harriet Brings, Lakota Language-Traditions Teacher, North Middle School, Rapid City, SD
• 2011 - Dr. Jason Murray, Assistant Professor of English, East Central University, Ada, Oklahoma. Murray served as the full-time Director of The Indian University of North America® from 2013-2015
• 2012 - Barry Mann, High School Principal, St. Francis Indian School, Rosebud Indian Reservation
• 2013 - Thomas "Tom" Shortbull, President of Oglala Lakota College in Kyle, SD
• 2014 - Christopher Bordeaux, Executive Director, Oceti Sakowin Education Consortium
• 2015 - Charlie Luecke, Professor, Postsecondary Advisor, Internship Coordinator, The Indian University of North America® Summer Program at Crazy Horse Memorial®
• 2016 - Sergeant Todd Albertson, Freshman Impact Co-coordinator, South Dakota Highway Patrol - Northern Hills District
• 2017 - Vaughn Vargas, Rapid City Police Department, Rapid City, SD
• 2018 - Starr Chief Eagle, Hoop Dance Extraordinaire, Educator from Rapid City, SD
• 2019 - Whitney A. Rencountre II, Director of Ateyapi Program, Educator, Rapid City, SD
• 2020 - Jill D. Kessler, Certified School Counselor at Cheyenne-Eagle Butte High School, Eagle Butte, SD
• 2021 - Jace DeCory, Professor Emeritus of Black Hills State University, Spearfish, SD
• 2022 - Dr. Joseph Marshall III, Fulltime Writer, Former Educator and University Administrator, Mission, SD