Every fall the Illinois Design Educators Association solicits nominations for selection of one of the best Illinois drafting educators. The tradition and award began in 1989 after the IDEA’s sudden loss of fellow drafting educator R. Tim Phillip to cancer. Tim would be proud to know that he received this award posthumously (*) in 1989 from the IDEA membership, just as those who have received it have been proud to follow his lead. Thank you Tim, and thank you to all the IDEA members who take the time to nominate one of their own!  

In 2016 the board also added the friend of the IDEA award which replaced the vendor of the year award.  The friend of the IDEA is meant to recognize service to the organization or the profession as a whole in the state and can be a member, vendor, or trade member.  

The links to nominate are below:

Educator of the Year and Friend of IDEA Award Nomination window is open until just before the conference each year. 

I.D.E.A. Educator of the Year 2025

Erin Mihelich - Grayslake North High School

I.D.E.A. Educator of the Year 2024

I.D.E.A. Educator of the Year 2023

Friend of I.D.E.A. 2025

Bob Mihelich - McHenry County College

Friend of I.D.E.A. 2024

Friend of I.D.E.A. 2023

Not Pictured 

Jerritt Williams - Illinois State University

Scott Frisch - Southern Illinois University 

Jane Ostergaard - College of DuPage