In the American Kennel Club’s ongoing efforts to recognize and celebrate its volunteer club members, The AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award program was established in 2006 to provide each member club with an AKC Medallion to award to one of its own on a yearly basis.
This award honors those individuals who deserve special recognition that have made a difference in the sport of purebred dogs, embodied the AKC Code of Sportsmanship, and have been an active and valued member of an AKC member club. Medallions are awarded solely at the club’s discretion. The criteria the DPCA will use to choose the recipient are outlined below.
| YEAR | RECIPIENT |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Cindi Huckfeldt |
| 2023 | Lynn Eggers |
| 2022 | Karin & Steve Fox |
| 2021 | Colleen Nicholson |
| 2020 | not awarded |
| 2019 | Shirley Baker |
| 2018 | Carissa DeMilta Shimpeno |
| 2017 | not awarded |
| 2016 | Faye Strauss |
| 2015 | Judy Brown |
| 2014 | Moe Miyagawa |
| 2013 | Robin Kelley |
| 2012 | Ellen Hanley |
| 2011 | May Jacobson |
| 2010 | Nancy K. Heitzman |
| 2009 | not awarded |
| 2008 | not awarded |
| 2007 | Marj Brooks |
The American Kennel Club issues an Outstanding Sportsmanship Award to clubs to award those individuals who deserve special recognition for having made a difference in the Sport of Purebred Dogs, embody the AKC Code of Sportsmanship, and have been an active and valued member of an AKC member club.
The following criteria are to be used by the DPCA committee assigned to pick a recipient for the American Kennel Club Outstanding Sportsmanship Award:
1. The recipient must be a member in good standing of DPCA for more than ten continuous years.
2. The recipient must be involved in and made a difference in the Sport of Purebred Dogs for more than ten years in areas such as conformation, obedience, agility, working dog sports, Chapter Club Membership, the Parent Club and all other areas involving the Doberman Pinscher.
3. The recipient must have given back to the Breed and embody the AKC Code of Sportsmanship in all areas through mentoring the General Public, Breeders, and participants in all areas of performance venues.
4. The recipient must instill a greater appreciation for Outstanding Sportsmanship in all areas and also deepen our sense of pride in the Sport of Purebred Dogs.