The Thelma Wille Award is awarded to the new member who accumulates the most points in digital images, color prints, monochrome prints, or any combination of these (compared to other new members) in their first full year of competition.
1989-1990: Dennis Mills
1990-1991: Sandra Schlagel
1991-1992: Caroline Mills
1992-1993: Kaye Nardizzi
1993-1994: Len Larson
1994-1995: Gabrielle Koerner
1995-1996: Dave Schulte
1996-1997: Paul Glasoe
1997-1998: Jean Mathewson
1998-1999: Larry Swistoski
1999-2000: No One Eligible
2000-2001: Radka Turcajova
2001-2002: Anne Pink
2002-2003: Rhuben Aga
2003-2004: Pattie LaVance
2004-2005: Colleen McGuire
2005-2006: Sharon Berg
2006-2007: Madelyn Stocking
2007-2008: Jeff Maanum
2008-2009: Erica Zierdt
2009-2010: Bill Wesen
2010-2011: Jason Novotny
2011-2012: Joseph Schufman
2012-2013: Arlene Green
2013-2014: Bob Muschewske
2014-2015: Jenny Noecker
2015-2016: Cindy Carlsson
2016-2017: Valarie Anderson
2017-2018: “Tie: Steven Richardson & Marv Vikla
2018-2019: David Gonzalez
2019-2020: Scott Carson
2020-2021: Paul Kammueller
2021-2022: Bobbi Jensen
2022-2023:
2023-2024:
2024-2025:
2025-2026: