SUN PRAIRIE RESIDENTS HONORED WITH 2025 CHARLES D. ASHLEY & JAMES J. REININGER AWARDS

SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. – on Tuesday, November 4 the City of Sun Prairie Common Council honored several individuals with the 2025 Charles D. Ashley and James J. Reininger Lifetime Achievement Awards. More can be learned about the history of the awards and this year’s recipients below. 

Charles D. Ashley Award - The award was created in 1976 by Charles D. Ashley to be given to a citizen of the City of Sun Prairie chosen by the Common Council as having done the most good in the City during each year.

• Theresa Stevens - Theresa currently serves as the Sun Prairie Library Foundation Executive Director and previously served as a District 2 Alder. She is a current member of Sun Prairie Rotary Club, Scouting America Troop 127, Sun Prairie Parks Friends and the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce. Theresa was instrumental in raising $3.5 million for the Library Foundation to support the library expansion and renovation.
• Sun Prairie Mural Fest Planning Team – The inaugural Sun Prairie Mural Fest was an 8 day live painting event from June 18 - 25. Nine muralists from across the country painted an individual piece to contribute to a gallery style mural wall located at 251 E Lane St. This event was made possible by a planning team consisting of: Barbara Behling, Tourism Director, Lena Ugren, Urban Art Bloom Inc., Mary D’Amico, BID Manager, and Lew Mangin, Plant Manager at Washington Mills.

James J. Reininger Lifetime Achievement Award - The James J. Reininger Lifetime Achievement Award is given to City of Sun Prairie residents whose efforts over several years deserve to be recognized. The Sun Prairie City Council voted to establish this award in 1997 to recognize Sun Prairie residents who have established themselves as lifelong servants of the community, much as Jim did. The person(s) chosen must live up to Jim’s legacy as an honest, patriotic, charming, witty servant of Sun Prairie.

• Karen Bailey – Karen is an active community member serving on the Sun Prairie Youth and Families Commission, Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin and Friends of McCarthy Park. Karen is a member of the Sun Prairie Garden Club, started the Sun Prairie Community Gardens and is still actively involved. Karen received the Charles D. Ashley Award in 2008.
• Paul Esser – Paul Esser currently serves on the Historical Library and Museum Board, served as Mayor from 2015 – 2025 and previously served two terms in 1987. Under his leadership, the city made several advancements in diversity and inclusion, housing, transportation, and planning.
• Elaine Jennings – Elaine volunteers in the kitchen at Sun Prairie United Methodist Church, is an active volunteer at Olbrich Gardens, member of the Wisconsin Garden Railway Society, secretary of the Wisconsin Association of Community Theatres, volunteer with the Helb Special Needs Children's Christmas Party. Elaine was Mrs. Santa, with her belated husband Dick Jellings, at the Crosse House for 10 years and was the costumer at Sun Prairie Civic Theatre for 47 years.
• Connie Meyer - Connie volunteered as a costumer at Sun Prairie Civic Theatre along with Elaine Jellings starting in 1978. Connie and Elaine made the Colonel Corn Costume used in the annual Corn Fest Parade along with the Bookin’ It Run costume for the library.
• Theresa McIlroy – Theresa McIlroy most recently served on the Ad-hoc Communications Committee and previously served as District 1 Alder on the Common Council for five years. During her tenure, she served as Council President for one year and served on several boards and committees: Public Works Committee, Public Safety Committee, Media Center Commission, Personnel Committee, Finance Committee, and Historical Library and Museum Board. She was involved in the capital campaign for the construction of the original library in 1998 and again for the current library expansion.