GOTM Award
The Gabe Downey Genius of the Month Award celebrates the best in progressive and creative thinking and action. It is given out on a monthly basis to those who best demonstrate and uphold the tradition of brilliant thinking, ingenuity and self reliant problem solving. All lucky recipients receive a framed copy of their signed Genius of the Month certificate as well as all of the accolades that come along with it. They are also entered in the Genius of the Year running, which is announced in late December of each year.
Past Recipients:
January 2012: Jessica Ahlquist
Deserving feat: Stood up against the powers that be and fought to get an unconstitutional prayer banner removed from her high school.
GDGOTM awarder comment: This is perhaps our second award for someone who actually did something meaningful (Dawn below being the first) and we’re extremely proud. Jessica stood up for what was right and has had to deal with a great deal of immature antics from the people who think the banner should have stayed up. Courage is something she possesses and that we could use a little more of on our side of the battle. Congratulations Jessica!
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March 2011: Dawn Schwanke
Deserving feat: Advancement in the furthering of personal goals and providing delicious baked goods to the community with the dawn (pun intended) of the Butterfly Bake Shoppe.
GDGOTM awarder comment: After years of serving her muse through online orders at http://www.kneadacookie.com, Dawn and family were rewarded handsomely by fate with an opportunity for her to follow her dream of opening up her own bakery right in her backyard. The streets of Berkley now delightfully swell with the delicious aroma of fresh cookies, bars and other sugary treats. Couldn’t have happened to better folks. Congrats Schwankes!
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June 2009:
June 2009: Moritz Fischer
Deserving feat: Advancement in the concept communication with a focus on overcoming language barriers.
GDGOTM awarder comment: After meeting Mortiz, Marc and Renzo, I knew these were people whom shared the same dream that we do here at the GDGOTM. After hearing of Moritz’s dedication to language and communication, it seemed only natural that I awarded the Genius of the Month award to our truly deserving Swiss brethren. Congratulations Moritz.
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May 2009: Brian Stanley and Josh Roux
Deserving feat: Advancement in the concept and creation of pizza making.
GDGOTM awarder comment: Both of these gentlemen have demonstrated independent, outside of the box thinking when it comes to creating, visualizing and making pizzas that both stimulate the mind and satisfy the appetite. They are truly deserving and will hopefully continue to inspire. Congratulations Brian and Josh.
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March 2009: Joel Pearson
Deserving feat: Introducing us to the double big mac.
GDGOTM awarder comment: This sandwich truly revolutionized the way we thought about fast food. Joel doesn’t claim to the be the inventor, and rightfully so, but sometimes it’s those that make the public aware of other people’s genius, that are the most deserving. Congratulations Joel.
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February 2009: Julie Miller
Deserving feat: Brilliantly applying quick thinking and common everyday resources to create a full proof dry erase board marker holder.
GDGOTM awarder comment: It takes an everyday person to just simply rest their markers on the top of the dry erase board, and merely hoping they don’t fall off. It takes a genius to construct a brilliant marker holder out of a plastic bag and a couple of push pins. MacGyver eat your heart out. Congratulations Julie.
You guys are truly funny. I guess it must be all about exposure…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. to viruses and stuff.