West Hartford Chamber Awards
Established in 1989 by the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce, the Noah Webster Awards were originally given each year to multiple individuals or organizations in recognition of extraordinary commitment to the West Hartford community. In 1997 a Student category was added. The award was reimagined as a single award in 2009. Since then an individual or single organization has been presented with this signature award. It was at this time that additional Spotlight Awards were created to recognize other businesses, nonprofits, and individuals for their contributions and accomplishment.
In 2022 The Elizabeth Gustin Basil Women's Leadership Award was introduced as an additional signature award. It was named in honor of the West Hartford Chamber's first woman board chairperson, who passed away in 2021.
L-R (Kate Kobs - Director of Development & Programs, Chip Janiszewsk-Chairperson, Christopher Clarke - 1st Vice Chairperson, Mayor Shari Cantor, Tracey Wilson - Noah Webster Award Honoree, Chris Conway- President & CEO
(L-R) Chip Janiszewski, Kate Kobs, Robyn Rifkin, Mayor Shari Cantor, Dr. Rhona Free, Marianne Sawicki, Cynthia Basil Howard, Chris Conway
Noah Webster Award Honorees
| 1989 | Dr. Robert E. Dunn, Sis. M. Paton Ryan, WH Garden Club |
| 1990 | Lloyd Calvert, John Looby, S. Brita Tate |
| 1991 | James Ellis, Chris Larsen, Women’s Exchange |
| 1992 | Angelo Faenza, Joseph Essa, American School for the Deaf |
| 1993 | Gordon Bennett, Shirley Marsh, Paul O. Roedel |
| 1994 | Robert Donahue, Sam Pasco, Sis of Mercy Reg Com of CT |
| 1995 | Nan Lewis Glass, Richard F. Patrissi, JLH’s Clothes Horse |
| 1996 | Mario Gilardini, Norman P. Lee, Wendell Scott Stephenson |
| 1997 | Richard Crowe, Robert Rowlson, Robert Walsh, Jr.
New student category: Amy Golden |
| 1998 | Carl Donatelli, Barbara Gordon, Madeline McKernan
Student category: Catherine Anna Bue |
| 1999 | Helen E. Dowd, CSJ; Harold Kraus, Ilze Krisst
Student: Amylin Nagel |
| 2000 | James Capodiece, Eleanor Horn, Haig Shaverdian
Student: Katherine DePalma |
| 2001 | Heather Congdon & Dougie Trumble, Ken Hungerford, Ki Miller
Student: Marisa B. Rodriquez |
| 2002 | Deborah Buckley, John Lemega, Mims Butterworth, Ellsworth Grant, Richard Woodworth
Student: Garrison Cross Woodfield |
| 2003 | Paul T. Glover, Geri Mandell, Park Road Association
Student: Jessica Lin |
| 2004 | Winifred E. Coleman
Student: Micaela Connery |
| 2005 | Russell F. Pound, Jr.
Student: Julie Guest |
| 2006 | David Bradley |
| Student: Jeffrey Giliberto | |
| 2007 | Ellen and Clem Sayers |
| Student: Geoffrey Carr | |
| 2008 | Ronit Shoham` |
| Student: Rachel Piaker | |
| 2009 | Doug Alexander |
| 2010 | Playhouse on Park |
2011 Chuck Joseph
2012 John Lemega
2013 Bepsie Perry, Richard Patrissi
2014 Robert Macca; Stephen Fisher
2015 David Dyson
2016 Scott Slifka
2017 Charlie Hilborn
2018 Ronni Newton
2019 Billy Grant III
2020 FoodShare
2021 Rick Liftig
2022 Christopher Clarke
2023 Tracey Wilson
2024 Earl Exum
Elizabeth Gustin Basil Women's Leadership Award Honorees
2022 - Dr. Rhona Free
2023 - Carrianne Polo
2024 - Judy Casperson