Longtime Fayette and Central Methodist University band director Skip Vandelicht will receive the Distinguished Service Award from the Missouri State High School Activities Association. 

Prof. Vandelicht was the band director at Fayette for more than three decades. In 2008 he became the Associate Professor of Music and the Director of Bands at CMU.

The Distinguished Service Award program recognizes individuals who have served the Missouri State High School Activities Association in a manner that is unique and whose contributions have been beyond the ordinary. Prof. Vandelicht is being recognized for his service and contributions to interscholastic activities.

In 31 years at the Fayette school district, he made activities programs important parts of the overall education of Missouri students through his service, work, dedication, and leadership with MSHSAA. 

Prof. Vandelicht will be presented with his award at the second general session of the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference on January 26.

Prof. Vandelicht received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Central Methodist in 1977 and earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1984.

Under his leadership at Fayette, the high school band earned numerous honors and awards and was bestowed with the honor to play for the Missouri Music Educators Association Convention four times.

Outside of the band room, Vandelicht also coached baseball at Fayette high School.

A native of Fulton, Missouri, he served from 1992 until 1994 as Chairman of the Missouri All-State Band for the Missouri Bandmasters Association and from 1994 to 1996 as President of MBA. Prof. Vandelicht is an instrumental music adjudicator trainer for Missouri State High School Activities Association as well as a member of the MSHSAA Prescribed Graded Music List and Sight Reading Committees. Prof. Vandelicht also served as MMEA Band Vice-President from 2008 until 2010, and College/University Vice-President from 2014 until 2016.

Prof. Vandelicht received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Central Methodist in 1990, the Bandworld Legion of Honor Award in 2004, and the  Music Educator of the Year Award for Missouri from the National Federation of High School Activities in 2008. He was inducted into the Missouri Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame in 2013, received a Gold Chalk Award for excellence in teaching from CMU in 2013, and the Carolyn and Tad Perry Fellow Award from CMU in 2014. Prof. Vandelicht is an active clinician, adjudicator, and conductor for bands in Missouri and surrounding states.