Congratulations to our 2026 Awards of Excellence recipients
Milestone Award Recipient: Nancy Thompson
Heritage Tourism Recipient: Pontiac Transportation Museum
Education/Interpretation Recipient: Merze Tate Explorers
The 2026 Awards of Excellence finalists were:
Heritage Tourism
- Paul Peters – Autorama, recognizing his contributions to one of Michigan’s signature automotive events and its role in showcasing the state’s car culture and heritage.
- Pontiac Transportation Museum – Pontiac 100th Anniversary, recognizing the museum’s celebration of Pontiac’s century-long automotive history and its connection to the city and region.
Education/Interpretation
- DRIVE One Detroit – Drive One Student Education Program, recognizing its efforts to engage students through automotive education and history.
- Ford House – “Wish You Were Here” Exhibit, chronicles the travels of the Ford family between 1915-1936.
- Merze Tate Explorers – “Driving into History: Black Women, Cars, and Courage,” recognizing its work bringing the stories and contributions of African American women in automotive history to new audiences.
- Michigan Labor History Society – “Forgotten: Murder at the Rouge Plant,” is a jazz opera offering its interpretation of an important and often overlooked chapter of Michigan’s industrial and labor history.
2026 Awards of Excellence Sponsors Pictured Above
We are thrilled to recognize the incredible organizations helping make this year’s event possible. A special thank you to our:
Presenting Sponsors
International Union of United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), Mel's Garage, GM Heritage Center and Ford House
Patron Sponsors
Visit Detroit, Don Nicholson Enterprises and Gilmore Car Museum
Supporting Sponsors
Analyze Accounting, Doeren Mayhew, Grigg Graphic Services, Inc., Choose Lansing and J & S Portrait America
Event Sponsors
Merze Tate Explorers, MichAuto and Mark Thomas (in honor of Nancy Thompson's three decades of service).
Click here to revisit the 2025 Awards of Excellence
Our 2025 MotorCities' Awards of Excellence Luncheon took place June 4 at the Stellantis Conner Center in Detroit.
To see a photo album from the luncheon, click here.
The winners were announced in the following categories:
Heritage Tourism -
- Don & Gayle Nicholson of Westland (pictured below, right) for creating and growing the annual Cruisin' Hines event;
Education/Interpretation -
- The Historical Society of Greater Lansing for the I-496 Pave the Way Project;
Revitalization -
- Greg & Kristin Donofrio (pictured above, left) for the Phoenix Mill restoration in Plymouth.
In addition, MotorCities presented its highest honor, the Milestone Award, to Ford Motor Company's Corporate Historian Emeritus Robert Kreipke (pictured at left). For over 25 years, Kreipke has served as a project advisor and board member, helping propel MotorCities to become the nationally–recognized experts on preserving and promoting Michigan’s automotive heritage. In addition, he was Chairman of the Board between 2015 and 2019, steering the organization through successful projects like the launching of our highway promotional signs, the creation of the Fort Street Bridge Interpretive Park in Detroit, and the celebration of MotorCities' 20th anniversary.
The Stellantis Conner Center is the home of the historic collection of 100 years of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth, DeSoto vehicles, and guests enjoyed the rare opportunity to see these vehicles.