The ACE Awards Ceremony recognizes individuals and organizations making Wichita County a more vibrant place to live. The categories include artists, arts organizations, arts educators, volunteers, and businesses that work in or support the arts in Wichita County.

Join us October 19th at the MPEC!

Angela Kinsey will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2026 ACE Awards on Monday, October 19, 2026, at MPEC. Kinsey is best known for her role as Angela Martin, the feisty head of accounting on all nine seasons of The Office. She won two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for The Office, as well as a Daytime Emmy Award for her portrayal of Angela Martin in The Office: The Accountants webisodes.

Since her time on The Office, Kinsey has appeared in several television shows and films. In addition to her work on screen, Kinsey is also an author, podcast host, and food personality. In 2016, she and her husband, Josh Snyder, launched the baking show Baking with Josh and Ange. The two recently released their first cookbook, You Can Make This!

Kinsey currently co-runs the Ramble media company with Fischer. Together, they write, produce, and co-host the award-winning podcast Office Ladies, which has surpassed 500 million downloads. Most recently, they launched The Office Ladies Network, which includes The Lazy Genius with Kendra Adachi and How We Made Your Mother, hosted by Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas.

Winners will be honored during the ceremony on Monday, October 19 at 11:30 a.m. at the Wichita Falls MPEC.

Individuals, organizations, and businesses shaping the arts in Wichita County will be recognized in the following categories:

  • Outstanding Arts Educator
  • Arts Champion
  • Artist of the Year
  • Distinguished Cultural Organization
  • Nadine McKown Volunteer Award

Additionally, the Mayor of Wichita Falls will present his choice for outstanding contributions in Arts and Culture.

2026 Finalists

Outstanding Arts Educator

  • Matthew Luttrell
  • Jennifer McLarty
  • Barbara Kavanaugh

Artist of the Year

  • Carissa Davis
  • Yasuyo Maruyama
  • Mitchell Welch

Nadine McKown Volunteer Service Award

  • Darla Diltz
  • Carol Rudd

Arts Champion

  • Carol Castro Ceramics
  • Collective Coffee
  • Wichita Falls Public Library

Distinguished Cultural Organization

  • Museum of North Texas History
  • Museum of Art at MSU Texas