Courtesy Photo Sarah Honeycutt, collections manager at Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan, is seen with her Michigan Museum Association Colleague Champion Award, which she received May 15 in Grand Rapids.

ALPENA — Sarah Honeycutt, collections manager at Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan, received the Colleague Champion Award on May 15 at the Michigan Museum Association Awards Banquet at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

Honeycutt was nominated by Besser Museum Executive Director Christine Witulski.

“Sarah embodies the very essence of this award, demonstrating unwavering dedication, resourcefulness, and leadership in her role as collections manager at our institution,” Witulski wrote in her nomination letter.

Sarah began her journey with the Besser Museum in 2021 as a part-time employee shortly after graduating from Lake Superior State University with a degree in history.

“Her passion for museums, coupled with her commitment to professional growth, saw her rise to the full-time position of collections manager by leveraging training resources provided by the American Alliance of Museums and the Michigan Museum Association,” Witulski said in the letter.

In her role, Sarah oversees a team of approximately 10 volunteers, including community historians who serve on the museum’s collections committee to evaluate artifacts, as well as volunteers who assist with cataloging and maintaining the museum’s storage areas.

“Under her leadership, these individuals have flourished, creating a sense of community and shared purpose within our institution,” Witulski said. “Sarah’s dedication to artifact care and preservation is unparalleled. She diligently oversees the care of our growing collection, which now exceeds 30,000 artifacts. Beyond preservation, Sarah has increased public access to our collections. Her initiative to transition our records to an online PastPerfect database has resulted in over 2,000 artifacts and 21 exhibits being accessible to the public, transforming how our museum shares its treasures.”

Witulski noted that Honeycutt “played an instrumental role in the successful completion of our $1.8 million, 3,000-square-foot history exhibit renovation project. Her organizational skill and attention to detail were critical to the project’s success as she managed the receipt, inventory, cataloging, and digitization of 1,155 artifacts. She skillfully coordinated with Museum Assistants Nicole Page and Matt Wieschowski, ensuring seamless execution of this monumental task.”

During the research and development phase of the exhibit, Honeycutt sourced and provided interpretive captions for the majority of historic photos featured. Her creative and scholarly contributions included writing the narrative for the “Early Settlers” exhibit and the “Avenue of Shops” introduction panels. She collaborated closely with Witulski, local historian Tim Kent, and the Split Rock Studios team to design artifact layouts and proofread exhibit panels. She also went above and beyond by creating online exhibits linked to QR codes on reader rails, enhancing the visitor experience.

“Sarah Honeycutt’s passion, professionalism, and perseverance have profoundly impacted our museum and the community we serve,” Witulski added. “She is not only a champion of artifacts and exhibits but also of the people who make museums thrive — volunteers, colleagues, and visitors alike. Her tireless efforts and innovative approach make her a shining example of what it means to be a Museum Champion.”

Witulski added, “Honeycutt exemplifies the qualities celebrated by the Michigan Museum Association Colleague Champion Award, and we respectfully urge the committee to consider her for this honor.”

These awards are presented annually to individuals who have been nominated by a colleague for their efforts on a project or team, or for their service to their museum or community. Colleague Champions receive a certificate, are acknowledged at the awards celebration, and listed on the awards page on the MMA website.