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Since 1997, the David J. Toman Foundation and the Art Conservation Department have presented the David J. Toman Award to an outstanding senior. Recipients are nominated by faculty for having demonstrated a strong commitment to the preservation of cultural property beyond the classroom through internships, service projects, and academic activities. The monetary component of this award is provided by the David J. Toman Foundation.
Judith and Gary Toman established the David John Toman Foundation in 1999 in memory of their son. David was an undergraduate art conservation major at the University of Delaware when he was tragically killed in a bicycle accident on campus. As a conservation student he was particularly interested in objects conservation, especially the conservation of outdoor sculpture. David's spirit for conservation can be summarized in his own words, “The past is stored and recorded in its cultural objects. It is our job as conservators and curators to preserve these materials for the enjoyment and education of future generations. The extremely temporal outlook of this throwaway society must not be influence enough to neglect the care given to cultural property." David is remembered by family and friends as having an infectious sense of happiness and positive attitude.
Previous recipients of the award include:
2023 Angie Lopez
2022 Yulimar Luna Colón
2021 Miriam-Helene Rudd
2020 Philip de Paola
2019 Annabelle Fichtner and AnnaLivia McCarthy
2018 Nell Weaver
2017 Karissa Muratore
2016 Julianna Ly
2015 Rebecca Selig
2014 Kelsey Wingel
2013 Ellen Nigro
2012 Kevin Barni
2011 Hannah Mancill
2010 Susan Pavlik
2009 Katelyn Uehling
2008 Stephanie Oman
2007 Heather Hansen
2006 Fran Ritchie
2005 Erica Cooney
2004 Matthew Cushman
2003 Anya McDavis-Conway
2002 Anya Shutov
2001 Jennifer Jae Mentzer
2000 Tatiana Bareis
1999 Lisa Ann Moberg
1998 Judy L. Dion
1997 Sara Shpargel​
