The 245 people who attended the second annual Linny Awards at the ArtsQuest Center’s Musikfest Cafe were treated to a surprise announcement at the beginning of the arts awards ceremony. ArtsQuest Foundation Chair Jac Yaissle introduced Jane George as the new and first full-time executive director of the foundation.

George, who has served as Assistant Vice President of Government & Community Relations for St. Luke’s University Health Network, succeeds Musikfest and ArtsQuest founder Jeff Parks, who announced his retirement from the foundation this past summer.

Yaissle said the foundation conducted a national search, but “got very lucky” to find someone with the experience it was looking for right in “our own backyard.”

“It’s a little terrifying following in his [Parks’] footsteps,” George told those in attendance, but “I know we can continue and sustain what Jeff left us.”

After the announcement, 11 multidisciplinary Linny Awards were presented to Greater Lehigh Valley recipients in various categories from art, music, education, philanthropy and volunteerism. The awards are named in honor of Marlene “Linny” Fowler, who was a generous volunteer and donor to ArtsQuest and its Banana Factory, as well as other youth and community arts programs.

The evening’s top honor, the Pinnacle of the Arts award, went to Korean American actor Daniel Dae Kim, who is known for his television roles as Jin-Soo Kwon in “Lost,” and Chin Ho Kelly in “Hawaii Five-0.” The Pinnacle of the Arts award goes to someone who has lived or worked in the Lehigh Valley, and has achieved national or international acclaim in the visual, literary or performing arts.

A Freedom High School graduate, Kim graduated from Haverford College near Philadelphia. Kim acts, directs and runs his own film and television production company, 3AD, that currently is producing the television series “The Good Doctor.” Besides his television work, he played the King of Siam in “The King and I” on Broadway and in London.

Kim was unable to attend the awards ceremony because he is acting in the lead role in the action film “Hellboy,” which is being filmed in Europe. He did, however, speak to the audience through video, talking about his experiences growing up in Bethlehem, which he said were sometimes painful. He credited his friends, many of whom he still is in touch with, for helping him understand the value of loyalty, community and self-worth. One of those long-time friends is Craig Larimer, who accepted the award on Kim’s behalf.

The Lifetime Achievement Volunteer in the Arts Award went to Dolores Laputka for 20 years of involvement with community and arts organizations in the Lehigh Valley. She is chair of the Allentown Art Museum Board of Directors, and has served as chair of the board of directors of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, which she helped weather the turmoil of the past decade of international financial crises. She received a standing ovation when her award was presented. Nationally acclaimed jazz saxophonist Steve Coleman received the Lifetime Achievement Artist Award for his promotion of the musical arts though free workshops and performances in low-income areas in the United States and abroad. Recipient in 2000 of the Herb Alpert Award, he has been called “the linear heir to the instrument’s greats, like Charlie Parker and John Coltrane.” More recently, he received a MacArthur Fellowship, one of America’s most prestigious awards.

Coleman also spoke to the attendees by video since he is on tour in Europe.

In other award categories, sculptor Emil Lukas of Stockertown, best known for his “thread paintings,” was named Visual Artist of the Year; Walt Groller, 90-year-old polka band leader and accordionist, is Performing Artist of the Year; Alexandra Pobiedzinski, director of the Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange, is Emerging Artist of the Year; painter Bria Pickel won the Student Artist Scholarship; and Richard Shemonsky, head of Parkland High Schools Visual Arts Department, was recognized as Arts Educator of the Year.

The Connexions Gallery in Easton, the oldest running gallery in the Lehigh Valley, was recognized as Small Business Supporter of the Arts for its free improvisational jazz and funk performances. Lafayette Ambassador Bank, one of the early supporters of transforming the closed Bethlehem Steel plant into an arts center, and a generous supporter of ArtsQuest, was honored as Large Business Supporter of the Arts.

The Philanthropy in the Arts Award was presented to the Harry C. Trexler Trust of Allentown for providing grants to regional bands and orchestras, public and private art schools, local theaters and arts festivals.

Martin Guitar (C.F. Martin & Co.) of Nazareth received the Excellence in Product Design award for producing what are considered to be the finest acoustic guitars in the world. Professional and amateur musicians in every musical genre play Martin Guitars, and among the most famous users have been Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Paul McCartney and Willie Nelson.