Awards & Honors

​Awards and honors recognizing Jennifer Heemstra’s international performance career, cultural leadership, and contributions to education and public service.
  • Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad (2016)​  
              Coverage by MLive

  • Michigan State University College of Music Distinguished Alumni Award (2016–2017)
            Official award citation by Michigan State University

  • Michigan State University Commencement Speaker, College of Music (2017)
 
  • Michigan State University Young Alumni Award (2018)
            University-produced award video

  • International Women Excellence Award, The International Business Centre, India (2020)
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  • Certificate of Commendation, Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, Indian Consulate of New York (2022)​
(Photos follow in the same order)

Jennifer Heemstra receiving the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad in Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Heemstra receives the U.S. Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad in Washington, D.C. 2016.
Michigan State University Commencement Speaker - Class of 2017
Concert pianist and cultural leader Jennifer Heemstra delivering the commencement address as the Commencement Speaker for the Michigan State University College of Music Class of 2017.
Jennifer Heemstra, Commencement Speaker, MSU College of Music class of 2017.
Trustee Breslin,  Associate Provost Chivukula, Dean Forger, Associate Deans Rayl and Kroth, members of the faculty & staff, Ms. Moriarty, Mr & Mrs. Taggart – it’s great to see some familiar faces from my days at school- proud parents and above all graduates.

Let me start off by saying thank you.  Not only has MSU given me an extraordinary honor but the weeks of anxiety & wracking my brain over what to say have given me a new bar to measure stage fright by.  Based on my hours of research I simply have to get through this without making any reference to our current president, global warming, or anything to do with La La Land."
Jennifer Heemstra standing with Associate Provost Chivukula and Trustee Brian Breslin at Michigan State University College of Music graduation, Lansing, Michigan, 2017.
Jennifer Heemstra at the Michigan State University College of Music graduation as Commencement Speaker with Associate Provost Chivukula and Trustee Brian Breslin, 2017.
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Michigan State University Young Alumni Award 
 Professionally produced award video recognizing concert pianist and cultural leader Jennifer Heemstra as a recipient of the Michigan State University Young Alumni Award.
Concert pianist Jennifer Heemstra being presented the Michigan State University Young Alumni Award in 2018.
Jennifer Heemstra honored with the Michigan State University Young Alumni Award, 2018, for her contributions to music and cultural leadership.
Jennifer Heemstra with MSU Grand Alumni Award winners.
2018 MSU Alumni Grand Award winners.
Jennifer Heemstra with Michigan State University Alumni Grand Award winners and and MSU President Samuel L. Stanley, 2018.
Jennifer Heemstra with fellow Alumni Grand Award recipients and MSU President Samuel L. Stanley, celebrating alumni achievement.
Certificate of Commendation, Indo – American Chamber of Commerce
Concert pianist and cultural leader Jennifer Heemstra delivering an acceptance speech for a Certificate of Commendation from the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce at the Indian Consulate in New York City 2022
Concert pianist and cultural leader Jennifer Heemstra delivering an acceptance speech upon receiving a Certificate of Commendation from the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce at the Indian Consulate in New York City. .
Certificate of Commendation awarded to concert pianist and cultural leader Jennifer Heemstra by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce in New York City, 2022
Certificate of Commendation from the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce recognizing Jennifer Heemstra' s contributions to international cultural engagement in India.
Portrait of Jennifer Heemstra, recipient of the Secretary of State Award, with the White House in Washington, D.C. in the background.
Jennifer Heemstra, recipient of the U.S. Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad, at the White House, Washington, D.C.
Explore selected performances and collaborations → Performances