In 2018, Hillenburg received the Winsor McCay Award at the 45th Annie Awards, and a special recognition at the 45th Daytime Emmy Awards "for his contribution and impact made in the animation field and within the broadcast industry." The marine demosponge species Clathria hillenburgi, known from mangrove habitats off the coast of Paraíba, Brazil, was named in honor of Stephen Hillenburg. On November 18, 2021, Hillenburg was honored with a bench and historical plaque at his alma mater Savannah High School in Anaheim, California. The project was a collaboration between the Hillenburg family, Anaheim Historical Society, and YouTube personality Griffin Hansen. Karen Hillenburg specifically chose a bright yellow bench that "she thought perfectly captured her husband's warmth and goofiness". The memorial was dedicated one day before Savanna High School's 60th anniversary at a school-wide assembly hosted by Hansen and principal Michael Pooley. The event was attended by Karen and Clay Hillenburg, as well as members of Spongebob Squarepants' cast and crew including Tom Kenny, Jill Talley, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Clancy Brown, Mr. Lawrence, Marc Ceccarelli, and Derek Drymon. Filmography Film Television References Further reading External links Stephen Hillenburg at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio website 1961 births 2018 deaths 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American painters 20th-century American educators 20th-century American biologists 21st-century American male actors 21st-century American male writers 21st-century American painters 21st-century male artists 21st-century American scientists American art directors American cartoonists American comics artists American experimental filmmakers American male painters American male screenwriters American male voice actors American marine biologists American storyboard artists American surrealist artists American television directors American television writers American voice directors American patrons of the arts American animated film directors American animated film producers Animators from California Animators from Oklahoma Annie Award winners Burials at sea California Institute of the Arts alumni Creative directors Deaths from motor neuron disease Neurological disease deaths in California Educators from California Educators from Oklahoma Film directors from California Film directors from Oklahoma Film producers from California Film producers from Oklahoma California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt alumni Male actors from California Male actors from Oklahoma American male chefs American male television writers Nickelodeon Animation Studio people Painters from California Painters from Oklahoma Patrons of schools People from Anaheim, California People from Fort Sill, Oklahoma People from Hollywood, Los Angeles People from Lawton, Oklahoma People from Pasadena, California People from San Marino, California Philanthropists from California Philanthropists from Oklahoma