Nominations open for Rock Island Citizen of the Year

Rock Island’s 37 ^th annual Citizen of the Year awards need nominees!

The city is asking community members to submit nominations for people who inspire or mentor others or have made selfless contributions of service to the City of Rock Island. There are nine categories available for nomination:

Individual;

Youth;

Education;

Professional;

Artist or Creator;

Veteran;

City Employee;

Business; and

Organization, Church or Nonprofit.

Click here for the nomination form. Nominations will be accepted until Thursday, August 8 at 5 p.m. Winners will be recognized and presented with their awards at the August 26 City Council meeting. Winners will ride in the 40 ^th annual Labor Day Parade on Monday, September 2 and one winner will be chosen to serve as the 2024 Labor Day Parade Grand Marshal.

Categories and descriptions

Individual: This award honors a person who exemplifies hard work and ethics while demonstrating outstanding service to the community through volunteer work, mentoring or social leadership. This person has had an influence through their willingness to work well with others and ability to inspire positive change in Rock Island. Nominees must be residents of Rock Island.

Youth: Nominees must be a students currently enrolled in the Rock Island-Milan School District, Jordan Catholic School, Alleman High School or homeschooled in grades 6 through 12 this fall. This student has maintained academic excellence while displaying character, initiative, leadership and creativity through community groups, projects or volunteer work. The selected youth has won the respect and admiration of teachers or community leaders and stands out as an example to other youth. The nominated youth is not required to be a resident of Rock Island except for homeschooled students, who must reside in the city.

Education: This person is not required to be a resident of Rock Island but must be employed by the Rock Island-Milan School District, Jordan Catholic School or Alleman High School. This individual may be a superintendent, principal, dean, teacher or paraprofessional who is engaging and inspires students to do their best in school and out in the community. This person displays leadership, character and empathy while acting as a mentor. They may put in extra hours through coaching or leading after-school programs and activities. They have the respect of students, staff and other educators.

Professional: This individual has made a positive change in the Rock Island community through their employment by displaying leadership, character and initiative. The nominated person may have implemented social programs, raised money to help those in need, created or led a community event, or mentored youth, for example. They have earned the respect of their peers and the community. This person must be employed in Rock Island but does not need to live in the city.

Artist or Creator: Nominees must be Rock Island residents. This award honors an individual who is active in the arts community through visual arts, theatre, dance, music, writing, photography, film, poetry, spoken word performance, or other artistic expression. This person inspires others to learn more about the arts or pursue their own artistic endeavors. This person uses creative expression to bring social awareness or make the community a better, brighter place to live.

Veteran: Nominated veterans must reside in Rock Island. This individual has served in any of the armed forces as active duty or a member of the reserves and was honorably discharged or retired. This person gives back to the community through volunteer work, mentorship, or is active in Rock Island organizations. This person makes Rock Island a better place to live through their inspiring example of patriotism, courage, honor and character.

City Employee: This individual must be employed by the City of Rock Island but does not need to reside in the city. This person is dependable and has good work ethic and character and inspires other employees to do their best. This person has a positive can-do attitude, takes pride in their job and has earned the respect of their coworkers and supervisors. Their work as an employee has made the city a better place to live, work and visit.

Business: The nominated business must be located in Rock Island and serve the community in a capacity that goes beyond normal business operations. Examples include providing scholarship awards, fundraising, volunteering, and overall giving back to the community. The nominated business must have a good working environment and be operated in a way that displays character, ethics, good business practices and maintains a well-kept building and grounds in the city. The business owner does not need to reside in Rock Island.

Organization, Church or Non-Profit: The nominated organization, church or nonprofit must be located in Rock Island and make a difference in the community through its service, mission-based programs, fundraising or events. This group may help those in need; influence social change; raise awareness of an issue; raise money to assist the less fortunate or fund a particular cause; organize community events that make a difference; or other activities that make a positive impact on the overall community. This group is seen as a change maker and inspires others to join their cause.

The awards were founded in 1987 by former Alderpersons Grace Shirk and James Kerr to recognize people and organizations that make positive differences in Rock Island.

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