Rock Island announces 38th annual Citizen of the Year award winners

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Rock Island has announced its 38th Annual Citizen of the Year award winners.

The awards were founded in 1987 as a way to recognize individuals and organizations that make a positive difference in the Rock Island community.

There are nine categories: youth, education, professional, artist-creator, city employee, veteran, organization, church or nonprofit, and business.

Winners of this year's awards were chosen by the citizen of the Year Committee, which comprises last year's award winners, as well as Mayor Ashley Harris, Alderman Randy Hurt, Community Engagement Manager Sarah Hayden, City Clerk Samantha Gange, Executive Assistant Colleen Skolrood and Labor Day Parade Committee Chairwoman Mary Chappell.

This year's winners are:

Individual: Kathy Lelonek, a community volunteer who as president of the Rock Island Library Foundation was instrumental in raising $9 million for construction of the Watts-Midtown Library Branch. She has also written grants to obtain washers and dryers for the Rocky Resource Room and raised funds for new playground equipment.

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Youth: Jeremiah Evans, 15, is a sophomore at Rock Island High School. Jeremiah is a dedicated student who also runs cross country and track and serves as manager for the boys' basketball team. During football season, he works the sideline technology and operates the drone. He also volunteers for the Quad Cities Marathon, Firecracker Run and Nest Cafe.

Professional: Jack Cullen is executive director of the Rock Island Downtown Alliance, which he launched in 2023 as a public-private partnership between the city and Quad Cities Chamber. He was a driving force behind the creation of the city's Special Service Area and has been a key figure for Rebuild Downtown Rock Island, securing local and state funding for the reconstruction of the downtown's core.

Education: Jarrin Williams is an English teacher at Rock Island High School and also serves as the head coach for boys' cross country and track teams. He is in his tenth year as a teacher and serves as a role model to all students. He also leads homecoming activities and keeps other Rocky grads connected by organizing reunions.

Artist or creator: David Sebben is a three-time published author, historian and chief contributor to the Retro Quad Cities Facebook page. Sebben has written "Go Rocks," a book on the history of football in Rock Island; "The Solomon Butler Story," about the famed Rock Island High School athlete; and co-authored the book "Rock Solid," on the history of Rock Island High School. He is writing books on the history of Rock Island High School basketball and the history of the Rock Island Southern Railway.

Veteran: Marshall E. Glover Jr. is a U.S. Army veteran. Glover served in the Army for six years before receiving a medical retirement. He is a mobile crisis counselor with Foundation 2 Crisis Services, working in the Mobile Crisis Outreach program to support individuals in critical need. He also volunteers his time with the Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department.

City Employee: Tammy Mendoza is an office assistant in the Public Works Department. Hired in 1976, Medoza is the second-longest serving employee in Rock Island's history at 49 years and will retire in a few weeks. In her five decades with the city, she is known for her patience, integrity and professionalism.

Business: Huckleberry's Pizza & Calzones, which was opened by owners Jon Keim and Delia Herrera in 1992. Keim and Herrera rebuilt Huckleberry's after it was severely damaged by a September 2014 fire that destroyed eight other buildings in downtown Rock Island. They served take-out meals during COVID and endured limited access to their restaurant during the downtown reconstruction project. Keim was instrumental in forming the Rock Island Downtown Alliance.

Organization, Church or Nonprofit: WVIK is the Quad-Cities' National Public Radio affiliate station. Founded by Don Wooten in 1980, WVIK has continued to provide local news and coverage of the community's arts and culture scene for 45 years.

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