The 2013 STAR Expo and Awards Ceremony was held at the Hilton Garden Inn on Thursday, April 25, 2013 from 5:30-8:30 pm with over 250 attendees.
During the STAR Expo, 42 vendors were on hand to provide information about neighborhood wellness, civic engagement and community resources. In addition, five mini workshops were held throughout the Expo while Speak for Yourself, a Jazz Band ensemble from Central High School, provided background music. The workshops included 2013 Construction Updates from the City of Champaign’s Public Works Department, HOA Steward provided an introduction to Homeowners’ Association and neighborhood group administration; local faith-based leaders provided an Interfaith Community Engagement Workshop; the Champaign County Economic Development staff described the strategic facets and implementation of industry specific business roundtables; and the Champaign Police Department presented information about Intelligence Led Policing efforts in each of the four police districts.
The STAR Awards Ceremony began with Xtension Chords, a male acappella group from the University of Illinois, singing the National Anthem. Neighborhood Services Director Kevin Jackson, Mayor Don Gerard, and City Manager Dorothy Ann David spoke to the audience before Neighborhood Services Advisory Board Chair Donte Lotts introduced Dave Benton from WCIA who was the Master of Ceremonies for the fourth consecutive year. Awards were handed out in the following categories:
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Community Partner Honorees: Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local #8 Illinois Human Kinetics* Lincoln’s Challenge Academy Lynette Dodds Stacy Harwood |
Neighborhood Leadership Honorees: Amy Revilla James Creighton* Michael Giboney Myrtle Ali Sylvie Capell |
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Difference Maker Honorees: Melany Jackson * Patrick Connolly Rob Meister Rose Kaczmarowski |
Good Neighbor Honorees: Barbara Ragheb Ellen Holy Nina P. Sibley* Rob Siedenburg |
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Neighborhood of the Year Honorees: Cove Condominiums of Champaign HOA United Garden Hills Neighborhood Association* |
Neighborhood-Community Building Honorees: Azark David Cobbs Carletta Donaldson Eric Green* |
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Rising Star Honorees: Claire Johnson Daniel and Nicolas Ramkumar* |
* Denotes category winner(s) |
Former City Manager Steve Carter received a Special Recognition STAR Award for Excellence in Community Leadership. The evening was ended with some reflections from four Spoken Word Artists from the Krannert Center for Performing Arts at the University of Illinois.
