The City of Rock Island is asking for the public’s help in nominating any deserving candidates for its Citizen of the Year Awards.
The 39th annual awards include nine categories: Individual; Youth; Education; Professional; Artist or Creator; Veteran; City Employee; Business; and Organization, Church or Non-Profit.
The awards were founded in 1987 by former Alderpersons Grace Shirk and James Kerr as a way to recognize individuals and organizations inspiring others or making positive differences in Rock Island.
Nominations are open through 5 p.m., Friday, Aug. 7. Winners will be recognized and presented with awards at the Rock Island City Council’s regular meeting Monday, Aug. 24. 
For a nomination form, visit here or scan the accompanying QR code.
Here’s a look at the Citizen of the Year categories:
- Individual: This award honors an individual who exemplifies hard work and ethics while demonstrating outstanding service to the community through volunteer work, mentoring or social leadership. Nominees must have made a difference through their willingness to work well with others and ability to inspire positive change as a community advocate. The winner must be a Rock Island resident.
- Youth: This award is open to current students (grades 6-12 this fall) enrolled in the Rock Island-Milan School District; Jordan Catholic School; Alleman High School; or is being homeschooled. This student has maintained academic excellence while displaying character, initiative, leadership and creativity through community groups, projects or volunteer work. The winner has won the respect and admiration of teachers or community leaders and stands out as an example to other youth. The youth is not required to live in Rock Island except for homeschooled students, who must reside in the city.
- Education: Nominees must be employed by the Rock Island-Milan School District, Jordan Catholic or Alleman High schools, but are not required to live in Rock Island. This employee 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.
- Professional: This individual has made a positive change in the Rock Island community through their employment by displaying leadership, character and initiative. Nominees 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. Nominees must be employed in Rock Island, do not need to live there.
- Artist or creator: This award honors a Rock Island resident 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 as well as brings social awareness or makes the community a better, brighter place to live.
- Veteran: 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. Nominees must give back to the community through volunteer work, mentorship, or be 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. The veteran must reside in Rock Island or had lived there when enlisted.
- City employee: Nominees must be employed by the city, but are not required to reside in Rock Island. This person is dependable and has a good work ethic, character and inspires other employees to do their best. With a can-do attitude, this person takes pride in their job, has earned the respect of their co-workers and supervisors and their work has made the city a better place to live, work and visit.
- Business: Nominees must be a business 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 positive working environment and be operated in a way that displays character, ethics, good business practices and maintains a well-kept building and grounds in Rock Island. The business’ owner does not have to reside in Rock Island.
- Organization, Church or Non-Profit: The nominated organization, church or non-profit must be located in Rock Island and make a difference 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 changemaker and inspires others to join their cause.
The winning Citizens of the Year also will ride in the 42nd annual Labor Day Parade on Monday, Sept. 7, in Rock Island. One individual or group from among the winners will be chosen as the grand marshal for the 2026 Labor Day Parade.
