Rock Island announces Citizen of Year winners

The City of Rock Island has selected the winners for the 37th annual Citizen of the Year awards.

Each year, residents and others in the community have an opportunity to nominate those who have made selfless contributions of service to the City of Rock Island and its residents.

Nine categories have been recognized: Individual; Youth; Education; Artist/Creator; Professional; City Employee; Veteran; Organization, Church or Non-Profit; and Business. 

This year’s winners include:

• Individual: Kai Swanson, special assistant to the president of Augustana College and Rock Island County board member.
• Youth: Bronx Roessler, sixth grader at Eugene Field Elementary.
• Education: Rita Jett, interventionist at Edison Jr. High.
• Professional: Mark Drake, YouthHope/Christian Friendliness.
• City Employee: Brian Smith, finance manager.
• Artist/Creator: Carolyn Krueger, the ARTery, and Isaiah Williams, Zay Creatives.
• Organization, Church or Non-Profit: NEST Cafe, Laura Evans Mahn.
• Business: Skeleton Key Art and Antiques, owners Brandy and John VandeWalle.
• Veteran: Jim Loveless, Vietnam War veteran and Honor Guard volunteer.

Winners also will be honored in the 2024 Rock Island Labor Day Parade, on Monday, Sept. 2.

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

Winners were chosen by the Citizen of the Year Committee. The committee is composed of last year’s winners and these city leaders: Mayor Mike Thoms, Aldermen Moses Robinson and Dylan Parker, Community Engagement Manager Sarah Hayden, Executive Assistant Colleen Skolrood and Labor Day Parade Committee members Mary Chappell and Grace Shirk.

Here are some details on the Citizen of the Years winners:

• Mr. Swanson is special assistant to the president of Augustana College, Rock Island County board member and president of the Rock Island County Forest Preserve Commission. He is a life-long Rock Island resident who got his start in broadcast journalism at WVIK-Augustana Public Radio, eventually working as news editor. He became director of public relations for Augustana College and editor of the Augustana College Magazine before being promoted to his current role. He has served on numerous boards and commissions, including Visit Quad Cities and the National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education. He has presented Concert Conversations for the Quad City Symphony Orchestra since 1996.

• Bronx Roessler is a sixth grade student at Eugene Field Elementary School. Bronx, 11, is president of the Student Leadership Council and acts as the lead for sixth graders helping Kindergarten students. He is in charge of student celebration assemblies and volunteers for the Jr. Rocks and Little Rocks programs. Bronx, a natural-born leader, has enthusiastically helped his school and promoted the community since first grade.
• Mark Drake is executive director of YouthHope. Since becoming executive director in 1988, he has grown YouthHope and its mission to empower children and teens from low-income areas. Through the organization’s youth centers, Camp Summit and community outreach programs, Mr. Drake has provided life-changing summer camp experiences and learning opportunities. He has opened his home to at-risk teens needing a place to stay. Through his commitment and service to youth, Mr. Drake has impacted generations of Rock Island families.

• Ms. Jett is an interventionist at Edison Junior High. She has taught in the Rock Island-Milan School District for more than 20 years and coached basketball and track. Ms. Jett serves as emcee for the annual Ready to Rock back-to-school bash at Schwiebert Park. She has participated in the Race Against Racism with the YWCA, volunteered for the Soles for Children shoe and coat giveaway, volunteered for Ms. J.’s Giveaways (community outreach), and assisted the Rock Island Police Department each Christmas with Shop With a Cop and the Backpacks and Badges backpack giveaway. She has been named Teacher of the Year for RIMSD and Teacher of the Year by the State of Illinois.

• Ms. Krueger is owner of The ARTery and former gallery director for MidCoast Fine Arts. She is primarily a clay artist whose work is hand-built and wheel-thrown. She has been active in the Rock Island arts community for many years, mentoring and inspiring countless aspiring artists. Her work is available at The ARTery, the Rock Island Artists’ Market and Excelsior Gallery. Ms. Krueger served on the Arts Commission for the City of Rock Island from 2007-2023, is a member of the Rock Island Arts Guild, and on the Rock Island Community Foundation. She has been teaching art and pottery for 20 years and currently offers private pottery lessons and classes at The ARTery. She encourages emerging artists, creative partnerships, and communication.

• Mr. Williams, founder of Zay Creatives, a brand that promotes urban fashion, art and culture. He is an artist, poet, designer and educator and uses his work to bridge cultural understanding while inspiring and uplifting others. Mr. Williams’ art is not confined to canvas, clothing or shoes; he leads interactive, live art demonstrations at local and national festivals and events.

• Mr. Loveless served as an air traffic controller in the U.S. Army for three years in the Vietnam War. He continues to serve in the Vietnam Veterans Association Chapter 299 Honor Guard, providing official military funeral honors for other veterans. Mr. Loveless also served as a member of the Rock Island Kiwanis Club and still volunteers in the Kiwanis Food Distribution Program, which provides food monthly to more than 30 food pantries in the region.
• Mr. Smith is finance manager for the city’s Finance Department. He has worked for the city for more than five years, supervising the accounting team and assisting with budget adjustments and preparation. In his short tenure, he has quickly earned promotions and the trust of fellow city employees. Mr. Smith is known for his quick response, integrity and professionalism.
• Skeleton Key Art and Antiques owners Brandy and John VandeWalle have owned the former Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home at 520 18th St. more than 10 years ago and turned the vacant, historic building into 6,000 square feet of retail space featuring vintage and antique household items, quirky art and unique, hand-crafted items from more than 100 vendors. The business has brought an additional retail opportunity to downtown Rock Island while beautifying the neighborhood with their outdoor displays of John’s impressive metal sculptures, colorful yard decor and beautiful landscaping. Brandy is invested in the community by serving as a board member for the Rock Island Downtown Alliance. She helped found the annual That Dam Shopping Trip and on several Sundays each summer she hosts the Rock Island Artists’ Market in her parking lot allowing vendors to sell their unique items.
• Nest Café  owner and founder Laura Evans Mahn. NEST Café, (Nourish Everyone Sustainably Together) is a non-profit restaurant with a mission to nourish bodies and community by providing delicious, sustainably-sourced food to all customers regardless of their ability to pay. She began her mission as a pop-up café at local schools and churches. She repurposed an empty building at 1524 4th Ave. and now serves families in the heart of Rock Island.