Rock Island Rotary President Sue Rector and longtime leader Kevin Koski shared the stage with Project NOW and Christian Care leaders and students from Alleman and Rock Island high school schools and Augustana College at the club’s 51st Annual Awards Luncheon.
Mr. Koski, a retired civil engineer, who rose to be president of Missman Stanley & Associates, captured the A.T. Peara award at the Tuesday, May 6 lunch at the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island.
That annual award is given each year in memory of Rotary member Abasalom “A.T.” Peara. It is considered to be the highest award and recognition bestowed by the Rotary Club of Rock Island.
Mr. Koski has been a member of the club since 1987. Among his many contributions over the last 38 years is single-handedly leading the Rock Island club’s Birdies for Charity campaign.
Ms. Rector, who is retired from Augustana College and now director of development at the Center for Active Seniors, received the Luckenbill-Wray Award. The award is the equivalent of a Rotarian of the Year Award and named for the late Fred Luckenbill and Sam Wray, two club members who devoted much of their lives to Rotary.
As president, Ms. Rector is heavily involved in the club, but this year’s selection committee deemed that her effort went beyond those already considerable duties, and in leading at the club and district levels.
Community service
Christian Care and its Executive Director Frank Roe and Project NOW and its Executive Director Rev. Dwight Ford shared the Rock Island Club’s 2025 Community Service Award.
The two Rock Island-based organizations were honored for working together last fall to organize, establish and staff an emergency shelter that provided overnight shelter, meals, and a clean, safe facility for showers and hygiene.
The temporary facility is in Project NOW’s newly remodeled building. It was the only haven from the freezing temperatures located in the Illinois Quad Cities. Christian Care provided staff assistance, and three meals every day free of charge. More than 100 men, women, and children were sheltered and more were fed. Clothing was provided for those in need.
Excellence Award
Alleman High School Senior Nicholas Patrick was awarded the club’s Excellence Award, which is presented to area business and professional leaders for outstanding achievements in their chosen business or endeavor.
It marks just the third time the award was presented to a student. Chasson Randle and Brea Beal also previously received it for excellence in sports, in their case – basketball, at both the state and national levels.
As a sophomore, Nicholas was named National Boys Tennis Player of the Year by USA Today. He now is the No. 1 ranked Boys Tennis Player in Illinois and ranked No. 12 in the nation. He will continue his tennis career when he attends Notre Dame University this fall.
Top Augustana students
The top two senior scholars at Augustana College also received awards from Rock Island Rotary. They included Hannah Mortenson of Downs, Illinois, an environmental studies major. At
Augustana College she is a member of Beta Beta Beta biological honor society and a recipient of an Augustana Presidential Scholarship. Ms. Mortenson has been on the Dean’s List all semesters of her Augustana years.
The other Augustana honoree was Megan Yarusso from St. Charles, Illinois, is a sociology & anthropology major. She is senior editor-in-chief of Saga Magazine, Augustana’s art and literary magazine, and a news reporter for the Augustana Observer. She too has been on the Dean’s List every semester of her Augustana career.
High school honorees
Rock Island Rotarians also honored the top two senior scholars from both Alleman Catholic and Rock Island high schools. They are:
- Gretchen Ellis,is a member of the National Honor Society, a John O’Conner Scholar. She was honored on the Principal’s List all four years while at Alleman. She is an ICTM State Math Team and a member of the ACES team (Academic Challenge) and a four-year soccer player.
- Andrew Amacher is a member of the National Honor Society, who also is on the ACES and ICTM academic competition teams. He serves on the Alleman Student Council. He was a member of the Alleman varsity basketball team. Heserved as team captain his senior year. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout and holds a third-degree black belt in Taekuando, and a black belt in Shakedo.
- Benjamin Huisman is a member of National Honor Society and was designated a Charles O. Austin, Jr. Scholar. That means he maintained more than a 3.5 GPA each of his first six semesters at Rock Island High School. He is an Illinois State Scholar and a three-time Top 10 Academic Award recipient. He also is an Illinois High School Association Scholastic Achievement Award recipient. Benjamin was a member of Rock Island’s varsity boys tennis team. Hed performed in the concert, symphonic, jazz, and marching bands.
- MuPhlay K’Tooe Soe is an Illinois States Scholar who has been designated a Charles O. Austin Jr. Scholar. He also earned Top 10 Academic Awards. The senior is member of the Rock Island varsity boys soccer team. He has been awarded an IHSA Scholastic Achievement Award for excelling in athletics and academics. Beyond school he is a musician who performs at his church.
