Finalists for the 2018-19 Tri-Cities Jank Ambassador selected
The top finalists for the 2018-19 Tri-Cities Jank Ambassadorship and Guitar of St. Charles Jank Award have been selected from a field of over 400 nominees.
These outstanding young people have been nominated based upon their academic achievement and ability to apply creativity in a manner that fosters community, diversity, and innovation.
The recipient of the 2018-19 ambassadorship and award will be announced at a ceremony at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, June 12, in Lincoln Park, off Fourth and Main streets in St. Charles.
The finalists for the Tri-Cities Jank Ambassadorship are:
• Zachary Chiet (nominated by Dave Chiet);
• Austin Jones (nominated by Paul Lencioni);
• Tyler Lockin (nominated by Joan Hagedorn);
• Monica Salonga (nominated by Jennifer Amadei);
• Madeline Schuster (nominated by Karine Bauch);
• Nathan Throneburg (nominated by Paul Carani).
The annual Guitar of St. Charles Jank Award and Tri-Cities Jank Ambassadorship is awarded to one exceptional local youth who has been nominated by teachers, mentors and/or peers for their exemplary academic achievement and unique ability to demonstrate leadership, creativity, initiative and community awareness in classroom and extracurricular activities. From hundreds of nominees a single ambassador is chosen by a panel of judges for this honor each year.
This year's panel includes business and government leaders from throughout the Tri-Cities: St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina; Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns; Batavia Mayor Jeffery Schielke; St. Charles Chief of Police James Keegan; St. Charles City Council Aldermen Rita Payleitner, Lora Vita and Maureen Lewis; St. Charles Park District Executive Director Holly Cabel; St. Charles Park District board member Bob Carne; St. Charles Park District board member Mike Hoscheit; Wredling Middle School Principal Tim Loversky; Arcada Theatre president and CEO Ron Onesti; Blue Goose Market president and CEO Paul Lencioni; Colonial Cafe owner and president Clinton Anderson; Hotel Baker owner and general manager Rowena Salas; The Finery owners David Reyes and Juliette Reyes; Kane County Chronicle local editor Zack Van Vuren; and Shaw Media Director of Content Development Sherri Dauskurdas.
This will be the third Tri-Cities Jank Ambassador following the ambassadorships of George Ressinger and Crystal Kotvan.
As the 2017-18 ambassador, Kotvan's tenure focused on female leadership. She interviewed state Sen. Karen McConnaughay, took meetings with female executives throughout the Tri-Cities, and represented the ambassadorship at City Council and in major community events including Scarecrow Fest and the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Kotvan is also the ambassadorship's first cultural correspondent, reporting on her experiences and sharing the knowledge and insights from her time with state, regional, and local leaders for St. Charles' official YouTube station.
The 2018-19 Tri-Cities Jank Ambassador will build upon the legacy of his or her predecessors as the ambassadorship grows to Europe with an international trip to the site of The Jank Guitar Store's future location in St. Malo, France. The European headquarters of The Jank Guitar Store at 12 Place Bouvet in St. Malo will officially open June 12.
Like St. Charles, Batavia, and Geneva, St. Malo is part of a historic Tri-Cities region on the coastline of northwestern France. The 2018-19 Tri-Cities Jank Ambassador will travel to St. Malo for an immersive three-day educational tour including an interview with TSUGI Magazine, meeting with St. Malo City Council members, a roundtable discussion with local youth leaders coordinated by the St. Malo school district, and visits to historical sites such as the Demeure de Corsaire and St. Vincent Cathedral.
The event will be attended by finalists and their families as well as special guests including state Sen. Karen McConnaughay, Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, Batavia Mayor Jeffery Schielke, former St. Charles mayor Sue Klinkhamer, and business, education and government leaders from throughout the Tri-Cities.