Mount Prospect honors its stars
Thirteen Mount Prospect residents received accolades from 350 of their fellow citizens Saturday night at the 18th annual Celestial Celebration, sponsored by the Mount Prospect Special Events Commission. All were honored with Shining Star awards for their good works in ten different categories.
Residents and well-wishers from neighboring towns, including state Reps. Elaine Nekritz and David Harris, gathered at Bristol Court Banquets for an evening of tropical food and décor in the aftermath of the area's third biggest snowstorm in recorded history. Mayor Irvana Wilks made a point of thanking the village's hardworking and exhausted public works employees for their diligence in clearing village streets.
The true volunteer spirit honored by these awards was evident throughout the festive evening as the honorees, many bedecked with Hawaiian leis, approached the podium and accepted their awards with great humility.
Mike Kancnik, winner of the “Best Business Partner Award” was busy volunteering elsewhere in the village – at the Prospect High School Daddy-Daughter Dance – and had to ask one of his employees at Pro-Mix Audio and Lighting to accept the award in his absence.
Chuck Bennett won the “Volunteer's Volunteer Award,” and his acceptance speech, said: “I feel uncomfortable accepting an award as a volunteer when I look around here tonight and see so many people who volunteer for so many things.”
He accepted the award “on behalf of all the volunteers in our community, where volunteering is a way of life.”
“Open Arms Award” winner Stacia Skinner downplayed the incredible work she has put into raising $200,000 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation through eight consecutive years of backyard parties and instead dedicated her award to her young neighbor, Tim Gruensfelder, a brain tumor survivor who “puts up an incredible fight every day with an amazing attitude.”
Jan Trapani Abernethy, winner of the “There Ought To Be More People Like This Award,” admitted that it felt strange to be honored for doing something she loves so much and refuses to retire from because she so loves being with her seniors.
St. Emily School junior high teacher Regina Kinasz said she was tremendously surprised and honored by the award but played down her good deeds.
“Every day at St. Emily's, I join with others who give of themselves for the benefit of our youth. I just hope my actions can make a difference in my students' lives the way they make a difference in my life,” she told the crowd.
Other winners of this year's awards were Daniel and Marion Motykie, “Good-Better-Best Neighbor Award”; Barbara Klett, Sharon Stobe and Carol Rojo, “Beautify Mount Prospect Award”; William Bickley, “Star Spangled Award”; Eric Arndt, “Youth Shall Be Served Award”; and Rose Allen, “Toast of the Town Award.”