Hanover Park police officer wins village's Humanitarian Award
Hanover Park Police Officer Sean Bockstadter received the Humanitarian Award.
Over the holidays, Bockstadter used money he earned working overtime to buy toys for children at Chicago's Shriners Hospital for Children. He later delivered the gifts to the children himself.
Craig says the honor is a "mayor's choice" award.
"I was pretty overwhelmed by a couple of things he did this year," Craig said. "And people are always making nice comments about his commitment to his work."
Bockstadter also was honored last year, along with a citizen and fellow police officer, for saving the life of a man suffering a heroin overdose.
The village's Michael H. Coleman Youth of the Year Award, which includes a $1,000 scholarship, went to Naba Durrani. Candidates for the award are judged based on their academic, career, leadership and community initiative.
Runners-up for the scholarship included Christina Troha, Amia Akwiwu and Brittany Amawan, who each received $500 scholarships.
The award is named after Michael H. Coleman, a Hanover Park resident who died in 2011 after a car crash on the way to go snowboarding in Galena. Craig says the village received eight or nine applications for this year's scholarships.
Hanover Park also recognized village businesses for outstanding achievement. Round Ground Metals won the Business of the Year award for a business with over 50 employees, and Bungalow Joe's won the Business of the Year Award for business with under 50 employees.
Round Ground Metals "makes great contributions and really works together and collaborates with their employees," Craig said.
The company manufactures steel rods.
Additional award recipients include:
Citizen of the Year: Hanover Park Village Clerk Eira Corral
Service to Youth Award: Bob Prigge, Boy Scout Troop 398
Service to Veterans Award: Phil Jelen, VFW Post 5151
Educator of the Year: Rebecca Walker, senior director at the Education and Work Center in Hanover Park
Peoples Choice Award (business): Dulce Vida Juice