Nominations due Aug. 1 for Cultural Champion award

Individuals who have helped to preserve their ethnic traditions within Aurora by sharing with the community at large and/or by teaching younger generations may be considered for a Cultural Champion award at the 2018 Roots Aurora festival. The festival will be 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, on the Water Street Mall in downtown Aurora. Admission is free.

Guidelines are found on the festival website, www.rootsaurora.org.

Nominations call for brief narratives on such topics as how the candidate is involved with community groups, education, enrichment travel, arts and history, social organizations, political action, and other aspects of Aurora life. The nominations should show how the candidate's work has preserved traditions and fostered understanding and pride in ethnic heritage.

The nominations are reviewed by a committee of festival and Aurora Historical Society officials.

In order to keep a balance of ethnicities over time, some worthy nominations may be deferred until a subsequent year.

Deadline for nominations is Wednesday, Aug. 1.