Carol Stream lists Citizen of the Year nominees

Eleven people have been nominated for Carol Stream’s Citizen of the Year awards — an annual recognition that honors exceptional volunteerism in the community.

The awards have been presented since 1965 to volunteers who donate their time to a variety of causes. A committee collects nominations from service organizations and past recipients of the award select the winners.

One man and one woman receive the award.

“Carol Stream has always been a community of volunteers,” said Rick Gieser of the Citizen of the Year Committee. “This is a great opportunity to recognize and thank these people who make Carol Stream such a great community. There are not many things that tie in the whole community. This is one of them.”

Women nominated this year are Nancy Bagdonas of the Carol Stream Woman’s Club; Deb Czarnecki of the Carol Stream Community Emergency Response Team; Chantalle Phillips of the Carol Stream School PTA; and Nadia Sheikh of Friends of the Carol Stream Library.

Men nominated for the award are Ralph Armstrong of the Carol Stream Fourth of July Parade Committee; Rich Becker of the Carol Stream Chamber of Commerce; and Terry Michaelsen of the Carol Stream CERT.

Those nominated to be Special Citizen of the Year are residents who have volunteered for five straight years in the community.

The lone male nominee is Steven Griffin of Carol Stream Park District.

The female nominees are Jacque Bartell of the Carol Stream Woman’s Club and Linda Keen of the Carol Stream CERT.

In addition, the Judge’s Recognition category recognizes volunteers who live outside Carol Stream who have provided exemplary volunteer service in the village. That award will be presented to Edward Zuniga of the Carol Stream Chamber of Commerce.

The awards will be presented Feb. 8 at a banquet at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, 150 S. Gary Ave. Tickets are $35.

For details, visit www.citizenoftheyear.com.