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Rock Island honors volunteers, educators and small businesses at 2025 Citizen of the Year awards
Summary
City recognized winners across nine categories including individual volunteer Kathy Lalonic, educator Jaren Williams, longtime public employee Tammy Mendoza, and Huckleberry’s Pizza and Calzones for business; parade and community events were announced.
Rock Island presented its annual Citizen of the Year awards and announced Labor Day and community events during the council meeting.
Sarah Hayden, the city’s community engagement manager, emceed the awards and said the program recognizes individuals and organizations “who’ve made these selfless contributions of service to the city and its residents.” Winners were selected by a committee made up of last year’s winners, the mayor and other city officials.
Among the winners announced: Kathy Lalonic received the individual award; Jaren Williams, an English teacher and coach at Rock Island High School, won the education award; Jeremiah Evans won the youth category; Jack Cullen received the professional category; Marshall Glover won the veteran category; Tammy Mendoza was named city employee of the year after 49 years with the city and will serve as Labor Day parade grand marshal; Huckleberry’s Pizza and Calzones won the business award; David Seben won the artist/creator prize; and WVIK (Quad Cities NPR) won the organization/church/nonprofit category.
Hayden highlighted specific work by winners: Lalonic served as president of the Rock Island Library Foundation and helped raise $9,000,000 for the Watts Midtown library branch; the presentation noted Tammy Mendoza’s 49 years with the public works department and that she will retire the week of the ceremony; and Huckleberry’s owners John Keim and Delia Herrera were recognized for rebuilding after a 2014 fire and persevering through downtown reconstruction.
The city also announced community events: Rock Island Soul of the City will be Saturday, Aug. 30 at Franklin Field; the 41st annual Labor Day Parade will start at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 1, with Tammy Mendoza serving as grand marshal; and the Rock Island Grand Prix kart race will run over Labor Day weekend.
The awards ceremony closed with Mayor Ashley Harris and parade chair Mary Chapel joining the winners and organizers for brief remarks. Council minutes show the presentation concluded before the council returned to business items.
