Sixteen Residents Honored With Good Citizen Awards

Each year, Wheaton’s Community Relations Commission searches for examples of outstanding residents to honor with Good Citizen Awards. From coaching Special Olympic teams to teaching refugees American cooking lessons, from raising money for underprivileged children’s education to serving as a volunteer with the Police Department for more than two decades, this year’s 16 extraordinary winners of the awards epitomize what it means to be a good citizen.

The Community Relations Commission presented the 2011 Good Citizen Awards during the May 16 City Council meeting. The following are the winners in four award categories.

Student Category

Amanda Cady, St. Francis High School, for volunteering many hours helping at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital

Steven Alcantara, St. Francis High School, for his Eagle Scout project in which he collected more than 4,000 books for the People’s Resource Center’s literacy program

, Wheaton North High School, for starting a dance marathon raising money to support underprivileged children’s education, and establishing a foundation that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for AIDS orphans in Africa
, Benet Academy, who began the One World One Kitchen program to teach American cooking to refugees and help them learn English

Erin Nihill, Wheaton Warrenville South High School, for helping students with developmental disabilities and teaching children in St. Michael’s Religious Education Program.

Adult Category

Jane Hawthorne, for many years serving as the volunteer director of the Repeat Boutique in Wheaton

, for more than 31 years preserving and promoting Wheaton’s history through the Wheaton Historic Preservation Council and the Center for History

Kimberly Thacker, for her dedicated volunteering at the People’s Resource Center

Jeff Armstrong, who has helped Wheaton police officers and firefighters better serve the community through personal strength training

Scott Rambo, for giving back to his neighbors, including helping his block of neighbors remove snow during this year’s historic blizzard

Doug Feldman, for serving as an extraordinary volunteer coach for the Western DuPage Special Recreations Association’s Special Olympics basketball and softball teams.

Volunteer Category

Nancy Miner, for her volunteer work with the DuPage Community Foundation’s Next Generation Initiative, and volunteer work with people with disabilities

, for voluntarily coaching the Wheaton co-op boys and girls diving team and starting the Wheaton North boys lacrosse team. 

Senior Category

Wendy and Jim Fanning, for their volunteer work with PADS, Meals on Wheels, DuPage Animal Control and welcoming elderly people in the community into their home for many meals

Ray Radeke, for dedicating more than 20 years of his time to the Wheaton Police Department as a Senior Volunteer.

Wheaton’s Community Relations Commission is charged with promoting community involvement and volunteering. In addition to its annual Good Citizen Award program, the commission also organizes community-wide Make A Difference Day projects each fall. View the meeting where these 16 residents were honored.