Community Champions Awards Luncheon
2022 winners are:
Entrepreneur of the Year – Cam Schock
George – Courtney Rott Jr.
STAR (Students Taking Active Responsibility) – Aberdeen Central SADD Chapter
ViTality – Jim Walker
Woman of Spirit – Kila LeGrand
Military & Veteran Awards
- Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year – Sgt. Sarah Rice
- Civilian Advocate of the Year – Mark Wolf
All awards are sponsored by the Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce. The luncheon, hosted by the Chamber’s Ambassador Committee, recognizes volunteer leaders and organizations within Aberdeen and from around the region.
To nominate someone for any of the awards listed below for 2023, call the Chamber office at (605) 225-2860 or email info@aberdeen-chamber.com.
The Woman of Spirit Award. The award, sponsored by the Chamber, replaced the ATHENA Award in 2008, but like the Athena is presented to a woman from the Aberdeen area who has attained and personified the highest level of professional excellence in her business or profession and has devoted time and energy to the community in a meaningful way.
The GEORGE Award. This award is presented by the Chamber to an individual(s) who has worked tirelessly on behalf of the community in trying to make Aberdeen a better place to live and work. A George Award recipient has stepped up and taken the initiative, rather than “just letting George do it.”
The STAR Award. STAR stands for Students Taking Active Responsibility. The Award is presented to a Youth Organization for their dedicated efforts in the community.
The Entrepreneur of the Year Award. This award is sponsored by the Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce. In the spirit of building on Aberdeen’s rich culture of entrepreneurship, Aberdeen began the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2007.
Military/Veterans Awards. The Military/Veterans Committee presented awards to active military, veterans, families and businesses.
The Aberdeen Area Family Business of the Year Award. Started in 2004, the award recognizes the accomplishments of a family business and its contributions to the community of Aberdeen and the surrounding region. Criteria includes that at least two family members work in the business, and/or multi-generational; positive contributions of the business to the welfare of the community; success of the business; and an assessment of the health and unity of the family.
ViTality Award. The ViTality award, sponsored by the Chamber, is presented to the individual who is the ‘keeper’ of the regional vision, or the person who lives in the regional growth and ‘ViTality’ spirit every day. The ViTality awarded annually to recognize individuals in a 17-county area of northeastern South Dakota who display enthusiasm for regional development. The namesake, ViTality, is in memory of Aberdonian, Vi Stoia. Stoia was often called a ‘regional thinker’, and felt that new businesses in Redfield or community work in Leola was a win for Aberdeen and the entire region. Stoia passed away in 2008 but his memory lives on in the form of the ViTality Award.