Finalists for the first Community Awards have been selected in seven categories, recognizing outstanding contributions by Carson City area residents in their fields.
Winners will be announced June 8 at an awards luncheon, sponsored by the Nevada Appeal and Carson Access Television, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Pinon Plaza.
The finalists are:
-Academic of the Year: Tom Badillo, Kathy Bakst/Paula Davies, and Nick Reinhardt.
-Artist of the Year: Stephanie Arrigotti, Karen Chandler, and Carol Foldvary-Anderson.
-Athlete of the Year: John Chirila, Darrell Rasner, and Nicole Scott.
-Boss of the Year: Robert L. Crowell, Richard Linkul, and Steve Smith.
-Employee of the Year: Thursteen (Tiny) Francis, Bob Williams, and Sarah L. (Sally) Zola.
-Humanitarian of the Year: Dorothy Crosby, Lora Myles, and Sam Waldman.
-Organization of the Year: Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada, Carson City Kiwanis Service Club, and Eagle Valley Children's Home Respite Program.
A special recognition award will also be announced at the luncheon.
Nominations were solicited over the past several weeks and the finalists were chosen by the Nevada Appeal's reader panel as well as Tom Baker, Peter Smith and Craig Swope, executive director of CAT 10.
"We had good nominees for all seven categories," said Nevada Appeal Publisher Jeff Ackerman. "The Nevada Appeal reader panel consists of a good cross-section of our community and they spent a great deal of time going over these nominations."
Panel members are Barbara Assante, Judy Biddleman, Don Carlson, Andy Harvey, Maizie Harris Jesse, Rob Joiner, Bill Lawson, Guy Rocha, Frank Taylor and Roger Volker.
"From the CAT 10 standpoint, it's a comfortable fit because it touches the community and so many people in our community use CAT 10," said Swope.
"On a more personal level, the process is reinforcing to me because in a structured way, these outstanding people, young and old, can be honored for their unselfish efforts and it shows me what an outstanding community Carson City is," Swope said.
Similar awards have been given in past years by the Carson City Chamber of Commerce, which this year turned over the program to the Nevada Appeal and CAT 10. Categories were added to represent a broader spectrum of the community, according to Ackerman.
Reservations for the June 8 luncheon, which costs $15, may be made by calling Karen at 881-1249.
