Each year, the Mount Prospect Special Events Commission honors individuals and organizations that have a positive impact on the community by recognizing them with a Shining Star Award. The Shining Star Awards are presented on the basis of nomination by community leaders, business owners, community members and residents. The categories cover a wide range of interest areas and are designed especially to seek out individuals whose actions often go unnoticed. Nominees do not need to live in Mount Prospect, but they need to have a role in improving the quality of life in Mount Prospect (they work in Mount Prospect, they volunteer in Mount Prospect, etc.).

Judging Process: The winners are selected by the Mount Prospect Special Events Commission from nominations submitted in the fall. Winners are chosen based solely on the information provided in the nomination. An ideal nomination includes specific details, multiple paragraphs, numerous strong examples, and even photos or other attachments. Judges also look at the number of nominations received per person, though this is not a deciding factor. If your nominee was not selected, you may resubmit a nomination form the next year or any other year in the future. Winning a Shining Star Award in the past disqualifies you from winning again, with the exception of the esteemed "Living Legend Award."

2023 Year

Best Neighbor Award | John Ward

John is extremely involved in the Mount Prospect community, especially on Pine Street. He will always answer any call from his neighbors that need help with computer problems, moving stuff around, household repairs, or just to talk. His passion is especially evident during holidays and special occasions. John emcees Pine Street's annual tree lighting and gets all his neighbors to sing along; he is also known to help put up Christmas trees for residents on the block. Just recently, John put so much work into his Halloween decorations for kids and neighbors to enjoy, and he even won an award in the inaugural Spooktacular Halloween Decorating Contest! His front yard is transformed into a kids play area during 4th of July and has even served as the dance floor for a neighbor's wedding. John also recently joined the Mount Prospect Lions Club where he volunteers his time to put on community events and goes above and beyond to help out. 

Community Partner Award | Claudia Boyle, Van Driels Medical Support Wear

Claudia has touched many people in Mount Prospect through her personal and professional life.  She is a grandmother, daughter, and owner of Van Driels Medical Support Wear, a long-time family run business in Mount Prospect.  She has time for every single person who has a need, problem, or question, whether it’s a young child, teen, adult, or elderly person.  Customers at Van Driels come from many Illinois communities and neighboring states just to see Claudia.  She’ll deliver customer’s forgotten purchases to their homes in neighboring communities, buy a birthday present for the new youngest customer, and comfort those who are undergoing an emotional medical situation.  Claudia brings the Mount Prospect name to local, regional, and national healthcare communities, as she is a national leader in her profession. Through her thankless hours of time, leadership, kindness, patience, hard work, and guidance, she embodies the meaning of the Community Partner Award. 

Inclusivity Award | Bob and Donna Alexander

Bob and Donna, both retired educators, are active, busy people - volunteering to help immigrants improve their reading skills, taking courses and traveling through District 214’s Continuing Education program, and volunteering in countless ways at the Community Presbyterian Church, and yet they have time for all their neighbors too, turning their Albert Street block into a family. Bob and Donna befriend the widows of the block - having them over, taking them out for dinner, inviting them back to Albert Street for events when they move away. Bob and Donna visit the older members of the block when they are hospitalized, in rehab, or move into assisted living. Bob and Donna reach out and listen attentively as neighbors struggle with difficulties of
life: deaths, failed relationships, illnesses, job layoffs, aging parents, challenges with kids. Bob and Donna are deliberate with their kindness, and Mount Prospect is lucky to be home to a couple who goes out of their way to include everyone and make everyone in the community feel like family. 

Open Arms Award | Prospect Moose Lodge 660

Mount Prospect's Moose Lodge, #660, hosts private and public events, helps in community events throughout the year including volunteering at festivals, hosting bands during 56 Music Fix - featured on WGN this year - and providing access to the Lodge to support other groups such as the Guides and Princesses Program. Additionally the Mount Prospect Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1337 returned to the Lodge which was originally built by Post 1337. The Lodge Board and volunteer staff work very hard to keep to the mission of creating a family-friendly space; somewhere kids will have great memories of to pass along to their kids and possibly become members themselves. A portion of money raised at the Lodge goes towards the parent Moose International organization's philanthropic programs Mooseheart and Moosehaven. Mooseheart is a residential childcare facility, located west of Chicago, for children and teens in need, from infancy through high school. Moosehaven is a retirement community for members that provides seniors a comfortable and secure retirement option. Prospect Moose Lodge 660 is run by caring, dedicated people who want to make the Mount Prospect and the larger world a better place.

Public Service Award | Officer Greg Sill 

Officer Sill goes above and beyond his duties as a Police Officer. Officer Sill is out and about in the community all the time and is often  referred to as his alias "Officer Friendly." On any given day, he can be seen greeting students as they arrive for school, sparking up conversation with residents of Mount Prospect at Village events, and now as the companion and trainer to our very own Mount Prospect therapy dog, Charlie. He also co hosts the Mount Prospect Citizens Police Academy, which is an 11-week course sharing different behind the scenes looks at different divisions of the Police Department, as well as offering hands-on experiences with the Police Department. As the Village's Crime Prevention Officer, Officer Sill always makes time to visit senior housing facilities to keep some of our most vulnerable residents informed on how to stay safe. Officer Greg Sill is not just an exemplary employee, he is also just an overall nice person who goes the extra mile to work within our community.

Star Spangled Banner Award | Jim Parker

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1337 member Jim Parker joined the Air Force as a young man and was sent to Vietnam. He finished his active duty stateside, achieving the almost unheard of rank of Technical Sargent E-6 in short time. Jim went on to earn a masters degree and then completed his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree. In 2018, Jim showed up to a VFW 1337 meeting to enlist Vietnam Veteran members for a Chicago Honor Flight trip - soon after, he was recruited to join the post. Jim became a buzz saw and took on any and all tasks. He joined committees, writes the press releases, shares their annual day of service, edits the award winning newsletter, attends school and other outreach efforts, and adds his legal advice when needed. It was at this time Jim obtained the affectionate nickname of “Jimmy The Hammer.” He is a key component of a team that has taken Post 1337 to “All American” status, the highest achievement worldwide that the Veterans of Foreign Wars can bestow. Jim moved to Wisconsin some years ago and was traveling two hours each way to attend meetings, no matter what the weather. Last year he chose to move back to Illinois, and because he loved Mount Prospect so much, he made sure he relocated to our Village.

Unsung Hero Award | Jill Johnson, Mount Prospect Junior Women’s Club President

For the past two years, Jill has served as president of the Junior Women’s Club (aka Juniors), a nonprofit organization based in Mount Prospect. They are a small but mighty organization focusing on philanthropic and community service projects to help those in need in Mount Prospect and surrounding suburbs. Jill is everything Juniors stands for. She gives of herself as both a thoughtful leader and a dedicated member and volunteer. She is a selfless leader who pours her heart and soul into Juniors and giving back to her community. Jill can be seen manning tables and booths in all sorts of weather, volunteering for fundraisers with a smile on her face, and teaching the "Junior Juniors" (children of Junior members) that giving back to the community is both rewarding and fun. Behind the scenes, she is a master at coordination, a well for fresh ideas, and has even taught herself graphic design and social media to market the Juniors. Jill is truly an unsung hero—she is endlessly humble and never asks for any recognition for all her hard work.

2022 Year

Best Neighbor Award | Ray & Ginny Wilke

 

 Living Legend Award | Linda Hoefert

 

 There Ought to Be More Like This Award | Cameron Smith

 

 Star Spangled Banner Award | Ron Willer

2021 Year

Best Neighbor Award |Zeno Lenczuk

Open Arms Award | Village of Mount Prospect Human Services

There Ought to Be More Like This Award | John Junius, Jr.

Invigorated Youth Award | Robyn McCluskey

Star Spangled Banner Award | Chuck Ohrn

Living Legend Award | Carol Tortorello

Rising Star Award | Kelly Robinson

Unsung Hero Award | John Koziol

2020 Year

Best Neighbor Award | Tom and Nancy Bussan

Open Arms Award | Mount Prospect Junior Women’s Club

Home Town Award | Joey Carbone

There Ought to Be More Like This Award | Nick Acerenza

Invigorated Youth Award | Sam Cannizzaro

Star Spangled Banner Award | Joe Scanlon

Community Partner Award | Nicholas & Associates, INC

 2019 Year

Home Town Award | 56 Music Fix - Chris Bozonelos, Dave Olson, Kelley McCarron

Best Neighbor Award | Tom Hellstern

Community Partner Award | Nothing Bundy Cakes - Cindy Adams

Champion for Youth Award | Sandy Levy, Social Worker at River Trails School District 26

Open Arms Award | Bridget Anderson, Teacher at Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization

Star Spangled Banner Award | Les Durov

Beautify Mount Prospect Award | Carol Ohrn

Unsung Hero Award | Mount Prospect Public Works Department

2018 Year

Stand & Deliver Award | Laura Kushner-Gammons, Principal at Euclid School

Champion for Youth Award |Sarah Hogan, Assistant Principal at Euclid School

Unsung Hero Award | Mike Zarnek

Open Arms Award | Pastor Bo Graham, St. Paul Lutheran Church 

There Ought to Be More Like This Award | Erin Robinson, Found of Made by Mary

Home Town Award | Jacob Tagge, USPS Mail Carrier

Star Spangled Banner Award | Loren Helwink

Beautify Mount Prospect Award | Sherry Grobe, Monarch's Facebook Group

Community Partner Award | Robert Bosch Tools

Invigorated Youth Award | Vito Vitale, Boy Scout Leader

2017 Year

In 2017 the "Village of Mount Prospect" was the Shining Star, as we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Village's incorporation.

2016 Year

Stand & Deliver Award | Jeri Oroni

Best Business Partner Award | B & E Accounting & Tax CPA P.C., Richard Sassan

Good-Better-Best Neighbor Award | Don Bender

Living Legend Award | Former Mayor and State Representative Carolyn Krause

Champion for Youth Award | Tom Ciesielski

Unsung Hero Award | Pastor Shannon Martinez

Open Arms Award | Amanda Santoro

There Ought to Be More Like This Award | Ken & Bertha Monahan

Youth Service Award | Joseph Sonnefeldt

2015 Year

Stand & Deliver Award | Karen Gubbins

Best Business Partner Award | StayFit PT, Diana Sahakian

Good-Better-Best Neighbor Award | Bob and Louise Kubycheck

Champion for Youth Award | Jeremy Morton

Open Arms Award | Jeanne Foster

There Ought to Be More Like This Award | Janice Farley

Home Town Award | Russ Bechtold

Rising Star Award | Nolan Hahn

Volunteers' Volunteer Award | Jack and Eloise De Carlo

Star Spangled Banner Award | John "Dutch" DeGroot

2014 Year

Stand & Deliver Award | Keir Rogers

Best Business Partner Award | American Chartered Bank, Susan Dozier

Good-Better-Best Neighbor Award | Ken Gordon

Living Legend Award | former Mayor Gerald "Skip" Farley

Champion for Youth Award | John Camardella

Unsung Hero Award | Clare Toffenetti and Mary Welk

There Ought to Be More Like This Award | Jeff Prostko

Home Town Award | Joe Pentz

Rising Star Award | Alexandra Wilson

Volunteers' Volunteer Award | Paula St. Louis and Tom Shute

Star Spangled  Banner Award | Jerry Clauser

Toast of the Town Award | Mount Prospect Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)