Citizen of the Year
Nominations due January 25th, 2026
The Citizen of the Year award honors one individual’s outstanding efforts that have contributed in making Cordova a better place to live. The Citizen of Year is someone who..
demonstrates personal involvements have made the most significant impact on Cordova..
demonstrates professional or business involvements that have benefited Cordova the most..
best exemplifies an outstanding commitment to Cordova..
has contributed the most in making Cordova a great place to live..
has impacted the most amount of people..
best served an underserved area or population of Cordova..
has added the most to what Cordova has to offer..
has been serving Cordova the longest..
Nominations are open year round! Scroll down to view past recipients, as many who are nominated each year have already won.
2025 Citizen of the Year - Gilbert Urata
Photographed by the esteemed Milo Burcham
Citizen of the Year Awardees
-
Gilbert Urata
2025
-
Debbie Carlson
2024
-
Chris Belgarde
2023
-
Pastor Steve Leppert
2022
-
Vivian Knop
2021
-
Bill Howard
2020
-
Kay Groff
2019
-
Jim Casement
2018
Past Recipients
2024 - Debbie Collins
2023 - Chris Belgarde
2022 - Pastor Steve Leppert
2021 - Vivian Knop
2020 - Bill Howard
2019 - Kay Groff
2018 - Jim Casement
2017 - Father Tom Killeen
2016 - Susan Harding
2015 - Mike Hicks
2014 - Sandie Ponte
2013 - Thane Thomas
2012 - Gerald Masolini, Bob Smith, Dick Shellhorn
2011 - Martin Moe
2010 - Darrell Olsen
2009 - Libbie Graham
2008 - Dana and Anita Smyke
2007 - Kent Thelen
2006 - Janice Warga
2005 - Dick Groff
2004 - ?
2003 - irene Webber
2002 - Belle Mickelson
2001 - Ed King
2000 - Brandy O’Brien
1999 - Mike & Michelle Hahn O’Leary
1998 - Mayor Margy Johnson
1997 - John Gregory
1996 - Vernyl Swanson
1995 - Dixie Lambert
1994 - Corrine Erickson
1993 - The Volunteer Fire Dept and Emergency Medical Service
1992/1991 - Joanie Behrends