Vote for your Hero!
Voting coming soon!
Carl D. Lee, Jr.
He has always been my hero, since the day he was born. Now that he has grown up, he has paid it forward. Not only is he the head Basketball Ball coach, he also teaches Special Ed. He is helping these young folks with special needs how to adapt, learn, grow and develop life skills while in school and hopefully carry on to adulthood. He is a father of 3 sons, so coaching is never done once he arrives home. Coach Lee continues to instill in his son values, responsibilities and teamwork, just as he does while coaching at school. He is a mentor and sometimes a father figure to some of his team and students. He truly believes helping better others‚ lives has positive impacts on his own It is just amazing to see how well he interacts with them all. He volunteers at all the school event, this is year round and not just when school starts. Coach Lee has been gifted with this smile, that make people want to flock to him and to get to know him. Thank you.
Dan O’Shea
Coach Dan O’Shea has been coaching for 25 years, 11 at CDM High School and is a two-time CIF State Champion. Dan loves to win‚ but he loves developing and preparing young men for a successful life, even more. He puts integrity and character above all else- often referring to “The Brotherhood” that HS football creates for these boys. Our son (Jack) played for Coach O’Shea for three years – a two year starter. We lost Jack in a tragic accident in 2019. Coach O’Shea and his staff helped us create The Jack Elliott Character Award and Scholarship. The rising Senior Recipient is selected by Dan and his staff as the player who best exemplifies Character, Integrity and commitment to the team. The recipient also gets to wear #2 for the season, Jack’s number. This is becoming a community event and a celebration‚ and it‚ growing bigger and bigger every year. It wouldn’t have been possible without Coach O’Shea and his staff.
Mark Peck
Coach Peck is awesome. My son has autism, and he wrestled for Coach Peck. Coach Peck saw beyond the autism and saw my son for who he was. A hard working, dedicated athlete, a caring person, and a good student. My son was able to compete at the highest level because of Coach Peck. Not only did he take these boys under his wing, but he also made responsible men out of them. They did community service around the community when needed. If someone needed help, Peck made sure that the boys showed up and helped. Coach Peck did not accept disrespect of any kind from his wrestlers. He used that time to teach life lessons. He had rules and the boys knew them and were expected to follow them. I am not very good at writing and there is so much more I want to say but cannot find the words. I am forever grateful for the man my son is today and He owes most of that to Coach Peck.
Michael Nordeen
Michael Nordeen came to our town last summer as our new head fb coach. Our football team hadn’t won a game in years, in fact we had 26 losses before he took over. From the day he walked into our auditorium and met our players he believed in our kids! He told them they will make the playoffs this year. We have a lot of work to do but I know we can get there! The more he talked and practiced they started to believe in themselves and as a team! They made the playoffs for the first time in years. Not only has Coach built them back up on the field he also feels volunteering and giving back to your community is just as important. These football players have volunteered over 200 hrs in their community. They clean out pools, mow lawns, shingle roofs, move furniture etc for free. When there is someone in town that needs help with anything they contact Coach Nordeen. He sends out a mass text to all players. They all show up to help.
Michaela Curran
Coach Curran has such a great program. She gives each of them hand written notes with their goals and encouragement before each meet. Each kid is treated as an individual and she pushes each of them to be their best on the field, in the classroom and in life!! She expects the best they have to give and these kids give it! She gives each kid the same encouragement rather they are coming in first or coming in last ‚ she coaches them all to the best of their ability! Rather it‚ cross country or track you will see her with EVERY race running to certain points giving these kids their times and encouragement, pushing them to meet goals! I would love to know how many miles she puts on each meet! In a few short years she has already grown the program and improved the athletes! Kids have changed sports because they want to be a part of her team! I feel very lucky to have her as a role model for my kids! She deserves to be recognized as she is the coach Dish is looking for!!
Dennis Duddie
National Guard
I’d like to nominate Dennis Duddie, who served in the US Navy and Army National Guard. He is a retired Army Specialist who serves as Commander of American Legion post 170 in Rochelle Park NJ and has been honored to receive the National Defense Ribbon. His contribution to the community includes assisting veterans with benefit claims and helping homeless veterans find a permanent residence. He also supports furnishing those residences for veterans who need. He’s led holiday toy drive initiatives for veteran families, backpacks for students at the beginning of the school year and is a proud supporter of local Boy Scout Troop 114 ensuring to incorporate them into legion activities, raise troop visibility and strengthen their leadership role in the community. He’s also helped to implement hometown heroes banner program in town uniting the community behind their veterans. His community impact is far reaching and because of this he deserves this recognition.
Doyle Perry
Army
Doyle is my husband of 14 years. He was born in Rolla, Missouri in 1949, where his father was stationed as a US Navy recruiter.
He attended a 2-room school through the 8th grade. In 1967, he was accepted into West Point, graduating in 1971, and serving 6 years as an Army officer, leaving active duty as a Captain.
He became a martial arts teacher, ultimately moving to Arizona and being promoted to 8th degree master. He has taught self-defense and character development to thousand of students of all ages. He retired from teaching full-time in 2014.
He volunteers 20+ hours per week at a local food pantry, providing food to over 200 families and lunches to over 100 homeless. At age 73, he teaches Tai Chi in a local Karate school. He is a substitute teacher in K-12 elementary schools. He is among Arizona’s leading platelet donors, with 430 donations, so far. His philosophy is: “You have never lived until you have done something for someone who can never pay you back”.
Jim Oswald
Air Force
Following 21 years of service in the Air Force, my husband has devoted his time to giving back to the country he loves by serving in the community he lives.
He serves as a Stephen Minister to folks dealing with life challenges, serves on many non-profit boards, including President of the Board of Directors for Hospice of Cumberland County, past President and current board member of the Christian Counseling Center of Cumberland County, and past President and advisor to Cumberland County Imagination Library. In addition, my husband supports many military groups with his time and treasure, and leads a small group Bible Study. He is a man of the highest character and is always available to those in need. He loves on his family, kids and grandkids, and is always there for me, as I deal with a chronic illness.
Neal McGaughey
Marines
Neal is a completely selfless servant to not only the Marines, nation but also the local community. No matter where he gets stationed. My husband’s hard work and caring for people has helped him progress through the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant, Warrant to Chief Warrant Officer 3 and now Captain. He’s a 2x Afghanistan Combat Veteran and prior Reconnaissance Marine. He is directly responsible for two large Cyber Mission teams who work hard each day protecting our nation’s most critical networks. Neal also takes his little free time to Volunteer in our community by coaching youth sports (over 500 hours this year alone), remodeling community help centers and helping run Ronald McDonald House teams to feed families. Additionally, my husband makes it his main priority to help promote other service members and truly care for them. This could be a great way to say thanks for all his work and selflessness.
Patricia Canerdy
Army
1,000 words can not begin to tell my hero’s story. She served 30 yrs in the Army, was a veteran of Desert Storm and Iraq. She juggled taking care of an entire transportation unit of Soldiers, me and our 3 sons. She retired in 2009 and her serving, loving heart never rests. Her old soldiers still call her and ask her advice. She volunteers countless hours at the church, cooks meals for anyone she thinks is hungry, makes quilts for babies she will never see or hold, has crocheted thousands of hats so people can stay warm, helps veterans with filling out paperwork, making appointments, or just chatting with one that’s having a hard time. She is the shoulder that so many have relied on when they needed to cry but sucks it up and marches on when she has needed to cry herself. All the times she was away from home we never felt alone cause she was always sending us messages telling you how much she loved and missed us. I wish you could look at her army records and talk to her soldiers.
Blake "PeeWee" Henson
Firefighter
For 10 years, PeeWee has aided thousands of families after residential fires, assisted in various first responder events, and has fed over 2 million meals through the charity that we started after his own house fire! Check out TexasFirewalkers.org or google Texas Firewalkers and Mike Rowe for the documentary of what we are all about… NOTE- grab a box of tissues! Thank you for thinking about our first responders. PeeWee was a 10 career fire captain but returning to the Volunteer Fire Service, taking on Texas Firewalkers (which is 100% volunteer) and working a full time job in sales!
Dawn Pedersen
Firefighter
When not doing her job as the division chief for resource management with CalFire Tehama Glenn unit, Dawn is a true from her heart volunteer. She is the insurance & safety Trustee at the local Elks lodge. She also belongs to the Redding Emblem Club and is their financial Secretary and is the ways & means chairman. She is the head cook for this organization. More than 75% of the money raised comes from kitchen services. The Emblem club raises funds to give to other local non profits. She has spearheaded fund raising for our local police K-9 units, scholarships and runs a huge open to the public event for kids to trick or treat while learning the dangers of drugs. Her heart for giving back to our local community is very large. If fact it will be getting larger as the Emblem club is soon to start raising funds for not just Shasta county but Tehama county as well. She spends all of her spare time dedicated to this organization and the good it does in our community.
Jamie DiMartile
Law Enforcement Officer
Jamie is not only an outstanding officer but is involved in tons of community events. Jamie is a member of the honor guard, the mental health crisis response team, an active member of brig brothers/big sisters, shop with a cop and much more. She has organized fundraisers for officer families in need every year, and runs the annual toy drive for needy families that Carlisle Pd runs. This drive is a year round effort that benefits children all over Cumberland county that wouldn’t have a Christmas otherwise. During covid she envisioned and brought to life a weekly reading of stories on the internet for kids, because officers couldn’t go to school to read to students like they used to. She is also trained to go into schools to work with kids who may be victims or witnesses or crime as well as teaching kids about police officers and safety. Jamie always goes above and beyond in her duties and is always willing to take on additional work. I could list 20 more things she does, but I’m out of room.
Tamara Olt
Healthcare Worker
Dr. Tamara Olt was raised here in central Illinois . She is an OB/GYN in Peoria Il. She did her internship at UIC Peoria and has been practicing here for over 25 years. As a mother of 3 she lost her 16 yr old son in 2012 to an accidental OD. After his death she started JOLT harm reduction to help first responders and to educate the public on Narcan, used to reverse an opiate OD. After starting in a room at the local NAACP, Jolt has several full time employees and volunteers providing the local population with access to narcan, education in harm reduction and many other services. It has hundreds of documented OD reversals along with helping countless people into treatment for drugs and alcohol. Dr Olt has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work in the community and is responsible for 1000s of babies being brought into the world. She is without a doubt not only a hero but one of the most incredible humans to ever live. Thank you.
Tim Belcher
Firefighter
Firefighter Belcher recently donated a kidney to the 7 year old son of a fellow firefighter.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A Lexington firefighter is saving a life, but this time it has nothing to do with putting out fires.
Firefighter Tim Belcher recently discovered that he was a match for 7-year-old John, the son of Lt. Joseph Sexton. The successful kidney transplant was on Tuesday, according to a report by LEX 18.
Both Belcher and Sexton serve in the Lexington Fire Department.
In 2021, when he was 5 years old, John got very sick. Sexton and his wife Katie thought it was a simple stomach bug, but it turned out to be something much worse: E-Coli 0157. The E-coli then developed into a rare disease called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.
That’s when doctors say John needed the life-saving kidney transplant.
“It’s really devastating ’cause here’s a young kid that’s just starting out, has his whole life ahead of him,” Lt. Sexton said. “And then it’s kind of like, ‘Hmmm…not no more.'”
But that’s when Belcher stepped in with the life-saving gift of a kidney.
“It’s truly an honor to be able to help out,” Belcher said Thursday. “That’s what we’re here for: to help each other. So it’s a huge honor — a godsend.”
Doctors say it’s a gift that will allow John to enjoy being a kid again.
Original article: https://www.wdrb.com/news/lexington-firefighter-donates-kidney-to-fellow-firefighters-son/article_db7d230a-8df2-11ed-b23a-f727cb8a41a4.html
Phillip Dean
Greensville County High School
Mr. Dean has not only helped me in class to understand my work in class to an extra extent but also help give me ideas about good colleges I should attend. Mr. Dean has guided me on what to expect with college work and how I can complete my work. He has always been a helping hand to any student at our school. Mr. Dean is kind, caring, and funny, and deserves to be recognized not only at our school but around the world.
Sherita Harmon
Alief Center for Advanced Careers
Sherita Harmon is dedicated to her students, her colleagues, and the community. She is an exceptional example of a true educator. Sherita has a passion that looks beyond the limits that most people place on themselves. She goes above and beyond the Call of Duty as a teacher not only by preparing her students academically but by also teaching them life skills. Beyond teaching, she has provided Dream Prom experiences for several of her students. She feeds and clothes students. Sherita is the founder of a two non-profit organizations. Blessed to Be a Blessing, where, throughout the year she sponsors events to aid in feeding/giving back to those less fortunate. Sherita saw a need and created a mentoring program called H.U.G.S. (Helping Underserved Girls Succeed) Unlimited. She works with girls aged 15-18 from underserved communities. H.U.G.S. provides these young girls with opportunities to foster positive relationships and get academic, social, and personal support.
Kimberly McNally
Castleview Elementary
Kimberly is admired for cultivating an environment where all children thrive and advocating for students, parents and teachers. Her passion for working with children extends beyond the classroom. She sponsored the first Girls on the Run, an after-school program designed to inspire and build confidence through running, at her elementary school. This year she is a track coach at Horizon West Middle School. Multiple athletes have told her they were still participating in track because “she believed in them and inspired them to run” in elementary school.
Kimberly organized an inaugural Veteran’s Day Celebration at her school in 2021. The Castleview community honored active duty and veterans by hosting a Parade. In 2022, they were recognized and honored with a breakfast reception at the school. The tradition will continue in the coming years.
Kimberly is an inspiration to her peers and will always be her students’ biggest cheerleader.
Jillian Orlowski
Cheektowaga Central Middle School
Jill has been the class advisor for 8th grade for many years. She has brought the 8th grade class to D.C. for the last 19 years. This year, Jill created tiles of every Veteran who fought in Vietnam with the Veterans picture and name on the tile for our 8th graders to find in the Vietnam Wall and leave to honor our Cheektowaga Veterans.
Jill also runs our Veterans Day drive thru where local Veterans from any branch are invited to attend where they receive a warm breakfast, coffee and a goodie bag handed out by our students. As the vehicles arrive, our band plays the service hymn/song according to the branch they served. It’s an honor to be a part of that day.
For the past 4 years Jill and I have also run a canned food drive/charity fest week where students/staff are asked to bring in canned goods the week before Thanksgiving. We supply all the goods into reusable bags to be given to a local food pantry that serves our local Veterans.
Jill also leads our truck for Wreaths Across America
Sha’Rell Webb
Heritage Preparatory School
It is with immense pride that I honor my wife, Mrs. Sha’Rell Webb for this recognition. Sha’Rell was the first African American to be named an Education Specialist for NASA’s Lunar and Planetary Institute in its history! In this role, she collaborated with various scientists who conducted Planetary Science Research and Space Sciences. Firing her boss to follow her dreams of entrepreneurship and with a strong personal conviction that youth can do “Amazing Things” with the proper encouragement and guidance, Mrs. Webb founded Coding with a Twist, LLC. Coding With a Twist is an organization committed to introducing the underestimated to the world of computer science, coding, robotics and all things STEM.
As an educator, Sha’Rell has an uncanny knack for inspiring and motivating all children to learn, to include children with disabilities. She uses this skillset to develop customized curriculum for children on the autism spectrum. She believes that early exposure is key.