Aurora-based mentoring group, Boys II Men, will be host to its 12th annual Phenomenal Man Awards – Stronger Together – at 6:02 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 at Piper’s Banquets, 1295 Butterfield Road, Aurora.
The theme is both a reflection of the young men who will be honored for academic excellence and community service and a tribute to the #AuroraStrong theme the city has adopted since the shooting tragedy at Henry Pratt Friday, Feb. 15.
“With so many young men in the room from Aurora, it will be clear we are stronger and will be more successful if we work together and support each other,” said B2M National Officer Isaac Diaz, a junior at West Aurora High School who was in school during the lockdown which was enforced during the tragedy. “We all have been impacted by what happened at Henry Pratt. This is an opportunity for the youth of Aurora to stand as one to show how resilient our city is and how bright our future is.”
The ceremony will feature a special performance by Kristian Krockerhan, 14-year-old freshman at East Aurora High School, to pay tribute to the victims, their families and first responders with his rendition of the popular gospel song, “Stand.” B2M National Officer Jarron Yancey, a senior at East Aurora High School, will recite an original poem “Together We Stand, Strong and Successful” in acknowledgment of the recent events in the State’s second largest city.
Mayor Richard C. Irvin of Aurora, event sponsor 7th Ward Alderman Scheketa Hart-Burns, 9th Ward Alderman Edward Bugg, Illinois State Board Education Board Member Cynthia Latimer, Aurora Youth Services manager Simon Rodriguez and other elected officials, educational, civic, and religious leaders, will be in attendance to support Aurora’s youth.
“It’s always an event that exudes pride and hope in our city and children,” said Irvin. “This year, it means even more to be reminded that we have a generation of committed young leaders on the horizon who will continue to change the narrative of Aurora.”
During the annual event that draws a maximum capacity crowd, more than 100 young men from elementary school to college will be honored for academic excellence and community service with the Thomas J. Weisner Phenomenal Man Achievement Award which was named in honor of Aurora’s late mayor and stalwart Boys II Men supporter when he retired in 2016.
In addition, five enterprising young men from Aurora will be bestowed the title of 2019 Phenomenal Man of the Year:
• Juan Garcia – Mentor, community activist for immigration rights and chairman of the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board.
• Toussaint Mitchell – College senior, entrepreneur, and student government president of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
• Jonathan Nunez – Business executive and founder of an annual golf outing which raises funds for special projects in Aurora.
• Marquell Oliver – Founder of LIFTOFF, a social-emotional learning program and youth director of Unity Partnership, a group that seeks to better relations between police and the community.
• Nate Sippel – Naperville Township Clerk and community outreach liaison who organizes local events for veterans, seniors, and youth.
“We selected these phenomenal men because they are amazing examples to emulate, “said B2M National Officer Bryan Torres, a senior at East Aurora High School.” The work they have been doing in our community has helped to keep Aurora strong.”
Special guest and recipient of the 2019 Changing the Narrative Award is ABC7 Chicago News Anchor Mark Rivera.
A native of Crystal Lake, Ill. and a graduate of the University of Illinois, he returned to his hometown in December 2017 to co-anchor the weekend morning news. A former news anchor in Florida, he been host to a live six-hour broadcast of the Pulse nightclub tragedy in Orlando, Fla. and covered stories from Aurora during the Henry Pratt tragedy. An award-winning journalist, Mark Rivera’s work has been heralded by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
“I know it has been such a trying time for Aurora,” said Rivera. “It is an honor to be a part of such a meaningful night.”
— City of Aurora