ELGIN IMAGE AWARDS

Celebrating Community Excellence

Discover the individuals, businesses, and organizations that are fundamentally transforming the City of Elgin for the better.

The Elgin Image Awards recognize and honor the outstanding individuals, projects, organizations, and businesses that make significant, positive contributions to the City of Elgin, Illinois. Established in 1992, these prestigious awards highlight those who enhance the community's quality of life and promote the positive aspects of why Elgin is a great place to live, work, learn, and visit.

Discover the individuals, businesses, and organizations that are fundamentally transforming the City of Elgin for the better. The annual Elgin Image Awards are the premier recognition program dedicated to celebrating the impactful efforts and inspirational achievements that elevate our community. These awards shine a spotlight on the true heroes of the Elgin area, whose commitment and vision make our city an exceptional place to live. The foundation of this recognition rests on three core pillars:

Honoring Community Role Models: The awards specifically celebrate honorees who serve as role models for service, dedication, time, talents, and actions in the Elgin area.
Promoting Positive Image: They are a core initiative of the Enhancing Elgin Committee (a part of the Elgin Development Group and the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce) dedicated to shaping and promoting a positive image for the city.
Diverse Categories: Recognition is given across various categories: Volunteer Extraordinaire, Gamechanger Projects, Creating a Difference Groups, Excellence in DEI or Building Equity, Green Initiative/Sustainable Business, Youth Service Project

Hall of Fame: Elgin Image Award Recipients

2025 Award Winners

Creating A Difference
Life Enrichment Team - Gail Borden Public Library

Excellence in D.E.I or Building Equity
Open Door Health Center of IL
Marc Thayer and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra

Gamechanger Projects
Phi Theta Kaappa Honor Society - Elgin Community College
Art Sculpture Trail - Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley

Professional Rockstar
Dr. Suzanne Johnson, Superintendent - School Dist. U-46
Bill Angelo, Head Baseball Coach - Elgin Community College

Volunteer Extraordinaire
Michael McKay
Karen Fox

Download the 2025 Program

Past Award Winners

2024 Award Winners

Creating a Difference Groups
Finishing Well
ECC Ctr for Civic Engagement

Excellence in DEI or Building Equity
Diana Palacios

Gamechanger Project
Dementia Friendly Elgin Area
YouthBuild Elgin

Professional Rockstar
Ursula (Ula) Borodzinska
Paul Bednar

Volunteer Extraordinaire
Christine Awe
Scott Savel
Clare Ollayos
Jeanette Mihalec

2023 Award Winners

Professional Rockstar
Sharry Blazier
Mike and Laurel Warren, Brittain’s Car Wash
Cherie Aschenbrenner
Krisilee Murphy

Volunteer Extraordinaire
Jennifer Colby
Larry Henderson

Gamechanger Projects
2020 Census Team

Green Initiative/Sustainable Business of the Year
Greater Kane County Wild Ones

Excellence in DEI or Building Equity
Elgin Community College
Elgin Area Pandemic Team

Youth Service Project (for people 21 and younger)
Lincoln Avenue Barbershop

2022 Award Winners

Creating a Difference Groups/ Excellence in DEI or Building Equity

African American Coalition of Kane County (AACKC)
Elgin Hispanic Network
The Haight

Creating a Difference Groups/ Youth Service Project (for people 21 and under)
Organization of Latin American Students at Elgin Community College - OLAS

Professional Rockstar
Dianha Ortega-Ehreth

Gamechanger Project
Elgin History Museum Nancy Kimball Cobblestone House

Go With the Flow
Firefighter’s Memorial Plaza
Well Child Center "Food for Families" Pantry
Violins of Hope
ELGbtq Pride Parade and Festival

Green Initiative/Sustainable Business of the Year
Elgin Math and Science Academy - Outdoor Environmental Education

The Enhancing Elgin Committee is a dynamic and passionate group of individuals dedicated to fostering positive growth and development in the city of Elgin. Comprised of community leaders, volunteers, and professionals from diverse backgrounds, the committee collaborates to create meaningful initiatives and projects that contribute to the betterment of the community. Enhancing Elgin is a committee of the Elgin Development Group, a division of the Elgin Area Chamber.

Members of the Enhancing Elgin Committee include:

Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin

Elgin Area Chamber

Elgin Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Elgin Community College

Gail Borden Public Library

Elgin History Museum

School District U-46

City of Elgin