Bolingbrook Patch Announces Person of the Year Runners Up

There’s no shortage of difference-makers in .

That was evident based on the dozen or so Person of the Year nominations Bolingbrook Patch received between Dec. 12 and Dec. 19.

But when it came down to selecting Bolingbrook Patch’s inaugural Person of the Year, one name stood above the rest—Craig Parker. Parker became the —an award we hope will continue for years to come!

But like we said, there were plenty of folks deserving of recognition. 

Below is a list of runners up for Person of the Year, the reader that nominated them and the explanation for why they should be Person of the Year.

Ms. Talon, teacher at

Nominated by: Victoria Wisinski 

Reasoning: "Ms.Talon deserves to be the Bolingbrook Patch Person of the Year because she always goes out of her way for every student no matter how difficult the struggle seems. She believes in finding the right method to teach each individual because everyone learns differently. She is determined for every child to learn and to get to graduation. She respects every child and helps parents with ideas of working on homework or study tips for their child in need of raising grades and performance on tests."

Estela Coite, member of the Bolingbrook Lions Club

Nominated by: Dawn Arteaga

Reasoning: "She is a member of Bolingbrook Lions Club and has participated in every event they have had to help others. She is the one pushed for the Leo's Club chapter in Bolingbrook. She has gotten the kids involved in helping out. She travels out of the country and still helps out via email and phone. She has done wonders for the Lions and especially the kids in the Leo club."

Cheryl Springer, longtime Bolingbrook resident

Nominated by: Stephanie McConnell

Reasoning: "Cheryl looks for a need she can fill for someone else in her everyday life. She is a 30 year resident of Bolingbrook and has taken in children for temporary foster care for the last five years. She does not receive or ask for state funding although it can be expensive to help out. She literally lives her life "on-call" for a child in need of emergency short term foster care. She is truly selfless and put other's need in front of her own. She is compassionate and loving. The many people that know her in Bolingbrook would say the same about this amazing woman."

Sue Davis, local nurse

Nominated by: Tom Matt

Reasoning: "Sue is a nurse practitioner who runs the Bolingbrook Health Center attached to . All of her efforts are voluntary and the amount of time energy and love she puts into caring for others needs to be recognized. This facility is run totally by donations and volunteers and helps many low income residents from Bolingbrook. Sue manages the entire facility including scheduling of doctors, volunteers, patients and works hard to keep the location a haven for those in need. This health center is focused around God and you can see His work in Sue and the people who help others."

Tom Castognali, manager of

Nominated by: Bob Jaskiewicz

Reasoning: "Tom is the manager at The Bolingbrook Promenade. He serves on the Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. He also works hard to support all the local not for profit groups and pushes all the mall tenants to either give time and talent or gifts for auctions in support of there not for profits. He is very active in the Chamber of Commerce as well."

George and Mary Ann Wolff, Bolingbrook residents since 1964

Nominated by: Jody Leven 

Reasoning: "They have been living in Bolingbrook since 1964, they started up the Trojan Football League, Panthers Softball and the American League baseball. THey have run many girl Scouts and Boy scout troops and have always helped out in the community. They have always opened their hearts and homes to those worthy of it. Yes of course they are my parents, but I also look back at them for starting the community in which we all call Bolingbrook. They still live in the same house, and treat all the new neighbors as if they have been there since we moved in. Lots of changes in Bolingbrook and they refuse to leave, because this is their HOME."

Michael Carpanzano, Assistant Vice President of in Bolingbrook

Nominated by: Two nominations. One by Tom Gilligan and another by Anna Broche

Reasoning: "Gives selflessly to kids, and organizations throughout town." (Gilligan)

"At every event for town or for any non-profit, always smiling, always promoting bolingbrook business, just a great rising star helping kids, families, and business in Bolingbrook."

Chris Smith, travel basketball commissioner for the Bolingbrook Panther Sports Club

Nominated by: Liza Farrell

Reasoning: "He dedicates his valuable time and energy to the female basketball players of Bolingbrook (5th and 6th graders through high school level). His efforts are selfless and his only reason for doing this is to assist these girls with obtaining a college education. He gives rides to the girls who have no way of getting to practice. He has made many connections with college coaches and always does his best to get the girls exposure to colleges. Many Bolingbrook girls have benefited from his assistance. And he does all of this without any desire for recognition."

Shirley Grzenia, resident

Nominated by: Tracey Mayfield

Reasoning: "She makes it possible for a lot of the hardest hit families to have a meal."

Chad Voss, Bolingbrook Lions Club President

Nominated by: Laura Voss

Reasoning: "Bolingbrook Lions Club President. He has worked really hard and has come a long way with the Lions Club. This is from someone who didn't know how to provide community service and has done a great job overseeing a lot of different events."

Congratulations to all of the runners up! You are all part of what makes the Bolingbrook community so wonderful!