2013

Russ Gerdin
Philanthropist and founder of Heartland Express

Natlie Wilkerson
Gave selflessly of her time, particularly to those in need, helping to found the North Liberty Community Pantry

2014

Tom Salm
Mayor who took office during a time of turmoil and led North Liberty forward with vision, consensus and selflessness

2015

Dave Hubler
Volunteer firefighter with 25 years of service, requiring dedication and sacrifice 

2018

Gordon Doak
Sharing a passion for bicycling by repairing, refurbishing and providing more than 400 bicycles to those in need

2019

Mary K. Mitchell
A history of service to North Liberty spanning more than 40 years

2021

Ashley Bermel
An epitome of neighborhood leader, volunteer and community connector

Graham Beckman & Graham Thompson
For full-marathon fundraising walks for the North Liberty Community Pantry

2023

Good Neighbor Honor Roll

2022

Ellen Alexander for welcoming residents to community events and helping those experiencing food insecurity. Eva Anderson for embracing her role as a Neighborhood Ambassador. Judy Bonnet for her extended service to the North Liberty Community Pantry. Candi Evans for helping her Golfview neighbors tell their story across the state and nation. Travis Hiatt for engaging neighbors and advocating for the Neighborhood Ambassador program. Kari & Brian Miller for maintaining a path local students often use on their way to school. Cade Rahde for sharing interesting history and stories that might otherwise be lost. Randy Redig for widening a path local students often use on their way to school. Mike & Deb Ryan for helping neighbors with yard work and snow removal, checking in and sharing the bounty of their garden.

2021

Thad Abrams for delivering his “killer” old fashioneds and margaritas to neighbors with a smile at just the right times. Eva Anderson for organizing a block party, sharing information and working hard to connect her neighbors. Graham Beckman for full-marathon fundraising walks for the North Liberty Community Pantry. Ashley Bermel for being an epitome of neighborhood leader, volunteer and community connector. Abdouramane Bila for serving his community as a volunteer neighborhood ambassador, language ambassador and school board member. Cindy Blackley for helping residents at the North Liberty Living Center by running errands during the pandemic. Miguel Colon for being generous with his time by helping neighbors with landscaping and moving, and generous with his treasure by loaning tools and trucks. Candi Evans for empowering and connecting her Golfview neighbors and helping their voices be heard. Barbara Janes for driving residents at Keystone to doctors, stores and other necessary trips. Harper Klein for hosting, since she was 4 years old, a lemonade stand and donating the sales to charity. Laci & Nate Lower for work cleaning up the homes and yards of strangers following the derecho. Diane McGraw for making and donating 1000s of facemasks throughout the pandemic and making them available for free outside her home. Bobbi Newman for making and donating 1000s of facemasks throughout the pandemic. Julie Roskam for making and donating 1000s of facemasks throughout the pandemic. Graham Thompson for full-marathon fundraising walks for the North Liberty Community Pantry. Dean & Linda Westergaard for creating the Olive Branch Library, a little free library, in their neighborhood.

It’s time to give a shout out to our community members who made contributions to the community over the past year without seeking recognition for their efforts.

Do you have a neighbor who helped with virtual schooling or a kid who donated lemonade stand money? What about the person who went out of their way to pick up groceries, shovel an extra driveway or volunteered to help with others’ cleanup? If a resident’s actions — big or small — made you take a step back and think “wow, that was kind of them,” we want to help you give them a big high five.

Nominations for North Liberty’s Good Neighbor Honor Roll will be accepted year round for recognition annually on Good Neighbor Day, Sept. 28.

All nominees who meet the criteria below will be included on the annual Good Neighbor Honor Roll.

• Must reside in North Liberty city limits.
• Has demonstrated a contribution to the community beyond the scope of resident responsibilities.
• Their acts of kindness may have been performed within North Liberty or the wider community.
• Can be an individual, team, or household.
• Can be of any age.

The honor roll will be released publicly on northlibertyiowa.org — to the surprise of those on the roster if the nominator chooses to keep the recognition a secret — on National Good Neighbor Day, Sept. 28.

Community Hall of Fame Award

The Mayor will review the honor roll and select one nominee to be inducted into the Community Hall of Fame. Like the honor roll, the Community Hall of Fame Award recipient will also be announced on National Good Neighbor Day, Sept. 28, and the inductee will be recognized at that evening’s city council meeting.

The Community Hall of Fame Award was developed in 2013 for the purpose of recognizing individuals who have provided extraordinary public service and dedication to the city and its citizens. In addition to meeting the criteria for the honor roll, the Mayor will consider the following when selecting this year’s inductee:

• Selection will be based on service rendered to the community. This includes services based on material contributions as well as personal public service contributions.
• Special consideration will be given to those persons who have demonstrated a high level of volunteer leadership.
• Services provided by participation in volunteer organizations and local groups are also important.
• Longevity in public service is important but not totally compelling in determining the receipt of this award.
• Community impact is the final criteria in determining the worthiness of a person receiving this award.
• A person must have demonstrated a high degree of personal commitment and personal sacrifice to the community.