Announcing the 2019 Honors Night Award Recipients

Following a tradition started in 1963, the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce will celebrate its annual Honors Night event on Thursday, April 25. Honors Night recognizes an outstanding individual, an exceptional young professional, exemplary corporate citizens, exceptional commitment to the community, and a striking architectural achievement. The 2019 award recipients are as follows:

The recipient of the Spirit of Wichita award is Westar Energy. Established in 2002, this award is given to an organization that received the Over the Years award at least 20 years ago, in recognition of its continued strength of employment, leadership, innovation, and community involvement. Westar Energy received the Over the Years award in 1975, under the name of Kansas Gas & Electric Co.

The recipients of the Over the Years award are Metro Courier, Inc. and Wichita Public Schools USD 259. The Over the Years award recognizes businesses and institutions with long-standing performances as good corporate citizens and major contributors to the community’s economic well-being; displaying leadership, innovation and community involvement. 

The recipient of the Keeper of the Plains award is Mark Arts. The Keeper of the Plains award recognizes an outstanding architectural achievement completed by a firm, organization or individual, which has contributed to the beauty of our community.

“Each Honors Night award is bestowed in recognition of unique contributions to the enrichment of our community,” said Jackie Gearhart, Vice President of Treasury Management at UMB Bank and Chair of the 2019 Honors Night Committee. “Through the Spirit of Wichita, Over the Years and Keeper of the Plains awards, the Honors Night committee has selected four honorees who represent admirable corporate citizens, long standing community involvement, exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit and add to the rich cultural fabric of our region. We look forward to celebrating these honorees with the entire business community.”

The previously announced recipient of the Uncommon Citizen award is Sheryl Wohlford, president and co-owner of Automation-Plus, Inc. The Uncommon Citizen award recognizes individuals who have served their community year after year in an extraordinary capacity, and therefore made outstanding contributions to the civic and cultural institutions in Wichita.

The previously announced recipient of the Exceptional Young Leader award is Janelle King, owner of The Workroom. This award recognizes an individual who displays extraordinary young talent through service to the community and noteworthy accomplishments. Candidates for Exceptional Young Leader have a history of demonstrated leadership within their job and philanthropic involvement.

Honors Night 2019 is presented by Metro Courier, Inc. and will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 25 at Textron Aviation Activity Center, 9710 E. Central. Tickets are now available for $90 per person or $800 for a table of eight and can be purchased online at wichitachamber.org. Formal invitations will be sent to Chamber members, but the general public is also invited to attend.