The City of Rock Island has chosen the winners for the 37th Annual Citizen of the Year awards. Each year, people in the community have an opportunity to submit a nomination for those who have made selfless contributions of service to the City of Rock Island and its residents.
Bronx Roessler received an award in the Youth Category and Rita Jett received an award in the Education category.
Bronx Roessler received an award in the Youth Category and Rita Jett received an award in the Education category.
Bronx Roessler is a 6th-grade student at Eugene Field Elementary School. He is president of the Student Leadership Council and acts as the lead for 6th graders helping Kindergarten students. He is in charge of student celebration assemblies and volunteers for the Jr. Rocks and Little Rocks programs. Bronx, a natural-born leader, has enthusiastically helped his school and promoted the community since 1st grade.
Rita Jett is an Interventionist at Edison Junior High. Jett has taught in the Rock Island-Milan School District for more than 20 years and coached basketball and track. Jett serves as MC for the annual Ready to Rock back-to-school bash at Schwiebert Park. She has participated in the Race Against Racism with the YWCA, volunteered for the Soles for Children shoe and coat giveaway, volunteered for Ms. J.'s Giveaways (community outreach), and assisted the Rock Island Police Department each Christmas with Shop With a Cop and the Backpacks and Badges backpack giveaway. She has been named Teacher of the Year for RIMSD and Teacher of the Year by the state of Illinois.
They will be honored in the Rock Island Labor Day Parade on Monday, September 2.