The prestigious Mesa Citizen of the Year award recognizes and honors exceptional volunteers who have demonstrated significant long-term commitment and accomplishment through a broad-range of volunteerism enhancing the community by their service and excellence of leadership.
The Mesa Citizen of the Year Award was founded in 1935 by Charles and Florence Mitten, the owners of the Mesa Tribune.
Man and Woman of the Year
woman of the year, 2024
Jenny Richardson
Jenny Richardson
Jenny Montague Richardson is a Mesa native and has been a longtime community activist in her northwest Mesa neighborhood. Jenny and her husband, Randy, have six children who all attended the Mesa Public Schools. Jenny was active in the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and as a classroom volunteer in her children’s schools.
Jenny is a natural leader who usually assumed a leadership position in the school organizations.
Jenny also volunteered on the Citizens Committees that have been formed over the years to support and promote school district bond and override elections. No Committee task was too small for her, and she led numerous community educational forums on these critical election issues. Ultimately, she chose to run for election to the Mesa School Board and was elected twice in 2014 and 2018. She served as Governing Board President three times during her tenure. Governing Board members in Mesa are unpaid although the positions require hundreds of hours of time of volunteer time in formal Board meetings and community meetings. Jenny helped the district navigate the selection of two Superintendents and the tumultuous times of the pandemic. Jenny is the type of leader who promotes participation in discussions and decisions by all who are interested. She worked with citizens who have other opinions and is respectful and always interested in learning new ways to address challenges.
As several of her fellow governing Board members are quick to note, she and the Board made hundreds of decisions during her tenure, and she never shirked her responsibility to make the best decision for the thousands of students in the district. As a Mesa Public School graduate, parent and grandparent she was, and still is, a positive voice in the schools and Community at large. She has a keen sense of what will work best for parents, students and district staff and continues to volunteer in her neighborhood schools and in community literacy programs. .
man of the year, 2024
Bill Peters
Bill Peters
Bill Peters is a long-time resident of the East Valley and has served as a member of the Mesa Police Department for over 34 years. He has held in numerous positions in the Police Department and is currently a Lieutenant. He is married to Lesley and they are the proud parents of two grown sons.
During his tenure with the Police Department, he has been an active volunteer in several community organizations. These include Special Olympics Arizona and the Arizona Torch Run. (LETR). Bill helps assist in the fundraising activities of the LETR who annually raise over a million dollars to support the special Olympic program and athletes. He is an active Rotarian who assists with the many community projects of the Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club. He was named their Rotarian of the Year in 2023/24.
He also volunteers his time to promote and support the Children’s Benefit Foundation’s annual Week Without Violence campaign, supports the House of Refuge programs, Paz De Christo feeding activities and others. One of his activities is a little-known Hospice of the Valley program called the “Final Salute”. In this program works with others to ensure that gravely ill veterans and first responders are formally recognized before their passing. Finally, he and others helped raise funds for a memorial statue at the Mesa Police Department Building to recognize fallen offices.
Bill’s volunteer activities are more than exemplary although is a humble individual who does not seek recognition for his actions. He is quick to give credit to others. As one of the many individuals who know of his work stated:” While Bill’s years of service with the Mesa Police Department is impressive (not to mention his military service) his community service stands apart from his professional work. He has devoted himself over the years to volunteer efforts that have no connection to his job”.
Student Community Service Awards
STUDENT AWARDS, 2025
MESA’S FUTURE LEADERS: FOUR SENIORS AWARDED FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO LIFELONG ENGAGEMENT
Reporting via Mesa Citizen of the Year Association
March 9, 2025
Four outstanding seniors from Mesa Public Schools have been awarded Student Community Service Awards by the Mesa Citizen of the Year Association. Sadie Christie (Red Mountain High School), Alexis Grondin (Red Mountain High School), Regina Herrera Marquez (Mountain View High School), Jermalie Jean-Louis (Mountain View High School) each received a $2,500 scholarship in recognition of their exceptional dedication to community service.
Student Awardee pictures forthcoming