LAWTON – The City of Lawton will present four awards at this year’s Lawton birthday celebration, happening Thursday, Aug. 4 at McMahon Memorial Auditorium.
A reception and celebration will take place from 5-6 p.m. and will kick off with a cake cutting by the oldest suitable living Lawtonian, and an all-new performance and ceremony will take place from 6-7:30 p.m., city officials said in a news release.
The following awards for 2021-2022 will be presented by Mayor Stan Booker during the ceremony:
• Outstanding Citizen: Jeff Elbert.
• Outstanding Organization: Spread the Word Ministries.
• Outstanding Youth Organization (new award for 2022): MacArthur Key Club.
• Lawton Award in Excellence: Isadora Chavez.
Elbert is a teacher at Lawton High School. He serves the community as the founder of The Great 580 and as a pastor.
Elbert received his degree from Cameron University and is a longtime Lawtonian, focusing on inspiring, coordinating and conducting positive events in Lawton.
Spread the Word Ministries is led by Pastor Warren Winns and his wife. Beyond their ministries, they conduct STEM Youth summer camps, work with partners to bring high-quality family-friendly performances to Lawton and are involved with several planning committees with the city and the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce.
New this year is an award for Outstanding Youth Organization. The inaugural award will be presented to MacArthur Key Club, led by students at MacArthur High School and faculty sponsor Kathy Sauders.
“Not only do they have a positive impact within their school, but students within the MacArthur Key Club can also be seen volunteering at nearly every City of Lawton event,” city officials said. “They were integral this year to the success of Lawton-Fort Sill Freedom Festival, and they’ve been involved with the International Festival for several years. They bring positive attitudes and youthful energy to every event.”
Chavez is this year’s recipient of Lawton’s most prestigious award, the Lawton Award in Excellence. This award recognizes people who have had a lasting positive impact on Lawton through a lifetime of service to the community.
Chavez is one of the founding members of the International Festival, founded in 1979, and she continues to serve on its planning committee. This event has grown into one of Lawton’s largest annual celebrations, and it is returning Sept. 23-25.
Chavez is also the founder of Mexican Folklore Dancers, and she continues to teach and hand stitch authentic attire for performers. She provides these services for free to all who are interested, and her passion keeps Mexican culture thriving in Lawton.
A naturalized citizen, she is thankful to be an American and is a proud Lawtonian, city officials said.
If you know of a deserving individual or organization, new guideline and nomination materials will be made available for 2022-2023 nominations during the first week of September on the city’s website.
For information on past award winners, go to lawtonok.gov or call the Arts and Humanities office at (580) 581-3470.
This year’s birthday celebration is provided by the city of Lawton with support from the McMahon Auditorium Authority and the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce, and it is conducted in collaboration with the Comanche Nation, the Race Relations Commission and the Historical Preservation Committee.
Participants in this year’s inaugural historical performance inspired by the history of Lawton include the Comanche Nation, Comanche Youth Dancers, Buffalo Soldiers, Pioneer Woman, Lawton Rangers, Fort Sill Fire Center of Excellence, Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce, Lawton Philharmonic Society, Lawton Community Theatre and the 77th Army Band.
A special thanks to Lawton Public Library and Museum of the Great Plains for assisting with research and providing additional informational materials.
This year’s event will also include special guest performers and performances.
For more information, contact Jason Poudrier, arts and humanities administrator, at (580) 581-3470 or via email at jason.poudrier@lawtonok.gov.