LISTEN: Jamestown Chamber Celebrates 95th Annual Awards Banquet

“I think it’s just been so awesome to see people be so proud of Jamestown and all of the professionals that have come out of here. It’s been a great experience tonight,” said was Emily Sargeant, a Jamestown native and attendee at the event.

I spoke with Dustin Jensen from the University of Jamestown, and this year’s board chair. “When I was doing some of my prep for tonight, we were talking about is Jamestown old and dying? And when I was growing up, that’s kind of what you thought, that this community is just old and nobody wants to be here. That’s not true at all,” Jensen said.

“There’s so much going on in our community. It’s vibrant,  it’s exciting, it’s fun to see it move forward. If we just. . . do positive things,  it’s amazing what can happen to our community. You take an Amy Walters who got an award tonight,  Amy is just, she comes back to our community and kills it. She just wants to continue  to make this place better. And I think that for me, is why I’m excited to be here. Just a chance to continue to make our community better,” Jensen said.

Amy Walters, the executive director of the Jamestown Parks and Recreation Department, won the Above and Beyond Award. She was credited with guiding major capital projects, securing significant grant funding, and modernizing community spaces that benefit residents of all ages and abilities. When asked what was her proudest moment of being part of the Parks Department this year, she said:

“The morning after the huge storm we had  in June, everybody’s digging out, I finally was able to get out of my own driveway because we had trees down, and I got into the parks and, the first people I see are our staff. They’re already there, they’re already cleaning up, they’re making sure that the spaces are safe. It’s just a true example of the dedication of our team to the community. And that’s really what this award was about tonight,” said Walters.

Cavendish Farms won Business of the Year for their continued investment in our community, and that announcement was adorned by their French fry mascot celebrating along with them.

The young professional of the year was Riley Akervik, the president of the Jamestown Fine Arts Association Board of Directors, among other local boards. In response to the honor, he said “it means a lot. I’m somebody that really believes in community and how much it can mean to someone. I came here from Minnesota to go to UJ.  I thought I was going to leave at one point, and the community just really took me in under their wing, and feel like I owe it back to the community to give as much as I can. So it means a lot to be recognized, but I think like we heard tonight, it’s a lot about just doing rather than actually receiving.”

The 2025 Citizens of the Year are Don and Sharon Caine. The Caines were honored for a lifetime of generosity and civic commitment. The Chamber spoke on their decades of involvement with Kiwanis and Camp Rokiwan, as well as their significant contributions to the Jamestown Regional Medical Center and the University of Jamestown.

This event showcased the best of what Jamestown has to offer, honoring people that utilize their skill sets, care, and attention to improve the community. Find more information at jamestownchamber.com.