Awards

Volunteer of the Year

Each year Sister Cities recognizes two individuals as volunteers of the year for the dedication and support of the organization.

Youth Volunteer of the Year:  Morgan Killian

Morgan is a Jr. at Trinity Valley School and currently serves on our Youth Executive Board as Secretary. She has been involved for 3 years and has consistently demonstrated her commitment and leadership skills.

Despite her full academic programs at school, she has never said no to any volunteer need at sister cities doing school presentations at Trinity Valley to promote international opportunities for both youth and educators, as well as hosting international students for the last 3 years.  She has also attended the International Leadership Academy and has been a Youth Ambassador to Toluca, Reggio Emilia, and Swaziland.  This year she was chosen as a Harashin Scholar and will go to Nagaoka in the summer.

Volunteer of The Year:  Eva Bonilla

Eva is a role model for sister cities in promoting our mission and volunteers for many of our cities.   As many of our dedicated volunteers, she is the first to respond to our volunteer needs from driving delegates, assembling goodie bags, calling sponsors, selling raffle tickets, posting on Facebook and finding the right DJ for our special events!

She is a flow of non-stop energy and does everything with a smile and “can do” attitude. Her commitment, dedication, ingenuity and passion for our mission are limitless.

Past Volunteers of the Year

2011 Eva Bonilla  2004 Neil & Eva Isbell
2010 Jay Kurima 2003 Winston & Dorothy Measures
2009 Dave & Jean Frick 2002 David & Claudine Marion
2008 Marsha Rapfogel 2001 Mary Lou Patterson
2007 Carlo Capua 2000 Winston & Cindy Fuller
2006 Rachel Bounds 1999 Asako Cosby
2005 Becky Haskin 1998 Barbara Sides

Past Youth Volunteers of the Year

2011 Morgan Killian  2005 Chelsea Marshall
2010 Daniel Watson 2004 Jamarcus Perdue
2009 Treasure Tinsley 2003 Callie Baker
2008 Mary Robinson 2002 Elizabeth Jane McCune
2007 Jamie Drillett 2001 Lindsay Wilson
2006 Diana Alexander-Oates

The Bob Bolen Award for Outstanding Board Leadership:
Doug Harmon

Sister Cities is lucky to have the leadership of people dedicated to our mission of international peace and understanding. The recipient of the 2011 award was chosen because of his long-time service to the organization and continued commitment and support.  This award went to Doug Harmon for his continued dedication and commitment to Fort Worth Sister Cities International.

Past Bob Bolen Awards for Outstanding Board Leadership

2011 Doug Harmon 2005 Steve Roth
2010 Kathryn Bryan 2004 Nancy Marchant
2009 Becky Renfro Borbolla 2003 Bob Jameson
2008 Hilde Horchler 2002 Mary Palko
2007 Jane Schlansker 2001 Elaine Yamagata
2006 Karen Anisman 2000 Mike Hyatt

The Yamagata Emerging Leaders Scholarship:
Gladys Guevara

This award is presented annually to recognize two people who have been valued supporters from the beginning – Elaine and Tad Yamagata.  The Yamagata Emerging Leaders Scholarship was created by our alumni group to honor the late Tadashi Yamagata and his wife, Elaine who is Director Emerita of the Board.  The recipient receives a scholarship up to $2,000 for any Sister Cities youth program.

The 2011 recipient is Gladys Guevara. Gladys is a student at Paschal High School.  She has been involved with Sister Cities since she was in middle school, home hosting students from our sister cities,  serving as a Youth Ambassador to Nagaoka, and serving her local Fort Worth community in many volunteer projects.  She has also held leadership positions at Paschal HS.  Her life has been greatly influenced by her involvement with Sister Cities and Gladys plans to use her scholarship to go to Reggio Emilia this spring.  Gladys will also serve on our Youth Board.

Past Yamagata Emerging Leader Scholars

2011 Gladys Guevara 2008 Mallory Moore
2010 Ilsa Gehman 2007 Taylor Breen
2009 Lauren Eller

The Eisenhower Award for Organizational Involvement:
UNT Health Science Center


This award is presented annually to an organization that consistently supports Sister Cities’ activities both financially and with involvement.

UNT HSC has supported all of our sister cities programs from local to international programs to hosting cultural events at their facilities. Specifically the Health Science Center has provided mentors and professors to share professional expertise for our international students and they have provided volunteers to serve in many capacities within our organization including Greg Upp who serves on our Advisory Board and new board member this year, Randy McGuffee who is serving on our marketing committee.

They have hosted our youth groups in a special venue so that they could SKYPE with students from our sister cities as part of the Generation Hope laptop project.  They have donated space and classrooms for speakers, city meetings, art exhibits, teacher workshops and even converted their atrium into a disco dance venue for 125 students.

The Center established an academic and medical program with Toluca, Mexico including a language exchange and their Denton Campus sends professors to teach English at the Mexico State Universities, as well as hosting faculty from Mexico State in Denton.  They also send their medical and science graduate level faculty to lecture and teach in Mexico and receive their faculty and staff here to study, train and work in various medical and basic science research labs.

Past Eisenhower Awards for Corporate Involvement

2011 UNT Health Science Center 2005 Texas Health Harris Methodist Fort Worth
2010 The Renaissance Worthington Hotel FW 2004 InterStar Marketing & Public Relations
2009 Black Ecumenical Leadership Alliance 2003 Bank One (now JPMorgan Chase Bank)
2008 Sundance Square 2002 Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
2007 Texas Christian University 2001 Alcon Laboratories
2006 American Airlines

 National Awards

  • Sister Cities Award for Best Overall Program (2009, 2007, 2003, 2001, 1998, 1992, 1990)
  • Sister Cities Award for Innovation in Arts & Culture (2010)
  • Sister Cities Award for Most Innovative Youth Program (2010, 2003, 2002)
  • United Nations Positive Peace Award for Most Positive City Top 5 Finalist (2010)
  • Sister Cities Award for Innovation in Humanitarian Assistance (2009, 2008, 2004)
  • Sister Cities International Chairman’s Award: Mae Ferguson (2008)
  • Sister Cities Volunteer of the Year: Shinichi Hara (2007)
  • Sister Cities International President’s Award: Mary Palko (2006)
  • Sister Cities Volunteer of the Year: Elaine Yamagata (2005)

    Elaine Yamagata receives the 2005 Volunteer of the Year Award from SCI Chairman Mike Hyatt during the 2006 National Conference.

  • Sister Cities 50th Anniversary Award (2005)
  • Sister Cities Award for Innovation in Public Safety (2003)
  • Sister Cities Volunteer of the Year – Mary Palko (1999)
  • Sister Cities Special Achievement Awards in Education (1996)
  • Reader’s Digest Award for Best Overall Youth Program (1991)
  • Sales and Marketing Executive Award (1990)
  • Neighborhood USA Award (1989)
  • Reader’s Digest Award for Best New Program and Most Community Involvement (1988 and 1986)