1 of 3
Charles Collat Sr.
2 of 3
Hatton Smith
3 of 3
Thomas Thagard
When the Vulcan Park Foundation began giving out The Vulcans Community Awards in 2014, the organization saw a need to recognize citizens from all walks of life in the seven-county Birmingham metro who were “exemplifying civic pride, progress and leadership,” according to Morgan Black, director of marketing and PR at Vulcan Park and Museum.
The latest group of 14 honorees — people making what Black called “Vulcan-like contributions” to their communities, chosen by an independent citizens panel — were announced in late September. They’ll be honored at a fourth annual awards dinner at The Club on Thursday, Nov. 2, with WBRC-TV anchor Jonathan Hardison serving as emcee.
“It’s such a special night when we’re able to come together and learn the stories of the people who are making Birmingham a better place to live, work, stay, visit and play and may or may not be recognized for it otherwise,” Black said.
The winners are as follows:
The Vulcans
► Lifetime Achievement: Charles A. Collat Sr., Mayer Electric CEO and community volunteer.
► Servant Leadership: Keiah Shauku, community outreach and education programs director for the Birmingham Bar Foundation. Shauku also works with Urban Avenues, a nonprofit that helps start social ventures in Birmingham.
► Hero: Jesse Frank, a teen community volunteer in St. Clair County.
► Game Changer: Thomas W. Thagard III, Kiwanis Club of Birmingham president.
► Newcomer: Kevin Callahan, a community volunteer in Walker County.
The Spears
► Servant Leadership: Sheriff John Samaniego, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office; Michelle Bearman-Wolnek, co-founder and executive director of Heart Gallery Alabama in Birmingham, a nonprofit that works to find “forever families” for Alabama’s foster children.
► Heroes: J.D. Simpson, co-founder of Three Hots and A Cot, a Birmingham non-profit that helps homeless veterans transition from the streets; U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Aaron Causey (Ret.).
► Game Changers: Hatton Smith, a major backer of UAB football; Giles Perkins, one of the visionaries and organizers who helped create Railroad Park.
► Newcomers: Drs. Julian Maha and Michele Kong, UAB and Children’s of Alabama physicians and co-founders of KultureCity, a nonprofit group that seeks to educate the community about autism; Dan Drinkard, co-founder of Seasick Records in Crestwood and a major booster of Birmingham music.
