2025 Keizer First Citizen
Joe Van Meter
Volunteer
Events
Celebrate Keizer
The Celebrate Keizer Award recipients are individuals and organizations who have made significant, impactful, and lasting changes to the community of Keizer.
Awards Banquet
Presented by Willamette Valley Bank & Keizer Chamber
Each year we honor the Award recipients for the previous year: Keizer's First Citizen, Merchant of the Year, President's Choice, Service to Education, and the Dennis Koho Future First Citizen Scholarships. Join us as we celebrate all who make a difference in our community by exemplifying Pride, Spirit, & Volunteerism.
Keizer's First Citizen
Recognizing the individual who has made the most significant impact on the community.
Merchant of the Year
Honoring a Keizer business demonstrating outstanding service and community leadership.
President's Choice
Selected personally by the Chamber President for exceptional Chamber support.
Service to Education
Recognizing an educator or organization advancing learning in Keizer.
Dennis Koho Future First Citizen Scholarships
Investing in the next generation of Keizer leaders.
2025 Recipients
Celebrating this year's honorees
Meet the individuals and businesses recognized at the 2026 Celebrate Keizer Awards Banquet.
2025 Service to Education
Taylor Miller
Elementary Teacher
2025 Merchant of the Year
Eric & Mandy Burdge
Odd Moe's Pizza
2025 President's Award
Leslie Risewick
Volunteer
2025 Keizer Future First Citizen
Megan Curran
McNary HS
Presenting Sponsor
Thank you to our presenting sponsor
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Award Sponsors
Underwriting each award
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Sponsors
Thank you to our supporters
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Gallery
Moments from the banquet
Past Recipients
A look back through the years
Group photos from prior Celebrate Keizer banquets, honoring decades of Keizer leaders.
Honor Roll
Every past recipient
The complete list of Celebrate Keizer honorees, going back to 1959.
- 1964Robert O. Smith
- 1965Roger Hawley
- 1966Onas Olson
- 1967Rusty Teets
- 1968Harry Pease
- 1969Sam Orcutt
- 1970Bob Stutzman
- 1971Ray Boucher
- 1972Pat Valentino
- 1973Duane Sanford
- 1974Al Watts
- 1975Ernie Fish
- 1976Steve Halbeisen
- 1977Alice Jones
- 1978Ralph Bauer
- 1979Earl McBratney
- 1980Leona Stutzman
- 1981Vern Casterline
- 1982Kathleen Hanneman
- 1983Dick Bauer
- 1984John Ettinger
- 1985Phil Bay
- 1986Vic Backlund
- 1987Biff Hogue
- 1988Bob Simon
- 1989Terry Williams
- 1990JoAnne Beilke
- 1991Bob French
- 1992Michel Gaynor
- 1993Holly Erickson
- 1994John Jenkins
- 1995Dave Bauer
- 1996Bob Newton
- 1997Tom Bauer
- 1998Jerry McGee
- 1998Shirley McGee
- 1999Les Zaitz
- 2000Jim Keller
- 2001Ted Anagnos
- 2002Mary Opra
- 2003Wayne Thackery
- 2004Dave Walery
- 2005Randy Miller
- 2006Charlene Weathers
- 2007Greg Frank
- 2008Clint Holland
- 2009Roland Herrera
- 2010Jeramy Williams
- 2011Bob & Pam Zielinski
- 2012Hank Tarter
- 2013John Doneth
- 2014Lore Christopher
- 2015Mark Caillier
- 2016Jim Trett
- 2017Joe Egli
- 2018Vickie Jackson
- 2019Hersch Sangster
- 2020Kim Freeman
- 2021Jim Taylor
- 2022Marsha Stallings
- 2023Kevin Dial
- 2024Marlene Parsons
- 2025Joe Van Meter
Interested in sponsoring?
Reach out and we'll share sponsorship packages for the next Celebrate Keizer.