Chelsea Bossert/Daily Mining Gazette Winner's of the annual Spark Plug Awards, pose following Thursday’s banquet, Back row from left, Robert “Bubba” Megowen, top left, Bey Electric, Dollar Bay VFD, Hancock FD, Calumet FD, Quincy-Franklin FD, top right, Keweenaw Snowmobile Club, bottom left, Charlotte Knuuttila, Unite Mental Health and Wellness and Small Craft and Takka Saunas, bottom right.

HOUGHTON — The Keweenaw Community Sparkplug Awards took place Thursday evening to a sold-out Memorial Union Building Ballroom audience. Eight awards were given out to honor community members and businesses that make an impact.

Growth, Customer Service, Innovation and Transformation, Project of the year, Young Professional of the year, Community Contributor of the year, Hometown Hero of the year and Youth Contributor of the year were awarded to individuals, businesses and departments who stood out among the Keweenaw’s areas best.

Jesse Wiederhold emceed the awards banquet and musician Bob Hiltunen provided music before and between award presentations.

The Growth award was presented to Angela Price of Unité Mental Health and Wellness.

“We started on hopes and dreams with a mission,” she said. “To double in size in one year and be recognized by the community — it’s really great.”

The Customer Service award was presented to Bay Electric by Corey Soumis, director of Career and Technical Education at the Copper County Intermediate School District.

“I can say that the work that the Chamber of Commerce and all of these local committees do, the work they do to keep this community moving forward in the right direction — it’s really amazing,” Braun Rosenlund, Partner with Bay Electric said during his acceptance speech.

Bob Hiltunen presented the Innovation and Transformation Award to Lynn Makela of Small Craft and Takka Saunas. During her, Makela thanked her co-owners, Jason Makela and Caleb Wendel, as well as the community that has fostered the opportunities that have made her business grow.

“I represent so many people and that is been absolutely our honor to be able to build this and bring people down to the Hancock waterfront,” she said.

Before a brief intermission, Project of the Year was presented to the Keweenaw Snowmobile Club. President, Ryan LaPorte, said he is excited for the new opportunities that the organization has recently been a part of.

“We’ve got a new groomer maintenance facility in [Calumet], offering a place for snowmobilers, ATVs and non-motorized sports to take off right near Swedetown and the Trestle,” he said. “So we’re just excited to get that open, to be using it regularly and just thankful to all of our donors, sponsors and members that have made it possible.”

Ian Lewis, Larium Village Manager, took home the award for Young Professional of the year for his work leading Larium through hardship and financial instability. “Me not being from here originally, I got to see how the Copper Country really comes together,” he said. “Truly, this isn’t an award for one person, it’s an award for the community and how we come together.”

Robert “Bubba” Megowen, Mayor of Houghton, received the Community Contributor Award for his work on Houghton City Council and through Douglass House. During his acceptance speech and after the ceremony, Mayor Megowen offered his perspective on the city’s future: it’s in good hands.

“I look at the next generation of firefighters… I look at the young people that are working for the city…” he said. “The future for this area is so great because of the volunteerism.”

Brad Banfield, Chief of the Dollar Bay Volunteer Fire Department, along with the Fire Chiefs of Hancock City FD, Quincy-franklin FD and Calumet FD, accepted the Hometown Hero Award for their collective work over the last year keeping the community safe.

“I don’t feel like I am a hero, I feel like a guardian,” Banfield said during his speech.

The final award of the night, Youth Contributor of the year, was awarded to Callie Knuuttila. Houghton High School Principal Tiffany Scullion presented the award to Callie’s younger sister, Charlotte, since Callie was not present at the event due to her participation in the state competition for the Business Professionals of America.

“I wouldn’t be half the leader I am today without the various role models that I have been with throughout my life,” Charlotte Knuuttila, on belief of her older sister, said. “All of them have been incredible leaders within my life and taught me the importance of choosing to speak up, rather than stay silent when it comes to things I am passionate about.”