This year, our community remember’s 9/11 with a ceremony and presentation of the inaugural Phoenix Award, created and presented by RISE St. Pete, and co-sponosored by SPC. The award is given to those inspired by the heroes of 9/11 and honors three members of the St. Petersburg community whose tireless and selfless work goes unrecognized and is deserving of public praise.
The ceremony will be at the Rise St. Pete Monument on the ArtsXchange Campus (515 22nd Street South) and featuring a fantastic lineup of speakers. Ceremonies include a performance of the National Anthem, an invocation, and presentations by Admiral Farragut Academy students. Attendees are encouraged to register in advance, and all are invited to join in on a light reception following the program, catered by Bagel Babe at Foodie Labs.
The stellar lineup of speeches, emcee’d by 10Tampa Bay Anchor Courtney Robinson, showcases influential community leaders, including Kevin Lockerbie, President and Head of School, Admiral Farragut Academy; Celeste Davis, Director of Arts, Culture, and Tourism for the City of St. Petersburg; Colonel Jim “OB” O’Brien, MacDill Air Force Base; and Mark Aeling, Sculptor and WADA Board President.
Each recipient of this prestigious award will be presented with a small replica statue of the iconic Rise St. Pete sculpture at the 9/11 ceremony, meticulously crafted by artist Mark Aeling using steel salvaged from the Twin Towers. In addition to the statue and recognition, each honoree will also receive $1,000 as a further award for their selfless and tireless dedication to their community.
“The Phoenix Award is an annual tribute honoring unsung heroes from our community who embody the spirit of selflessness and sacrifice exemplified by 9/11 first responders,” WADA Executive Director Markus Gottschlich said. “These individuals, selected from diverse walks of life, are recognized for their exceptional contributions and positive impact on their communities.”
The 9/11 Commemoration and the Phoenix Award are both made possible thanks to the generous support of local sponsors: Tunnels to Towers Foundation, General Dynamics, Valspar Championship and Copperhead Charities, and St. Petersburg College.
The inaugural Phoenix Award winners to be honored this year:
- Zulgeil Ruiz Ginés, LM, CPM: Zul is a midwife, educator, and advocate for culturally safe midwifery care, serving low-income and historically underserved women of color in St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay area. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Zul selflessly provided homebirth and prenatal services to pregnant women who were unable to access hospital care. She is also the founder of the Kolibrí International Birth Institute (KIBI) to offer multicultural continuing education for professionals.
- Colonel Jay Powers (Ret): With 22 years as a Special Forces Green Beret, Colonel Jay Powers led nine combat tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, earning five Bronze Stars for Valor. Since retiring as Deputy Commander of Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT), Jay has chosen to focus on shaping future leaders in Tampa Bay. He serves as a high school wrestling coach, leadership instructor for the USF Office of Corporate Education, and Chief Operations Officer for Tampa Bay Wave, a nonprofit dedicated to propelling young entrepreneurs and their game-changing companies.
- Professor David Manson: A composer, trombonist, and educator who has had a lasting impact on the St. Petersburg arts community. He has been a key figure at St. Petersburg College since 1991, where he co-founded the MIRA (Music Industry/Recording Arts) program. David also directs the St. Petersburg Jazz Festival and the innovative EMIT series, which has brought over 500 concerts and workshops to the area.
