A local educator has been recognized by the Illinois Jaycees as an Outstanding Young Persons of Illinois Award winner for 2024.
Stephanie Aarons-Dennison, band director and music teacher at Centralia High School, is one of 10 honorees this year. According to the Illinois Jaycees, the Outstanding Young Persons of Illinois Awards program recognizes individuals between the ages of 18 and 40 who excel in their chosen field and show a great commitment to their communities.
Aarons-Dennison was nominated for the Outstanding Young Persons of Illinois Award by the Centralia Business and Professional Women’s Club, where she serves as corresponding secretary. She is also active with the First Presbyterian Church of Centralia, and she participates in various bands in the community.
“Coming back to the community, I’ve been very involved in other performing aspects. I perform on flute with the community band here, the philharmonic orchestra at the cultural society. I also do gigs and play tenor sax with the Barrelhouse Big Band, which is just basically a jazz band of a bunch of other directors. I actually perform with my husband, who sits right next to me. It’s a group of us in the area, and we go out and perform at events.”
Aarons-Dennison is a 2012 Centralia High School graduate. She oversaw the band and choir programs at Fairfield Community High School before returning to work at CHS. She says she enjoys serving her community and is honored to be named one of the Illinois Jaycees’ Outstanding Young Persons.
“(I) love serving people, serving God, serving my kids. I love being part of the community that’s supported me throughout my life and just giving back to them. It feels great to be recognized for doing a lot for the community and being able to give back to them too.”
The Illinois Jaycees will honor the 2024 Outstanding Young Persons at a banquet on April 27 in East Peoria. Aarons-Dennison says she will not be able to attend the banquet, as she will be with the CHS Jazz Band that weekend for a performance in Chicago
