The 4th Annual Beacon Awards, presented by the Ellis Island Honors Society on January 23rd, 2025, was a night of inspiration and celebration! Hosted by Monica Morales of PIX11, the event honored 16 extraordinary young leaders who embody the spirit of service and innovation. Chairman Nasser Kazeminy was on hand to present the prestigious awards, recognizing these outstanding individuals for their dedication to making a difference. Congratulations to all the honorees for their remarkable achievements!
Learn more about some of our 2025 Beacon Award Recipients!
See below for the full acceptance remarks from some of our distinguished honorees.
And be sure to see the entire video on our Vimeo page. You can also see all photos from the event on our Flickr page!
Lou Bernardi is the founder of Valor Sports, as well as The Italian American Heritage Society of Long Island. He also currently serves as a Sports Specialist at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. He received the Beacon award, presented by the Ellis Island Medals of Honor, on Jan 23, 2025 at The Wall Street Hotel in NYC.
Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz, represents District 39, one of the most diverse districts in the nation. Since taking office in 2019, Catalina has successfully passed more than 20 new laws aimed at combating food insecurity, reducing the high cost of healthcare, protecting aging New Yorkers, and more. She received the Beacon award, presented by the Ellis Island Medals of Honor, on Jan 23, 2025 at The Wall Street Hotel in NYC.
Born and raised in Tishomingo, OK, Marc Byles is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with HealthCorps, and aspires to work as a mental health therapist, focusing on teens, adolescents, and the LGBTQ+ community. He received the Beacon award, presented by the Ellis Island Medals of Honor, on Jan 23, 2025 at The Wall Street Hotel in NYC.
Jefferson Noël is a professor at Florida International University, a four-time published author, award-winning educator, and TEDx speaker. He is the founder of Barbershop Speaks, an organization fostering intelligent discussions in barbershops and salons across major U.S. cities. He received the Beacon award, presented by the Ellis Island Medals of Honor, on Jan 23, 2025 at The Wall Street Hotel in NYC.
