Think Apex Awards

The Think Apex Awards allow town officials to recognize businesses, individuals, non-profit organizations, and youth for their dedicated service to others and the Apex community as a whole. Honoring community members for their dedication and invaluable contributions to our community strengthens our commitment to one another as the Peak of Good Living.

Do you know a business, individual, non-profit, or youth that has uniquely given back or positively impacted the Apex community in 2025? 

Help shine a light on those community members by nominating them for a Think Apex Award now through March 13, 2026!

Think Apex Awards celebrating 10 years

Nomination requirements:

  • Must live in Apex (for individual, group, or youth nominees)
  • Business must be located in Apex (for business or non-profit nominees)
  • Age of youth category is Kindergarten through Senior year of High School
  • Past recipients of the Top Thinker Award ARE NOT eligible to be nominated again (see list below).
  • Past recipients of the Honorable Mention ARE eligible to be nominated again.

2025 Think Apex Awards Honorees

2025 Top Thinkers:

  • Individual or Group: Johnnie Strickland
  • Individual or Group – Youth: Sunita Singh
  • Non-Profit: Fiesta Cristiana Mission Congregation
  • Business: Lune Spark

2025 Honorable Mentions:

  • Individual or Group: Jeff Hastings
  • Individual or Group – Youth: Jaden Allen
  • Non-Profit: Triple T Foundation
  • Business: Positively Apex
  1. 1 Johnnie Strickland
  2. 2 Jeff Hastings TAA
  3. 3 Lune Spark TAA
  4. 4 Leslie Lockhart TAA
  5. 5 Fiesta Cristiana
  6. 6 Triple T Foundation
  7. 7 Sunita Singh TAA
  8. 8 Jaden Allen TAA

Previous Year Think Apex Awards Honorees

2024 Top Thinkers:

  • Individual or Group: TJ Evans
  • Individual or Group – Youth: Colleen McDermott 
  • Non-Profit: Shield NC 
  • Business: Progressive Taekwondo Academy

2024 Honorable Mentions:

  • Individual or Group: Olivia Scott
  • Individual or Group – Youth: Austin Krueger
  • Non-Profit: Bella Angels, Inc.
  • Business: CharleyMadlyn - A Faith & Fashion Boutique

2023 Top Thinkers:

  • Individual or Group: Doris Battle
  • Individual or Group – Youth: Scott's Ridge Elementary School Chorus
  • Non-Profit: Peak Beginnings 
  • Business: Kwench Juice Café

2023 Honorable Mentions:

  • Individual or Group: Bob Lampman
  • Non-Profit: Apex Rotary Club
  • Business: Creech Chiropractic

2022 Top Thinkers:

  • Individual or Group: Tayon Nicole Dancy
  • Individual or Group - Youth: Indya Nivar
  • Non-Profit: Western Wake Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. 
  • Business: NC Tutors & Educational Services

2022 Honorable Mentions:

  • Individual or Group: Dr. Jodi Reed and Jason Lendhart
  • Individual or Group: Miguel Guerra
  • Non-Profit: Endless Sports
  • Business: Melissa Ragan, Owner of The Ragan Realty Team

2021 Top Thinkers:

  • Individual or Group: Food Pantry at St. Mary A.M.E. Church
  • Non-Profit: Eye Shine Foundation
  • Business: Carolina Orthodontics & Children's Dentistry

2021 Honorable Mentions:

  • Individual or Group: Conrad Hardy
  • Non-Profit: Apex Farmers Market
  • Business: Whole Brain Escape

2020 Top Thinkers:

  • Individual or Group: Stephen West
  • Non-Profit: Apex Public School Foundation
  • Business: Apex Fencing Academy

2020 Honorable Mentions:

  • Individual or Group: Hector Cuales
  • Non-Profit: Apex Chamber of Commerce
  • Business: Common Grounds

2019 Top Thinkers:

  • Individual or Group: Rick Gardner
  • Non-Profit: Apex Sunrise Foundation
  • Business: The Rusty Bucket

2019 Honorable Mentions:

  • Individual or Group: Stacy Kivett
  • Non-Profit: Peak Lab Rescue
  • Business: Neighbor Boy

2018 Top Thinkers:

  • Individual or Group: Tahira Abi Hyman
  • Non-Profit: Citizens Assisting Police in Apex (CAPA)
  • Business: Apex Dental Group

2018 Honorable Mentions:

  • Individual or Group: Kris Taft Miller
  • Non-Profit: Peak UMC
  • Business: Stylish Living

2017 Top Thinkers:

  • Individual or Group: Sydney Ann McCoy
  • Non-Profit: Jordan Lutheran Church
  • Business: Werking Design and Decor

2017 Honorable Mentions:

  • Individual or Group: Eduardo Rodriguez
  • Non-Profit: Apex Sunrise Rotary
  • Business: Neighbor Boy

2016 Top Thinkers:

  • Individual or Group: J.C. Knowles & Kyle and Megan Denis
  • Non-Profit: St. Mary A.M.E. Church & Western Wake Crisis Ministry
  • Business: Academy for the Performing Arts & Promotional Partners

2016 Honorable Mentions:

  • Individual or Group: Christine Hilt
  • Non-Profit: Apex Festival Commission
  • Business: Pathways Treatment Center