Executive director Douglas W. Rex welcomed attendees to the 2025 awards celebration on Wednesday, August 27.
Under the theme "Innovate, Collaborate, Elevate," the 2025 Denver Regional Council of Governments awards celebration recognized individuals, projects, programs and collaborations that have elevated the quality of life for many of the region's residents.
The August 27 celebration, emceed by 9News consumer reporter Steve Staeger, honored 18 winners across four categories: Metro Vision Awards, Distinguished Service Awards, Way to Go Awards and the John V. Christensen Memorial Award.
Photos: Event photos are available at Flickr.
Way to Go Awards
Each year, Way to Go recognizes commuting champions — people and companies who commit to reducing the number of people who drive to work alone. The 2025 Way to Go Award winners are:
Distinguished Service Awards
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes, honors and thanks people who have given their time, talents and skills to the Denver region, its communities and various regional programs and activities. The 2025 Distinguished Service Award winners include:
Metro Vision Awards
The Metro Vision Award recognizes excellence, innovation, collaboration and leadership in problem-solving among communities and their partners. Honorees bring business leaders, elected officials, community advocates and residents together to accomplish more than any partner could achieve alone. The projects recognized with a 2025 Metro Vision Award include:
- Denver People's Budget: City and County of Denver (video)
- Douglas County's Proposition 123 Collaboration: Douglas County, Douglas County Housing Partnership and local governments (video)
- East Colfax Mixed-Income Neighborhood Trust: East Colfax Community Collective (video)
- Legacy Transition: The High Line Canal: Arapahoe County, High Line Canal Conservancy and local governments (video)
- Meadowood Mobile Home Park Preservation: Meadowood Cooperative, Arapahoe County, City of Littleton and Thistle (video)
- Mobility and Access for All Ages and Abilities Plan: Boulder County Mobility for All (video)
- Parking Code Amendments: City of Longmont (video)
- Willoughby Corner Affordable Housing Project: City of Lafayette, Boulder County and Boulder County Housing Authority (video)
John V. Christensen Memorial Award
The John V. Christensen Memorial Award is DRCOG's highest accolade and has been presented since 1973. Established in memory of John V. Christensen, a DRCOG founder and Arapahoe County commissioner, it recognizes individuals who promote cooperation and collaboration for the benefit of the region.
Former Lone Tree mayor Jackie Millet is the 48th recipient of this award. (video)