Service and a love for community were on full display as the Sioux Center Chamber of Commerce and the City of Sioux Center took time to award people, businesses and organizations who best exemplify the ideals of Sioux Center during its annual Spirit of Community night Friday at the Terrace View Event Center.
Among the awards given that night, the Community Service Awards given out by the city were a special highlight, with the winners introduced by mayor Dale Vander Berg.
In his opening remarks, Vander Berg thanked residents of Sioux Center for their actions in service of the wider community in 2025.
“One of the things that’s best about being your mayor is you get to see the spirit of the community,” he said. “We’ve seen that this year with the derecho, you see people doing what was right.
“Everybody came together, and we got this thing wrapped up. Really, true colors were shown that week. Nobody cared who got credit, nobody cared how we got it done. We just got it done.”
Beyond the community response to the July 28 derecho, Vander Berg noted the cooperation he’s seen between businesses and contractors during recent discussions over the future of Sioux Center and the downtown area.
“The underlying thing was, what’s right for Sioux Center? It’s not about what we can do or how it will benefit us. When I talk to those developers and businesses, it was what’s right for Sioux Center, and that’s so refreshing,” he said.
Rog’s Corner
The first award presented on Friday was the individual winner of the Community Service Award, given to the radio show “Rog’s Corner” that airs weekly on KSOU.
After Roger Broek took his own life in July 2023, friends and family members were left shocked and heartbroken. Wanting to learn more about suicide and its impact, Piet Westerbeek began researching into the subject after his friend’s death.
Westerbeek of Sioux Center is the general manager at Sioux County Radio, and to raise awareness, he collaborated with Dr. Shawn Scholten of Sioux Center, the co-director at Creative Living Center. Together, they had conversations to launch the radio show “Rog’s Corner.”
“Sioux County Radio and its owners took a risk and placed the show right during prime time,” said Vander Berg. “One episode in, the positive response was so strong that Sioux County Radio lengthened the program and started airing it every week.”
Episodes feature therapists to guide conversations as guests share personal stories and open up on ways to address mental health. With more than 100 episodes created so far, “Rog’s Corner” has continued to prioritize supporting those in need.
Accepting the award on behalf of the show, Westerbeek shared how his friend’s death inspired him to jump-start the program.
“Rog’s Corner was born out of a deep desire to help those who suffered in silence. To be fair, before Rog died, I had only known one person that had taken their own life,” he said. “It took the unfortunate death of my best friend for my eyes to be opened to how destructive and rampant suicide is, how it destroys a person suffering from it and how they can’t see their way out of it. How people who suffer from suicidal thoughts think they’re crazy or beyond help. Not to mention how it hurts the ones they love when they take their own lives.”
Westerbeek thanked Scholten and members of Sioux County Radio for all the work put in to run the program, as well as the family of Rog for allowing his name to be used for the show.
“Finally and the most important, thank you goes to Rog’s family. None of us will ever truly understand what you went through and what you continue to go through,” Westerbeek said. “From the bottom of my heart, and the bottom of Dr. Shawn’s heart, we thank you for giving Rog’s name to help those who may be in crisis and those who lost someone like you did.”
Westerbeek finished his speech with a quote from Rog’s wife, Linda, when she was asked for permission to use his name: “If something good can come from this, let’s do it, let’s make it happen.”
Sioux Center Dental
Sioux Center Dental won the business Community Service Award for their service to the community with their yearly “Give Kids a Smile” program.
Starting in 2023, Dr. Trevor Kuiper of Sioux Center Dental alongside iSmile, Kinsey Elementary and Community Health Partners have worked to provide care for young children with complicated dental health conditions.
In its first year, Sioux Center Dental saw 30 students from transitional kindergarten to third grade, providing care for them. In three years the program has treated 87 students and provided $70,000 worth of donated dental services.
“Despite its happy name, Give Kids a Smile is not a glamorous day,” Vander Berg said. “These are not routine teeth cleanings, but intense and complicated dental situations.”
Kuiper, accepting the award for Sioux Center Dental, shared his thanks for the individuals from iSmile, Kinsey Elementary and Community Health Partners for organizing the annual event.
“On behalf of myself and all of us at Sioux Center Dental, we feel incredibly honored to accept this award. From the time when my wife and I decided to move our lives and livelihood to this community, we have had the goal of utilizing the abilities God blessed us with to be able to give back to the people around us,” he said. “Thank you for honoring Sioux Center Dental with this award. We look forward to continuing to help the children of Sioux Center in the future.”
Sioux Center Christian School
Honoring their continued work of educating young students, Sioux Center Christian School was named the winner of the organization Community Service Award.
“Our years in school shape who we become. They teach us to work together, that we can learn new things, and that we impact people all around us,” Vander Berg said. “Tonight we’re recognizing an addition to a local school that represents more than new walls and windows. It is a lived-out passion to invest in and equip future generations.”
Welcoming the public after the completion of its $14 million expansion project, Sioux Center Christian unveiled its Blazer Center during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 27.
The new addition featured a multipurpose gym, stage, lobby, six classrooms, collaboration spaces and even a new playground.
“The impact extends to the community. These spaces are shared almost daily, from AAU practices to church youth programs to Special Olympics activities,” Vander Berg said. “Even the playground and sledding hill are enjoyed by many after school hours.”
Sioux Center Christian’s head of school Paul Brenner said he is humbled to work with a talented group of educators and to be part of the school’s history.
“God has been weaving a beautiful story in Sioux Center since the 1800s, and we are grateful to have been a part of the last 121 chapters,” he said. “Throughout those years our mission has remained constant, to equip kids with the knowledge and understanding of Jesus and His creation so that they can serve God and others.”
Brenner stressed the importance of community involvement in raising the funds for the expansion project during his acceptance speech.
“You didn’t just support a building project. You modeled for our students what it looks like to see a need and to meet it. You live the story,” he said. “The Blazer Center would not have been possible without the many families, churches and businesses in this town. Through your generosity who saw our story and did real work to make it a reality.”