ST. GEORGE — Tia Stokes manifests love for her country and for her family every single day, and she is this year’s recipient of the Carl Lamar Community Patriot Award.

As previously reported in St. George News, longtime local radio personality Carl Lamar received the inaugural award named after him last year on July 4.

“This annual award will be in honor of an individual in our community who represents the values, patriotism and legacy exemplified by Carl Lamar,” Canyon Media Chief Operating Officer Ben Lindquist said at the time.

One year later, Lamar was the one who presented the award to Stokes in front of friends and family gathered for a celebration at Canyon Media last week.

In a video of the event created by Canyon Media, Lamar said, “This year, it is my privilege to pass this recognition on to an individual who is a true hero and patriot in Southern Utah, Tia Stokes.”

Lamar went on to describe Stokes’ journey as a cancer survivor.

“But Tia’s influence reaches so much farther than her personal struggles,” Lamar said, “into the deep love and connection she feels for the people around her.”

Stokes is dedicated to the cause of helping her neighbors through her Kalamity and Kaos dance team. They have raised funds for families and individuals in need.

“When we seek to better the community around us, we become true patriots,” Lamar said.

Stokes said that she was thinking about her father when she was presented with the Community Patriot Award.

“The Fourth of July is my dad’s favorite holiday,” she said, noting that her father died 11 years ago.

“It was a day that my dad just really raised us to be really grateful for where we live, for the flag, and for our freedom, and for those who sacrificed for us,” Stokes added. “And to never take it for granted.”

She went on to say that the Fourth of July has become her favorite holiday.

“It is in remembrance of my father but also because it reminds me how grateful I am,” Stokes said, “and how much I have to be grateful for all around me.”

Stokes said that she is still getting used to being called a community patriot.

“I’m just shocked every time you say that. I feel like that’s such an honor, and I feel very humbled,” Stokes said. “I think for anybody, the biggest thing that we can do is love.” 

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