The Community Caring Conference has presented its 2009 Quad-City Hero Awards.

Those honored in various categories at a ceremony Thursday were:

Education: Cheryl Gipson, Port Byron, Ill., special education manager at Thurgood Marshall School in Rock Island and a classroom instructor for at-risk students.

Business: Bike & Hike and Steve Depron, Rock Island, for charitable giving.

Organization: John Deere Classic Birdies for Charity.

Youth : Keena McLaughlin, Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley High School, who built a bioswale at Riverside Park in Moline for Eagle Scout project. Chasson Randle, Rock Island High School, member of 16-and-under world basketball championship team and No. 1 in class. Sharle' Newman, Moline High School, active in various clubs and Lead America Leadership Conference. Antonio Vereia, Moline High School, a volunteer and role model for younger kids.

Individuals: Emil "Moe" DeSmet, Rock Island, leader of Boy Scout Troop 213 for 38 years. Murrie Untersheidt, Rock Island, who holds a golf tournament in his son's memory with money going to college scholarships for local students. Michael Bryant, Rock Island, heads up Friday Night Mentoring Program. Mark Schwiebert, Rock Island, former mayor.

Law enforcement: Scott County corrections staff and sheriff's office for shifting from linear to direct supervision and offering programs to assist inmates before release.

Bi-State: Moline Police Officer Timothy Waltman, a 28-year veteran and one of the first Community Oriented Policing officers, working with the Floreciente neighborhood and Quad-City Mediation Group.

Quad-City Community Award: Greg Schab, Luke Pimlott, Joe and Lydia Erenberger, all of Davenport, who feed the homeless every Sunday at 3rd and Warren streets from May to October.

John H. Williams Community Service Award: Police Chief John Wright, Rock Island, for leadership and new crime-fighting partnerships.

Crimefighter-of-the-Year: Detective James Weakley, East Moline Police Department, who came to the aid of a Davenport police officer being beaten July 31 on the Centennial Bridge.