Citizen of the Year
The City Council created the award to boost public awareness and appreciation for the many residents who work, often behind the scenes, to better the City's quality of life. Rather than acting out of a need for recognition, these residents are driven by a desire to contribute to their community. The honoree will receive a plaque and a special Citizen of the Year gift from the Mayor in Goar Park following the July 4 parade.
Nominees for Citizen of the Year must:
- Be a University Park resident
- Have worked to improve the quality of life in University Park
Current and former Mayors and Councilmembers are not eligible for this award. If you have questions about the nomination process, please call Paige Ruedy at 214-987-5686 or send her an email.
The City Council created the Citizen of the Year award in 2005 to boost public awareness and appreciation for the many residents who work, often behind the scenes, to better the city's quality of life. Rather than acting out of a need for recognition, these residents are driven by a desire to contribute to their community. Whether beautifying our neighborhoods, increasing local opportunities for our youth, raising money for various worthy projects, or assisting those in need in this time of social distancing, all demonstrate an exceptional level of citizenship.
Martha Jackson - University Park's 2025 Citizen of the Year
The City of University Park is excited to announce Martha Jackson as its 2025 Citizen of the Year. Host of the Bubble Lounge Podcast, Martha has made it her mission to spotlight the people, events, and businesses that make the Park Cities special.
Martha and her husband, Sean, have called University Park home for more than two decades. Married for 26 years, they are proud parents of two children: Alexis, a junior at the University of Texas, and Blake, a junior at Highland Park High School. Originally from Fort Worth and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Martha was drawn to University Park after a visit to Snider Plaza over 20 years ago.
“I just knew when I had kids one day, this is where I wanted to live,” she recalls. She loved the family-friendly feel of the neighborhood, especially the culture of biking to school and the Friday Night Lights. Martha and Sean moved to University Park shortly after starting their family.
Since moving to University Park, Martha has done more than simply join the community – she built a platform to highlight what makes it special. In 2018, she started the Bubble Lounge Podcast with Sean as the producer. Martha remembers when they were first discussing the idea, and quickly realized when it comes to the Park Cities, they would never run out of things to talk about.
The Bubble Lounge Podcast showcases relevant and inspiring local stories, from moms who run small businesses to outstanding student achievements. Most recently, she has helped to keep the community informed on City construction projects. If it is applicable to the Park Cities, Martha wants to share it with her audience.
“It really makes me happy that I'm able to have a platform that allows so many different people to shine,” Martha shared. Along with hosting a variety of guests, the Bubble Lounge Podcast also tackles some serious topics. “Rediscovering Yourself After the Kids Leave Home” is a recent episode that gives honest advice and words of encouragement to new empty nesters. With over 300 episodes and a community of more than 170,000 listeners, episodes like this highlight the unique impact the Bubble Lounge has on its audience.
When Mayor Tommy Stewart called and gave her the news, Martha could hardly contain her excitement. She immediately told her family so they could celebrate.
After riding in the Park Cities 4th of July Parade, Martha will be presented with a plaque during a brief ceremony at the Centennial Park Gazebo. The Citizen of the Year award was created by the City Council in 2005 to boost public awareness and appreciation for the many residents who work, often behind the scenes, to better the City’s quality of life.