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WRAL Voters' Choice Awards 2020
Find out who won the 2020 WRAL Voters' Choice Awards. Hosted by WRAL's Mikaya Thurmond and Kat Campbell, the winners in more than 100 categories are being announced during this virtual ceremony.
you nominated, You voted. And now here are your winners. The sixth Annual W. R. A L Voters Choice Awards presented by Martin and Jones. Start now. Here are your hosts. WR Eells, Makhaya Thurman and Cat Campbell. Welcome to the W Oriel Voters Choice Awards presented by Martin and Jones. I am thrilled to be back for the fourth year, hosting the BCS and celebrating the best of the triangle and beyond based on your nominations and votes. And we have all been impacted by the pandemic. And the local businesses that we celebrate every year during the voter's choice awards have faced many new challenges as they try to continue best serving their customers safely. Tonight's awards celebrate those efforts, persistence and creativity of local business owners, and they're very hard working teams. Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Martin and Jones, for partnering with us to recognize local businesses during a time when they need our support. More than ever murdered, Jones has a longstanding commitment to community through its work with the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina, North Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Association, the Masonic Home Orphanage in Oxford, Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and many other organizations and thank you to our 24 additional sponsors for your contributions, ensuring that we can continue to shine a light on local businesses tonight and throughout the new year. We encourage you all to continue support local bookmark our guide for all of the best things local at w r a l dot com slash VCs This is also a great tool to learn about and support the businesses that locals love and make our region so special. And last but not least, congratulations to all of our award finalists. Share your celebrations tonight on social media by using this hashtag write it down wre l v c A s and we'll share some of the best on W Orioles accounts. Also be on the lookout for an email from us on how you can claim your window clings and certificates. That'll be later this month. And here's a quick snapshot of the 2020 WRL Voters Choice Awards. It was the sixth year for our annual awards. We had 132 categories. Over 24,600 people participated in the online ballot, more than 23,000 nominations were made and nearly 135,000 votes were cast. Wow! Immediately following our virtual event, you can see the full list of all finalists and winners on the WRL news APP will also send the link to everyone who registered in advance. Tonight we will remind you of the finalists determined by your nominations on w r e l dot com. In September in October, you voted on the top finalists in each category through November 22nd will announce the top vote getter and winner in each category. You'll also be able to see honorable mentions on W. Ariel's news app and at the end of the virtual event, so stay with us for one of the biggest awards of the night. Woman of the Year Finalists include an astronaut, entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, medical professional and a rapper. We'll find out tonight how the votes stacked up onto the awards way with we'll begin with the finalists in the first group business sponsored by commercial openings. First up, the finalists for best gifts. Little details, No phone at the pig are moments in time, but Cotton Company and the Green Monkey and the winner is no foe at the pig on to our next category florist. Congratulations to our finalists. Balance Flowers, Flowers on Broad Street, Kelly Autumn Flowers, North Raleigh Florists and Preston flowers. And the winner is a balance Flowers Family owned and operated. The Raleigh Florist opened its doors in 1926 for best jewelry. The finalists are Bailey's Fine Jewelry. Be like Missy Diamonds, Direct Raleigh, Little Details and the Vintage B. The Winter is Bailey's Fine Jewelry. Congratulations to Bailey's on winning this award for a third year. Next up. Best Barbershop or salon. Your finalists are DS Perata Color Salon, Lay New Spa. Love is in the hair, naturally complete 919 and Pinup Studio, and the winner is Love Is in the Hair. This two time winner is based in Fuckwit Marina for best massage. Here are the finalists Linux Spa, Lorena Luca, Skin and Spa, The Sport of Massage, the Upset Hotel and Spa and White Dahlia and the winner is White Dahlia. This Raleigh based health spa also won in 2019. Up next the Best Day spa. The finalists are Blue Water Spa when New Spa, natural aesthetic skincare, booty skin Ology, and Smooth LLC winner is Blue Water Spa, this award winning medical spas in Raleigh and is the first time d. C. A winner. Congratulations to the finalists in the antiques and thrift shops category. Abby and Bella's Gifts, Clothes and Home Dreamcoat Ministries, Que NBS Marketplace, Raleigh Furniture Gallery and Trow PSA Thrift Store. The winner is Troche, a thrift store based in Durham. Not on Lee is one of the biggest thrift stores all around all. Proceeds go toward atrocious substance abuse treatment program. Next, we have Best Shopping Center, sponsored by Lafayette Village. The finalists are Cameron Village, Crabtree Valley Mall, Lafayette Village, North Hills and the streets at South Point. The winner is Love. I had Village, located in North Raleigh, off of I 5 40 Falls of the Noose Road. If you're just joining us, use hashtag w. R A L V c A s on social Media to share your reactions. Here are your picks for favorite automotive dealers Crossroads Automotive Group, Hendrick Automotive Group, Johnson Automotive Group, Leaf Automotive Group, Sir Walter Chevrolet and the winner is Leath Automotive Group and the dance studio category. The finalists this year are carry ballet Conservatory, Graceful Expressions, Dance Education, Prestige Dance Institute, Right Moves, Dance and Star Path Dance Academy. And the winner is Raleigh's right Moves Dance in the indoor activity center category, the finalists are defy epic acts. Galaxy Fun Park jelly beans, Super Skate Center of Kerry, Treasure Quest Mining. The winner is Galaxy Fun Park, now on to some of the awards for the businesses that take care of our precious pets up first head boarding or day care sponsored by Zoo Me dogs. Your finalists are Carolina Ranch Animal Hospital and Resort Harmony Pet Resort and Spa, K nine Resorts, Luxury Pet Hotel, Sweet Pause Head Resort and Spa and Zoo Me Dogs. And the winner is Harmony Pet Resort and Spa, located in Apex. Up next, the finalists for pet supplies. Hollywood feed by Dough, the pet Pantry unleashed Wolfgang Bakery and grooming. The winner this year is the pet pantry in Apex onto best pet training service. Now sponsored by sit means Sit. The finalists this year are all dogs allowed. Carolina Ranch Animal Hospital and Resort, Oak City Canine sit means Sit and the canine commander at Audrey's bark yard. Congratulations to the winner sit means sit also in Apex. This is the fourth consecutive win for sit means sit. Here are the animal hospital finalists this year. Care First Animal Hospital at Oh Berlin Carolina Ranch Animal Hospital and Resort Harmony Animal Hospital, Hilltop Animal Hospital, Magnolia Animal Hospital. And the winner is Harmony Animal Hospital. Thanks, cat. Small Business of the Year was a brand new category for 2020 created toe help shine a spotlight on the unique small businesses like Call the Triangle Home. The category had nearly 1000 votes, and the finalists are gather group and company candy apples by K. Springlake Counseling Triangle Lawn games on whole Brain Escape. The winner for Small Business of the Year is Candy Apples by K. I had the chance to visit her shop to see how she did it. Yes, this is the Turtle. Kim Battle is the creator of Candy Apples by K. Two years ago, she took her passion for the sweet treat to her friends and family, and she knew she had something special. So right now we have in the case the cotton candy, which is one of the top sellers back in April of 2019, she opened this shop in North Raleigh, hand making each apple. But don't let the name fool you. Candy apples by K does much more than just that, because we do do more than apples. We also do grapes and kiwi and all kinds of fruit because demand is so high they quickly sell out each weekend. Never dreamed of this, but this is the best dream that I could ever have had. That's why we're honored to surprise her with the news. You're nominated for the Voter's Choice Award for small Business of the year. You have won that award. Oh, oh my God, Are you kidding? Thank you so much. That's a lot of hard work. Paid off in Voter's choice to me means community like to what you're doing and appreciate her problem. What a great reaction. Congratulations to Kim and Candy Apples by K. You can also hear an interview she did with Kathy Hanrahan on the W Oriel out in about podcast. Just search for Podcasts and the WRL News App and select Capital Broadcasting Podcast Network. Here are the rest of our winners in our business categories. Most innovative local startup Gray and company boutique most innovative local corporation, SAS Best Fitness Center or Jim Find a Way. Fitness Gymnastic School. The Little Jim of North Raleigh, Wake Forest. Congrats again to the little Jim of North Raleigh. Wake Forest on winning Best birthday party venue is, well, winner of the best in Bowling Buffalo Lane, South Family Bowling Center and for Children's clothing store. Once upon a child. Best martial arts instruction videos, Martial arts, best in sporting goods, Academy sports and outdoors. And finally, best toy store is learning Express toys and gifts. Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists in the business group. Moving on to the community awards. Here's a message from this year's group sponsor. Hometown. Carolina for best event venue. Here are the finalists based on your nominations Concha Booth and for Theater, PNC Arena, Raleigh Union Station three Carolina Theater and the historic Magnolia Manor. And the winner is Koka Booth Amphitheater in carry. Live music is something I know many of us can't wait to enjoy again in person. So here's a live music venues that you nominated as the best cat's cradle Coastal Credit Union music part at Walnut Creek, Cocoa Booth Amphitheater, Red Hat Amphitheater and the Carolina Theater, and the winner is Red Hat Amphitheater for the best local sports teams. Here are the finalists Carolina Hurricanes, Durham, Bulls, N C Courage, N C. State Wolfpack and you would see Tar Hills. And the winner is the Carolina Hurricanes. Let's Go canes for best movie theater. Our finalists are Alamo Drafthouse, Cinemark Raleigh, Grand Regal, North Hills but Carolina Theater and the Re Alto Theater. And the winner of this category is Alamo Drafthouse. The Triangle is home to some amazing museums and galleries. So here are our finalists. Marvel's Kids Museum, Museum of Life and Science, North Carolina Museum of Art, North Carolina Museum of History and North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and the winner is North Carolina Museum of Art for nonprofits. Here are the finalists this year Abilities Tennis Association of North Carolina, Carolina for the Kids Foundation, Corral Riding Academy Note in the Pocket and Triangle Beagle Rescue. The winner for nonprofits is Corral Riding Academy in Kerry. This nonprofit helps adolescent girls in high risk situations through a quien therapy and education. Our beautiful parks provided us with great places to get exercise and simply relax over the last year. Here are the finalists for Best Park, Crowder County Park, Dorothy A. Dicks Park, Fred G. Bond, Metro Park, Holland Park and William Be Unsteady State Park. The winner is pulling Park. This is the Parks fourth consecutive win. We're lucky tohave some of the best performing arts venues in the country right here in the Triangle. I'm looking forward to future performances, and here are this year's finalists. Carolina Academy of Performing Arts, Durham Performing Arts Center, Coca Booth Amphitheater, Raleigh Little Theater, the Carolina Theater. The winner is Durham Performing Arts Center in 2019. The winner of best tourist attraction was Biltmore Estate, but this time we kept it a little closer to the triangle. Here are the finalists Museum of Life and Science, North Carolina Museum of Art, North Carolina Zoo. Pull in Park, Vahl, a Simpson whirly gig park and museum. The winner is the North Carolina Zoo, located in Asheboro. If one of your New Year's resolution is to volunteer, here are some of the top organizations, According to the WRL audience, Activate good hope. Animal rescue note in the pocket safe haven for cats and triangle beagle rescue of North Carolina. The winner is safe haven for cats. I love a good road trip, and here are the finalists you picked for the best weekend. Get away sponsored by Visit Myrtle Beach, Asheville Spoon, Carolina Beach, Myrtle Beach, Wrightsville Beach. You really can't go wrong with any of the options, but the winner is Asheville. Here are other winners from our community awards Best camp, New life camp, best hotel or vacation rental. The instead Hotel and spa, Best Pool hall and RK Boxcar Bar and our Cave Youth Sports League or organization A. E. Finley Y M C. A. 2020 brought major changes in education. Educators had to switch gears, teaching and connecting with students of all ages. Virtually, they rose to the occasion to ensure that despite the challenging times, the learning continued. And now our education awards a first. Here are the finalists for Best Elementary School, Adams Elementary School, Excelsior Classical Academy, North Ridge Elementary School, Rolls Ville Charter Academy and Yates Mill Elementary School. The winner is Excelsior Classical Academy in Durham. Our middle school finalists, Are you quavering? A middle school. LeRoi Martin Magnet Middle School, Oxford Preparatory School, Pine Springs Preparatory Academy the Explorers School, and the winner is Fugue Way Verena Middle School for the high school category. The finalists this year are Apex, Carrie, Few Quay, Verena Rolls Ville and Sanderson. Congratulations to Roles, Ville High School. Here are the finalists for best private school Carry Academy, North Raleigh Christian Academy, Ravens Crossed School, Bailey's Academy and Trinity Academy. The winner is North Raleigh Christian Academy. You're the finalists for school administrator Dani Walk ins Jonathan Hedges, Matthew Right, Robert Suitor and Beachy Bratcher. And the winner is Danny Watkins. Next up. Best Schoolteachers sponsored by Pittman Family Orthodontics. The finalists are a Nandan Knippa, Debbie Shelton, Georgina Con Solo, Sherry Dixon and Susan Westbrook. Congratulations to Sherry Dixon from Sanderson High School to wrap up the Education Awards. The winner of the best college or university as voted by you is my all my mater, NC State NC State, also the winner for best adult education. So go well, fact. And finally, best tutoring center goes to Hill Learning Center. Congratulations to all the winners and the finalists in this year's education group. Yeah, now, on to one of my favorite categories. The food and drink awards are local restaurants and bars have been hit particularly hard. By Kobe 19. The impact was almost immediate. In March, WRL hosted a here to help virtual fundraiser that with your help raise $350,000 for the NC Restaurant Relief Workers Fund. But the need to support these businesses continues. Tonight we celebrate our resilience service industry Workers of the Triangle Take notes on these finalists, and I encourage you to make an effort to get take out or find other ways to keep supporting our talented restaurant tours in 2021. Now here's a message from the sponsor of this group Original Mattress Factory. Hi, I'm Nick from the original mattress factory. We're coming to you today from our factory location, right in Raleigh, North Carolina, off of spring forest roads. This year, we are proud supporters of the food and drink category of WRL Voters Choice Awards. It has been an interesting year to say the least four the entire community. But nothing has been hit harder in our mind than the drink, food and drink industry. We're proud supporters of everything local, and we hope that you are as well, good luck to all the finalists this year, and the finalists for Big goods are few Quay Bruise the Farm Bakery, Simply cakes but Cookie People and You Took a Bakery. The winner is Low Farm Bakery. Congrats to a farm on winning this award annually since 2015. Best Barbecue is always a popular category and the W. Oriel Voters Choice Awards. Your finalists are Daddy Bob's Barbecue, J Tops Barbecue Shop, Parker's Barbecue Southern Que and The Redneck Barbecue Lab. The winner is Parker's barbecue in Wilson. Parker's opened its doors in 1946. Congratulations to Parker's barbecue for also winning best family dining. Here's another Southern delicacy. Biscuits Now The finalists for this category are Biscuit, Phil Bo Jangles Flows, Kitchen Rise, Southern Biscuits and Righteous Chicken. The Flying Biscuit Cafe. The top vote getter is Bo Jangles. The first Bo Jangles opened in 1977 in Charlotte. Bo Jangles also wins Best Sweet tea now onto another type of brew best breeze sponsored by Linwood Brewing Concern. The finalists are bearded Be brewing company Bombshell beer company Bond Brothers, Beer Company Lead would brewing concerned and vicious Vicious Brewery. The winner is Lynwood Brewing Concern, based in Raleigh since 2013. Brunch is one of my favorite meals. This category is sponsored by clouds Brewing. The finalists are Briggs, Bull and being Clouds brewing to Virna Agora and Winston's Grill. The winner is Briggs. Briggs also won this award back in 2016 and 2019. Top picks for best burgers around our Baghdadi's Burger Bar, Char Grill, Daddy Bob's Barbecue, Five Guys and the Cow Fish Sushi Burger Bar. The winner is Bad Daddy's Burger Bar. This is the fifth consecutive win for Bad Daddy's onto something sweet. The Best doughnuts. The finalists this year are Baker's dozen doughnut shop Duck Doughnuts, Crispy Cream, Mo nuts, Rise Southern Biscuits and Righteous Chicken. Winner is Crispy Cream. Crispy Cream began selling doughnuts in my hometown of Winston Salem back in 1937. I can't help but to wonder if the hot sign is on right now. When you have a special occasion to celebrate these finalists in fine dining, Have you covered Angus Barn, Margo's Restaurant, Res Restaurant, Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern and Vidrio? The winner is Angus Barn. The steakhouse has won this award each year since 2017. Congratulations again Toe Angus Barn for winning best steak and best wine selection. Angus Barn Open and rally in 1960 food trucks have become a big part of the dining scene in and around the triangle, and this year's finalists for best food trucks are a rape Culture Bhumibol's Chiba Chiba Dumpling cousins, Maine Lobster and Southern Que. The winner is cousins. Maine Lobster Cousins first won this award back in 2016. Next up, my favorite food Best fries the finalists this year. Our Burger 21 Carolina Ale House, Daddy Bob's Barbecue, Sadie's Fresh Cut Fries and Why Hill? Kitchen and Brewing. The winner is Carolina Ale House. Congratulations again to Carolina Ale House on Winning Best Wings. You can hear the story of how the Carolina Ale House was founded in Raleigh on W. R. Ailes out in about podcast. Look for podcasts in the WRL News App. Another popular category is best grocery store. The finalists are Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Trader Joe's Wegmans Whole Foods Market and the winner is Harris Teeter. The chain is based out of Matthew's, which is a suburb of Charlotte for Best hot dogs, Shorty's famous Hot dogs, Snoopy's Hot Dogs and More. The Cardinal Bar, the Roast Grill, Wicked Link Sausage Company, and the winner is Snoopy's Hot Dogs and more. The original location opened in 1978 at the corner of Wake Forest Road and Whitaker Mill Road in Raleigh. Here are your finalists in the international food category and departure to Nod, Indian restaurant SAS, Soul Taverna, Agora, Vidrio and Zira Indian Restaurant. The winner is sassy. You'll and Cecil is also the winner of Best Take Out. That's a new category this year. The finalists for best local artisan food are Cottage Lane, Kitchen Mama Salsa, Pro Epicurean Raleigh. Cheesy Taste in Jamaican Caribbean style salsa and the Winner is Raleigh Cheesy If your Cheese Lover Heads Up that this business specializes in custom charcuterie boards and will open their storefront soon in Apex. Early risers like me know just where to find the best local coffee. The finalists are If you quit, Bruise Juba. Follow coffee, Nora Cafe, Our Moments in Time and Solar Coffee Cafe. The winner is Sola Coffee Cafe. Congratulations on winning this award for the third time. If you're craving a treat, our finalists for local ice cream or frozen yogurt have everything from award winning vanilla to seasonal flavors that will have you coming back for more. And he is homemade ice cream, fresh local ice cream, good Berries, frozen custard, sunny skies, homemade ice cream and two roosters ice cream. The winner is two roosters. Two Roosters has also been named one of America's best ice cream parlors. By use a today for the freshest local produce. Check out some of these finalists. Holly Springs, Farmers Market, Perkins Orchard Quarter Farms in Nursery Farm Market, State Farmers Market and the Produce Box. The winner is the state farmers market. Here are the finalists for best in Neighborhood Bar Happy Endings Sawmill, Taff Room, The Green Monkey Why Hill Kitchen and Brewing and Yacht Club Beverage House. The winner is sawmill taproom. Here in North Carolina, many of us look forward toa warm and sunny days, no matter the season. So it's always good to know the best. Outdoor dining sponsored by Blue Water Plastic Surgery Partners, Blue Dog would Public Market Molino, Italian Kitchen and Bar, Taverna Agora, Greek Kitchen and Bar Winston's Grill. Why Hill Kitchen and Brewing. The winner is Taverna Agora, Greek kitchen and Bar. Here are the best pizza places, according Thio, Your Nominations This year. Lilies, Pizza, Nancy's Pizzeria, Oakwood Pizza Box, Pappas Pizza and Subs, Trophy Brewing and Pizza. I've had, um, all but this year's winner is the Lilies. Pizza Lilies Owner John Garrison died unexpectedly in July, and we're proud to honor his memory with 1/5 Voters Choice Award. Here are the finalists for Best Seafood this year. 42nd Street Oyster Bar, Cape Fear Seafood Company, North Carolina's Seafood restaurant at the Farmer's Market, Shuckers Oyster Bar and Grill and Tony's Taps and Oyster Company. The winner is 42nd Street Oyster Bar. And if you're craving some comfort food, here are the finalists in the Southern food category. Angie's Restaurant, Big Ends. It's a Southern Thing, Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen and oh My Lord. The winner is Big Ed's for the best sports bar. Check out these finalists this year. Big Foot Tap House, Carolina Ale House, My way Tavern Players Retreat, Woody Sports Tavern and Grill. The winner is players retreats. This is player retreats. First Voters Choice Award for the best sports bar. Congratulations. It doesn't have to be taco Tuesday to enjoy tacos from these finalists. Bar Taco Chubby's tacos, Gonza Tacos E Tequila Law Ranch, Herita Mexican Restaurant, Salt Lime Kabo Grill And the winner is Gonza Tacos E Tequila. This is Gone. Zoe's fourth win for best tacos in the WRL BCS and the finalists this year for Best Chef, sponsored by Blue Water Spot Aesthetic Laser Center, are Ashley Christenson, Katsuji Tanabe, Kyle Fletcher, Scott Crawford and Sigh, and use of the winner is Ashley Christiansen. And here the additional winners in the food and drink group. Best Bottle Shop, Yacht Club, Beverage House, Best Caterer, Rocky Top Catering, Best Car Tales, Watts and Ward. Best Deli, Village, Delhi and grew Best Distillery. Lowrider Spirits. Best Health Food, Whole Foods Market Best local chocolate but Dairy Chocolate Factory. Best nightclub legends. Best Sushi. The Cow Fish Sushi Burger Bar Congratulations to all of our food and drink winners. You can get the complete list of tonight's finalists and winners after the show on the W L'Oreal news app. Our next group of awards are for home and Finance. Here's a message from the group's sponsor, WRL Digital Solutions, W. R. A. L Digital Solutions would like to thank all the local businesses that help keep us together. Healthy, safe and strong. In 2020 you stepped up. You supported us and we are honored to support you. Thank you for the best in heating and air service providers. Look no further than these finalists. 919 Fix My A C Air Experts. Alexander Services LLC, Austin Heating and air conditioning company Michael and Son Services. The winner is Austin Heating and Air Conditioning Company. The finalists for best bank are Bank of America Coastal Federal Credit Union, Fidelity Bank, First Citizens Bank, State Employees Credit Union. Congratulations to Fidelity Bank on receiving the most votes up. Next Best Financial Advisor, sponsored by Capital Financial Advisory Group. The finalists are Brandon Norwood Capital Financial Advisory Group, Grace Ke Vontaze, Jonathan Bandy and Steward Wealth Strategies. The winner is Capital Financial Advisory Group. We're all spending more time at home these days. They become our schools, gyms and mawr. The finalists in interior design know how to beautify our homes. Brian H. Murray Interior design. Bruckner design green farm interiors and rugs, style by camera and sweetie designs and staging. The winner is green front interiors and rugs. This is the first Voters Choice award for green front. Here are the best nurseries and garden centers based on your nominations. Garden Supply Company Growing Green Nursery, Gunter's Greenhouse, Homewood Nursery and Garden Center, Logan's one stop garden shop and the winner is Logan's one stop garden shop to help you get into the house of your dreams or to sell the one you have these arm your favorite real estate agents or company. Sponsored by Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walsten Go Watson. Reality. Rebecca Ellis, Southern Oaks. Reality. The Douglas Relating Group and T Shirt Evans. Congratulations to the winner, Rebecca Ellis and if you're planning a move this year, here are the moving companies that your neighbors trust. B line moving company. Crabtree Family Moving in Storage, Excel Moving and Storage, TRO, PSA Moving Company and two men in a truck. The winner is chose a moving company. Other winners in the home and Finance group include accounting firm Lori Levin E. Best Landscaping. The award this year goes to Theresa Lawn Care, the best residential cleaning service. Best clean ever Best furniture. The award goes to Trow, PSA Thrift Store and Donation Center. Congratulations to the winners and finalists in home and finance on Now the medical award sponsored by Meiko Medical. Here's a message from the sponsor Hello, I'm Josh, a rant, chief operating officer for Mayko Medical, on behalf of the entire Mayko team. Congratulations to all the great Triangle area companies who were nominated for this year's W R. A l Voters Choice Awards. Make A was proud to sponsor this year's medical category. Help recognize those in the community who are on the front lines of keeping us healthy, whether during the current pandemic or throughout our lives. These hard working doctors, nurses, Dennis, therapist and all in the health care industry deserve our thanks and appreciation. Here are the finalists for Children's dentist Kerry, Pediatric dentistry, Midtown Pediatric dentistry, Raleigh Pediatric Dentistry, Thomas S. Clifton, D. D. S and Wake orthodontics and pediatric dentistry. The winner is Wake Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, and in the cosmetic surgeon category, the finalists are Alan Aesthetic Surgery, Amelia Aesthetics, Blue Water, Plastic Surgery Partners Deal Plastic Surgery and Raleigh Plastic Surgery Center. The winner is Blue Water Plastic Surgery Partners that four Dentistry and Cosmetic dentistry. The finalists are Christine de Laster, DDS Family and Cosmetic Dentistry. Dorian and Associates Air would family and cosmetic dentistry, mint leaf dentistry and small publicity dentistry. The winner is Christine de last year, DDS Family and Cosmetic Dentistry. This area is fortunate to have so many highly rated award winning hospitals. This category was a competitive won for best hospitals. The finalists this year are Duke University Hospital, North Carolina Speciality Hospital, U. N. C. Medical Center, You and See Rex Hospital. Wake Med Hospital. The winner is Wake Med Hospital. Congratulations also to Wake Med, E N T Head and next surgery on their win for best ear, nose and throat and tow. Wake Med. Urgent care for the winner of Best? Urgent care for the best laser and skin care provider. Your finalists are Blue Water Spot Aesthetic Laser Center, Linux Ska, Smooth LLC, Sona Dermatology and Med Spa. Synergy Face and Body, North Raleigh. The winner is Blue Water Spot Aesthetic Laser Center for the Best in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Here are the finalists Arbor O B G Y n Capital Area, O B G Y N Cam Mackenzie O B G Y n Mid Carolina Obstetrics and Gynecology. Wilkerson, Obstetrics and Gynecology. The winner is Camp Mackenzie O B G. y n for the best orthodontist. Here's who the WRL audience told us, are the best. Boven, Isar and Baker. Orthodontics, Laster, Orthodontics, Pittman, family, orthodontics, Wake orthodontics and pediatric dentistry. Walton and May Ready orthodontics. The winner is Laster Orthodontics. The finalists for Best Pediatrics are Carrie, Pediatric Center, Jeffers Man and Artman, Pediatrics Oh, Berlin Road Pediatrics, Raleigh Children and Adolescents Medicine and Raleigh Pediatrics. This year's winner is Raleigh Pediatrics, and for best psychiatrists, the finalists are Dr Alison Michael, Dr Narine, Tatum Gupta, Psychiatry Med, Psych Integrated and Mind Path Care Centers. The winner is Mind Path Care Centers. Other awards in the medical group include Best Chiropractor 919 Spine, Best Dermatologist, Blue Ridge Dermatology Associates, P A Best Family Practice, Wake Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. Best LASIK Surgery, Travers LASIK Vision Care Best Optometrist, Wake Family I Care Best Physical Therapists Emerge Ortho. Congratulations to all of the medical winners and finalists. We greatly appreciate your dedication, especially those working tirelessly on the front line during the pandemic Aunt. Here's our final award. Group of the night Professional entertainment up First, the Best Athlete award. The finalists this year are crystal done with the North Carolina Courage DeVante Graham, Charlotte Hornets. Jacob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes. Jackie Hunt, Bro Karisma. Amputee ultra runner Justin Williams, Carolina Hurricanes. The winner is Jackie Hunt. Bro Karisma. Congratulations. Our team caught up with Jackie recently. Toe. Learn more about her story. Like many of us growing up, Jackie hunts Bergsma Hate it to run. I was the kind of person I used to hide in the bathroom when we used to have any track days of school. But when a cancer diagnosis in 2000 and one resulted in the amputation of her left leg, she got the urge to do something she took for granted when she was able, People tell, you know, when you just like no, I wanna be normal. I want to do what everyone else is doing Why not? Brush? MMA might have been determined to be normal, but it took many years to embrace what her new normal Even Waas took me a long time. To just even look in the mirror because I just thought I was ugly. Her baby steps towards self acceptance turned into quick strides in 2016 when she first hit the ground running, and she's been blading trails ever since. It kind of felt like a bit of a freedom. I was doing something that everyone said you couldn't dio. It just made me feel alive. This run journey has also given her a new sense of strength. I can look in the mirror again and I'm like, Hell, yeah, this this person could run 100 miles and yeah, I feel proud. Just four years and many ultramarathons climbs and a world record later to see how my body Uh, but Russia has plenty to be proud of, but her biggest stride is still on the horizon as she plans to run a 240 mile race in Utah this fall. My only goal there is to not die get out in the desert. It's that infectious enthusiasm and determination that continues to add to a story where the unintentional theme has been inspiring others. I guess so many messages on social media and people just saying because of you, I've gone out to run because of you. I've done this or that it wants my heart cause it's like, Oh, this is amazing. This is exactly this is what I love doing And there's Bean. Amazing Journey, Casey hints. WRL Sports Raleigh Congrats again to Jackie on her win up Next here. The finalists for local philanthropist Jim Goodnight, SAS, Joe DeLoach. Why Realty Group. Josh Monaghan, Carolina Kettle, Terrence and Torry Holt Holt Brothers Incorporated Van Your Angus Barn. The winner is Jim. Goodnight. It's no secret that the triangle is an innovation hub, and we're recognizing the most innovative business leader. Here's Who You nominated, Heather Chandler, Whole Brain Escape. Jason Queen, Monarch Property Company and Raleigh Restoration Group. Miranda Dalzell Gather Group and company. Tim Sweeney Epic games. Tom Snyder Riot. The winner is Tim Sweeney. Listen up. Here are some of your favorite local podcasters. 919 Beer. Holly Springs Deep Dive intelligently Ratchet! Already you on stage straight to tape. The winner is 919 Beer hosted by 99 9. The fans. Joe Obvious. Adam S. Bach and Wayne hold thes. Next finalists are worth of follow. If you want to stay in the know, here are your social influencer favorites Amber Watson, Chris Shonda Jefferson Que Brian, Meghan Nichols and Meghan Grant. The winner is Que Fry in Congrats, Kate here are the finalists for best veterinarian Dr Jared Calmly, Dr Jody Reed, Dr John Dick, Dr Karen Bray and Dr Page Wages. The winner for the second year in a row is Doctor Jodi Read. And now for Woman of the Year, chosen by the W O. R. A L audience. This is the fourth award of its kind for the voter's choice, and we're so proud that all of these finalists call North Carolina their home. The finalists are Kristina Cook. Dr Emily Sick Forbid it. Jones, Seaford, Rose, Karen Levert and wrap City. The winner is Kristina Cooke are Debra Morgan spoke with Christina in December about what she plans to do next. N. C. State alumna Kristina Cook could become one of the first women to stand on the moon. She is one of 18 astronauts named by NASA to train for its Artemus Moon landing program. The space agency is aiming for a landing by 2024. And right now, Kristina Cook is joining us Live via Zoom. Thank you so much for joining us. Christina. Thank you for having me. Well, you know, 2024 really doesn't seem that far away. How likely do you think it will be that you will be there on the moon in three years? Possibly. It certainly does seem close, especially in our industry of long lead times and big missions that we take on. You know, I think that it is very likely we can do this and we have a plan laid out for doing it. We're meeting all the plan milestones and naming the crew is, you know, right on time in terms of that, those milestones. So looking forward to 2024 what is your training like for this mission? Well, the training for the mission actually will not start until the specific flight crews are named. And those missions, they're going to be the ones that with Cruise on board Artemus to which will be in, like 2023 then Artemus three. Is you highlighted going to the surface of the moon in 2024. Usually it's about a two year training programs, so we would expect those specific cruise to be named next year. For now, we're going to be working with the engineers doing some of the design work, offering the crew perspective and kind of just getting integrated with the teams as the development goes forward. You know, most of us gaze up at the moon looking at its beauty. What do you see when you look up in the night sky? I see the same as you all. You know, growing up in North Carolina, the night sky is one of the things that used to inspire me. It's one of the things that brought me to want to be an astronaut. Looking up through those pine trees and seeing the stars through them from my backyard was a great source of inspiration. It reminded me how big the universe is and everywhere we could explore. And I also love looking at the moon. I remember I got a telescope from my aunt one year and we used to go out and look at the mood together through it. So, you know, I see ah, beacon of exploration. I see somewhere that we went one time and that it's time to return to time to stay, time to take the lessons that we can learn. They're both scientifically and for all humanity in terms of exploration and understanding our place in the universe. So I see the future very inspiring. For sure. You've already broken records for women in space. So we want you to keep thinking right now as you wait to see what crew will be named what you will say when you step foot on the moon. Because we know that people for generations will repeat that. Yep. It's gonna be something really important. Indeed. I haven't started thinking about that exactly yet, But, you know, I do think messages are important. And it is gonna be a moment that we all look Thio and look back on historically. So those words are very important. One small step astronaut, Kristina Cook. Thanks so much for joining us. And good luck. Thank you for having me. Thank you. I appreciate it. Isn't Christina out of this world? Congratulations again to her on being named Our Woman of the Year. Other winners in the professional and entertainment group include local band Your Mama's New Boyfriend. Best local music artist goes to Juice Lord Best D J D. J. Unique. The award for best event Planner goes to Lily Rose Events and the Best in North Carolina. Author Nicholas Sparks, best local photographer T and T Photography and Congratulations to best WRL TV personality Elizabeth Gardner. Ah, huge congratulations to all of our winners and finalists. That is it for the WRL Voters Choice Awards presented by Martin and Jones and a special thank you again toe. All of our sponsors will be making the final results across all categories alive on the home screen of the W Oriel News app. That will happen momentarily, and you can search the app using the keyword VCs. You'll see the W. Oriel Voters Choice Awards at the top of that list are winners each year are chosen by you and your neighbors across North Carolina who log on to w r a l dot com to nominate, vote and make your voices heard. Thank you for participating and get this. We will begin taking nominations for the 2021 WRL Voters Choice Awards this September. If you haven't already, we'd love to see your reactions to tonight's virtual event Tag your videos and photos on social media with the hashtag W Oriel VCs. Thank you and good night. Yeah, e