The Third Annual Marty Awards will be held Saturday night, May 10, 2025, at the Jewish Community Center, in Overland Park. Kan. This year’s theme this is: Party Like It’s 1925. The community is invited to attend this prestigious event and help us celebrate the past, present and future of BBYO in Kansas City. This year’s awards include: Aleph of the Year; BBG of the Year; Senior of the Year; Miller C. Brown Program of the Year; Underclassman of the Year; Mensch of the Year; and Mr. Two’s.

This year, Two’s is introducing a new honor: the Mnookin Memorial AZA #2 Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is named in memory of Kansas City chemist Nathan Mnookin, the founder of the AZA movement and the adviser of AZA’s first two chapters, whose vision and dedication paved the way for countless young Jewish leaders.

The Marty Awards debuted on May 12, 2023 in the Social Hall at the Jewish Community Center. The event was the vision of Miller Brown, who envisioned creating an Oscars-style formal awards ceremony honoring the accomplishments and achievement of members of BBYO.

The first Marty’s was hosted by Nordaunian seniors Aaron Yurman and Max Rudman and featured a 20-minute red carpet pre-show on Instagram Live hosted by Two’s Alephs Shaefer Spizman, Sam Hochler and Michael Furey, hilarious improv by your hosts, the introduction of a much smaller Marty Ball (“Baby Marty”) and lots of paparazzi on hand to capture all the moments.

“It’s all happening,” Brown said.

The 2nd annual Marty Awards was held May 11, 2024 at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah and proved to be even bigger and better. Two’s seniors Eli Maker, Miles Cohen and Tad Lambert were the host for the evening. In total, 130 tickets were sold to the event. New to the event was the addition of the announcement and crowning of Two’s “Belle of the Ball.” The winner was Julia Luetje. Nordaunian’s Justin Parmet was the winner of Aleph of the Year, while Maggie Goldberg was the winner of BBG of the Year. Two’s/Nordau Dinner with Chef Que was the winner of Program of the Year. Aleph Judah Bassin and his father, Zachary Bassin, presented the Mensch of the Year to Two’s Shaefer Spizman. Nordaunain’s Simon Balanoff was the winner of Senior of the Year; Norah Pabst was winner of Underclassman of the Year. Two’s Advisor David Wexler was presented a plaque for Advisor of the Year and signed a freshly-wrapped Marty Ball. Wexler joined Two’s freshmen class in thanking Two’s senior class. Alephs Danny Martin and Rex Hebberd served as the bartenders, serving such non-alcoholic beverages as “The Wex on the Beach” (Lemonade With Ginger Ale), “The Hot Marty” (Shirley Temple With Orange Juice) and “The Furious Furey” (Cherry Limeade).

The second Marty Awards also featured a Marty Ball Lifting Contest, the debut of Two’s original videos “Back Two’s The Future” and “Back Two’s The Future Part II,” a celebration of the chapter’s 100th anniversary and a toast to “another 100 years.”