The Marty Awards, an Oscar-style awards show and fundraiser hosted by Two’s AZA, returned Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Jewish Community Center, bringing together BBYO members, alumni, families and community supporters for an evening celebrating leadership, brotherhood and the chapter’s historic legacy. Now in its fourth year, the Marty Awards has become one of the signature traditions of the chapter, honoring outstanding members while highlighting more than a century of Jewish teen involvement in Kansas City. This year’s event carried added significance as Two’s celebrated its 102nd birthday. A total of 27 Two’s members attended the event.

This year’s winners were:

• Underclassman of the Year: Zach Reif
• Senior of the Year: Bea Colbert
• Mensch of the Year: Shia Kolb
• Mentor of the Year: Will Widman
• Program of the Year: Saadia/Nordau Haunted House
• BBG of the Year: Cleo Federlein
• Aleph of the Year: Naftali Tilove

More than 160 guests attended Two’s AZA’s third annual Marty Awards on May 10, 2025, at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, Kan, for a Roaring 20’s Party, shattering the event’s attendance record. Attendees celebrated the achievements of KC BBYO, strolled down the red carpet, noshed on gourmet desserts and partied like it was 1925. A total of 165 guests were in attendance and the chapter raised over $11,000 in donations and ticket sales. Twenty-nine Two’s members were present.

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.”