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MARQUETTE -- Diana Sundberg has been named the 2026 recipient of the Tom Baldini Award, an annual honor presented by Connect Marquette to recognize community and civic engagement in Marquette County.
Sundberg, a lifelong Ishpeming resident, was selected from nominations submitted by members of the public.
The award was established in honor of Tom Baldini, a longtime Connect Marquette supporter and active member of the Marquette community who died in December 2017. It seeks to encourage leadership and civic involvement while recognizing individuals who demonstrate a commitment to their community.
Sundberg’s community service has included serving on the Greater Ishpeming-Negaunee Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the West End Advisory Council. She also co-founded Hematite Power Packs, an effort to help ensure local children have access to food when they are away from school.
She now serves as West End Outreach & Services Specialist for the Lake Superior Community Partnership and as the Ishpeming Downtown Development Authority liaison.
In those roles, Sundberg works with residents, businesses and community organizations while advocating for the West End and supporting efforts to strengthen Ishpeming.
Connect Marquette described Sundberg as someone who believes community involvement means “getting on the ground and doing the work.”
Her focus, the organization said, is on bringing people together, building connections and turning ideas into action rather than seeking recognition.
A new component of the award was introduced this year. The recipient may select a Marquette County nonprofit to receive a $200 donation from Connect Marquette in the recipient’s name.
Sundberg chose the Ishpeming Kriskindlmarkt, a new holiday tradition coming to downtown Ishpeming in 2026. Organizers describe it as the Upper Peninsula’s first Christmas market.
Sundberg’s community involvement is rooted in her lifelong connection to Ishpeming, where she was born and raised and now lives with her husband and three sons.
For Sundberg, Connect Marquette said, community service is about giving back to the place she calls home and working alongside others to help shape its future.
More information about Connect Marquette and the Tom Baldini Award is available at ConnectMarquette.org.