Tulsa is honoring six people Monday evening whose work has strengthened the city's Asian communities, as it hands out its Asian Affairs Luminary Awards for the third year.

The city's Asian Affairs Commission holds the ceremony at 6 p.m. inside the council meeting room at Tulsa's downtown City Hall. Deputy Mayor Krystal Reyes is scheduled to speak. Guests will share refreshments before the awards are handed out.

Six honorees

This year's Business Leadership Award goes to Nilesh Bhow. Dr. Faisal Wasi is the Champion of Workforce Development. Dr. Mohammad Zahid Perwaiz receives the Community Leadership Award. Nuredin Giayash earns the Excellence in Education Award. Sultana Xiong is the Rising Star, while Libby Hobbs takes home the Community Voice Award.

The awards were created to recognize people, businesses, teachers and groups that have made a real difference in education, job training, civic life, business and culture among Tulsa's Asian residents.

A flood of nominations

Commission Chair Parisa Pilehvar said the panel received more than 130 nominations this year, a reminder of how many neighbors are making a difference. She said the honorees show the many ways people can lead, serve and lift up a community. Their impact reaches the whole city.

For anyone who cannot attend, the city plans to share a recording of the ceremony afterward on its government access TV channel.