Over the years, our beloved Santa Cruz County has housed exciting, creative people with innovative genius. Many locals cook up new businesses and come up with cutting-edge ideas, making our humble coastal community a birthplace of numerous technological and inspirational breakthroughs.
Such change-makers deserve to be revered – and through this mission, the NEXTies were created.
The NEXTies began in 2012 to honor those in Santa Cruz who inspire the community. This annual award show highlights the groundbreakers, trailblazers and icons who are tirelessly working to improve our society. NEXTies has been THE Santa Cruz County award show celebrating the up and coming doers in our county. Past winners include 11th Hour in 2019, musician Taylor Rae in 2017, Venus Spirits in 2016, Nina Simon from the MAH in 2013, and Jacob Martinez from Digital NEST in 2012.
Community members nominate the amazing people in their lives for different categories and then a community committee meets to go through the list and decide the winners.
This year, join Lookout and Event Santa Cruz at Woodhouse Brewing on May 17th for the 2024 12th Annual NEXTies: An Award Show celebrating the up-and-coming superstars and change-makers of Santa Cruz County.
Dress up and come out for an evening in honor of those in Santa Cruz County who inspire the community. Enjoy food and drink for purchase by great local vendors, listen to amazing music performances and celebrate the people who make Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz. Remember, this annual awards show is a dressy affair, so put on your best fits and jackets (it will be outdoors). It is sure to be the best one yet. Get your ticket today for the NEXTies 2024.
Our 2024 NEXTies winners
TERRA & SELF
NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
ALWA GORDON
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
TRAM VU AND CHELSEA CABRERA (OWNERS OF MARIPOSA COFFEE)
ENTREPRENEUR(S) OF THE YEAR
LANCE EBERT (SC BREAD BOY)
FOODIE OF THE YEAR
EUGENIA RENTERIA
VISUAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
DOUBLE MEAT PLEASE
CONTENT CREATOR OF THE YEAR
MARGINS WINE
BEST IN BOOZE OF THE YEAR
ARTE DEL CORAZON
NON-PROFIT OF THE YEAR
CLIMATIZE
INNOVATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
DAISY NUÑEZ
GIVEBACK PERSON OF THE YEAR
TRESTLES
BAND OF THE YEAR
THE MIDWAY
FOOD BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
MOTION PACIFIC DANCE
COMMUNITY BUILDER OF THE YEAR
NAMI SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
HEALTH & WELLNESS
SOQUEL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM
STUDENT ATHLETE(S) OF THE YEAR
IMAN MOSHARI
YOUNG LEADER OF THE YEAR
THE WILY MINXES
PERFORMING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
DANIEL “NANE” ALEJANDREZ – SANTA CRUZ BARRIOS UNIDOS
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
RUBY VASQUEZ
EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
AYLANA ZANVILLE
SURFER OF THE YEAR
About Event Santa Cruz
Born out of a desire to showcase and spread the creative energy that makes Santa Cruz so amazing, Event Santa Cruz grew swiftly beyond the bounds of your typical event-hosting company and now serves as a multimedia outpost for all things local.
About Lookout Santa Cruz
A three-year-old full-service news, information and entertainment media company focusing on the happenings of Santa Cruz County. Lookout can provide you with the news of the day, keep you up to date on COVID numbers in the county, share local job postings & hosts a comprehensive event calendar. Lookout is a public benefit company whose mission is to strengthen the community and democracy in Santa Cruz County, donating 10% of every membership sold to a local non-profit.
The NEXTies are generously sponsored by Bay Federal Credit Union, Arts Council Santa Cruz County, Pedro Gonzalez/Farmers Insurance & Rootstock Collective
