The 14th Annual Deucey Awards: Celebrating Lansing’s Most Inspiring Stories and Creative Community Voices

There’s something special about the Deucey Awards every single year, but the 14th Annual Deucey Awards Livestream hit differently. Maybe it was the energy. Maybe it was the record-breaking vote totals. Or maybe it was the fact that this year marked not only the 14th Deucey Awards, but also 25 years of UnoDeuce telling stories across Lansing and beyond.

Whatever the reason, one thing became crystal clear during this year’s livestream: community storytelling matters. From accessibility advocacy and youth mentorship to emotional wellness and campus innovation, the 2025 Deucey Awards showcased organizations doing meaningful work and using video to bring those stories to life.

And honestly? The competition was intense.

As votes poured in from supporters, families, coworkers, and entire communities rallying behind their favorite nominees, categories tightened into nail-biters. Some races were separated by just a handful of votes, proving how invested people were in these stories and the organizations behind them.

“Absolutely bananas. More votes than we’ve ever gotten in this awards situation.”

A Celebration Bigger Than Awards

The Deucey Awards have always been about more than trophies. They’re about recognizing creativity, highlighting impact, and giving organizations a platform to share what makes their mission important.

This year’s livestream added even more excitement with upgraded production, behind-the-scenes conversations, and a deeper look at the people behind the videos. Every nominee brought something unique to the table, and the result was a showcase filled with emotion, innovation, and authentic storytelling.

Small Business Superstar: Able Eyes

Able Eyes captured the Small Business Superstar category with 52% of the vote.

Able Eyes focuses on accessibility through immersive virtual tours that help individuals with disabilities explore spaces before ever stepping inside. Their work spans parks, universities, businesses, and public institutions, helping users evaluate accessibility features at their own pace.

Think about how valuable that is for someone navigating physical disabilities, sensory sensitivities, or invisible challenges like anxiety. Instead of walking into an unfamiliar environment blindly, users can explore everything beforehand—from ramps and entrances to bathroom layouts and counter heights.

“You can turn and look at counter heights or how high a paper towel dispenser is.”

This year’s featured project highlighted Abrams Planetarium, combining interactive virtual tours with narrative-driven video storytelling. The addition of video created a richer experience, helping visitors not only understand the layout, but also feel connected to the mission and atmosphere behind the space.

For Able Eyes founder Evan Winters, the collaboration opened up new creative possibilities and reinforced how impactful visual storytelling can be.

Most Inspirational Video: Positive Somebody

If there was one category that pulled at emotions the hardest, it was Most Inspirational Video.

Positive Somebody dominated the category with an overwhelming 74% of the vote, and it’s easy to see why. The nonprofit focuses on teaching children emotional regulation, positive coping skills, and healthy mental wellness practices through hands-on tools and educational programs.

At the heart of the organization is founder Jenny’s own story. Growing up with trauma and undiagnosed ADHD, she understood firsthand how difficult emotional regulation could be without proper support.

Rather than allowing those experiences to define her negatively, she transformed them into a mission to help children develop the tools she wished she had growing up. “We just want kids to know that they can have a positive life through positive coping and emotion regulation.”

The organization’s Positive Pack program continues expanding into schools, equipping kids with practical wellness tools while encouraging healthy conversations around mental health.

And the video itself? It became more than promotional content. It evolved into a fundraising tool, a sponsorship driver, and a powerful way to communicate the organization’s purpose in a deeply personal way.

Most Entertaining Video: MSU Landscape Services

The closest race of the night belonged to the Most Entertaining Video category, where MSU Landscape Services edged out the competition by just one vote.

One. Vote.

That razor-thin margin perfectly captured the excitement surrounding this year’s livestream.

Representing one of the largest university landscape operations in the country, MSU Landscape Services manages over 5,300 acres across Michigan State University’s campus. Their responsibilities stretch far beyond mowing lawns—covering snow removal, river management, seasonal displays, sustainability efforts, and long-term campus planning.

“Anything outdoors on campus is kind of under our purview.”

What made the winning video resonate was its ability to spotlight the expertise, dedication, and pride behind the scenes. Instead of simply showing landscaping work, the story focused on the people doing it and the impact they have on campus life every day.

The response inside MSU leadership was immediate, sparking interest in creating additional departmental storytelling projects moving forward.

Most Outstanding Video: Big Brothers Big Sisters Capital Region

Closing out the night was the biggest category of all: Most Outstanding Video.

In another incredibly tight race, Big Brothers Big Sisters Capital Region secured the win for the second consecutive year, finishing just seven votes ahead of the runner-up.

Their video centered around mentorship, connection, and the power of consistent support between “Bigs” and “Littles.” But what truly elevated the project were the firsthand stories shared by the children themselves.

“To hear our Littles say they have better relationships with peers and family members…really inspiring.” Those authentic moments transformed the video from a simple organizational spotlight into something much more powerful—a reminder of how life-changing mentorship can be.

The organization continues growing through community partnerships, fundraising events, and outreach efforts designed to create lifelong relationships that positively shape children’s futures.

More Than Just Videos

At its core, the Deucey Awards represent something bigger than content creation. They celebrate people who care deeply about improving lives, strengthening communities, and telling stories worth sharing.

This year’s winners highlighted accessibility, emotional wellness, mentorship, education, and innovation—all through the lens of authentic storytelling. And judging by the record-breaking engagement, Lansing showed up in a big way to support them.

As Uno Deuce enters its 25th year, one thing remains unchanged: great stories connect people. Whether it’s a nonprofit helping kids, a business improving accessibility, or a university department shaping campus life, every organization honored during the Deucey Awards reminded viewers why local storytelling still matters.

And if this year’s livestream proved anything, it’s that the community is more than ready for what comes next.