Mayor Mila Besich of the Town of Superior has been named the distinguished recipient of the 2026 Rural Hero Award. This award, created by the Arizona Center for Rural Leadership (CENTRL), recognizes individuals who are not Project CENTRL alumni but have made exceptional contributions to supporting and invigorating rural Arizona communities.
Mayor Besich accepted the award at the Project CENTRL Class 34 graduation ceremony held on June 5 in Flagstaff. During the ceremony, Mike Montiel, a Superior resident, graduated from Class 34 and Manuel “Manny” Guzman V, Executive Director of Rebuild Superior, Inc., was introduced as part of the new Class 35.
Through her leadership, partnerships and unwavering advocacy for Superior and rural Arizona, Mayor Besich has consistently advanced the spirit and mission of Project CENTRL, whether through recruiting participants, hosting alumni events or serving on speaking panels. Her dedication continues to make a meaningful impact and a lasting legacy across communities well beyond those she directly serves.
Join us in congratulating Mayor Besich on this well-deserved award!
