On the weekend before Father’s Day, a local organization took time to recognize five exceptional fathers as the “Y2K11 Dadz of the Year.”

This was the second year Y2K Academy has given out the awards, which include dad of the year, single dad of the year, Christian dad of the year, community dad of the year and second chance dad of the year.

The academy announced the winners at a ceremony held June 12 at Tabernacle Christian Church. The winners received an award along with a new suit.

Y2K Academy founder Princella Johnson said she was extremely pleased with the 15 applications the group received for the awards.

“It was very difficult to choose,” she said. “The community pulled together and recommended some highly deserving candidates for the nominations.”

Johnson said she especially impressed that the people who nominated the men were strong advocates for the nominees.

John Wyche of Southampton County, who was named the Y2K Dad of the Year, had a fan base made up of his wife and eight children to support him.

Wyche said he was surprised to hear his name called because he never thought he would win.

“I didn’t think anything else about being nominated for father of the year until it came up,” he said. “I was happy to be nominated, not thinking I would be the winner.”

Johnson said the award committee named Wyche the dad of the year because he has been a good dad to so many children.

Wyche’s children range from adulthood to elementary school age, three of which are his wife’s children from a previous relationship. He also cares for his deceased brother’s son.

“Because of the fact that he was willing to take on responsibility for all of those children and he didn’t bring them into the world, we thought that was remarkable,” Johnson said. “It really made him stand out as a father.”

Johnson added she was impressed that Wyche, at 71 years old, attends all of his children’s activities and school events in addition to keeping them active in the community.

Wyche said being a father is never easy, but the key to being a good dad is keeping the communication open with your kids.

“You have to communicate with the children,” he said. “You have to see what their problems are and see what their situations are like.”

Wyche said good communication sometimes means you have to talk to each of your children differently based on their ages, personalities and other factors.

“It’s not easy, but you try to do the best you can for them,” he said.

In addition to Wyche, four other men were honored.

Gerald Greene was named the single dad of the year. Johnson said Greene is the center of his four children’s lives and works hard for them.

The Christian dad of the year award went to the Rev. Sylvester Silver, who Johnson said is the “epitome of a strong Christian man.”

Darrin Holmes was awarded the community servant dad of the year, specifically for his work helping former criminals get back on track.

Jermaine Massenburg was named the second chance dad of the year. Johnson said after a period of not being present in his children’s lives, Massenburg has worked hard to be a better father to them.