Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky headlined the second annual Journal Star Best of Central Illinois Preps awards gala Monday night in Peoria.

The event, held at the Peoria Civic Center, honored the Journal Star newspaper's all-area players, state champions and state medalists as well as the winners of six special awards.

"This was awesome," Trubisky said, according to an article in the Journal Star. "I hope these kids really appreciate it. It's great for them to be honored this way and to be able to be with their families."

Selected by the Bears with the second pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Trubisky will enter his second NFL season with high expectations. As a prep star in Mentor, Ohio, the quarterback won the state's "Mr. Football" award in 2012.