As 2024 has ended, the new year brings even more to celebrate as we move forward. The Club Penguin Armies administration is proud to officially announce the Person of the Year 2024.
Person of the Year title is a prestigious award traditionally given each year to individuals who have made a significant impact on the community. Those selected for this honor have left a notable mark within the community during that year. This tradition has continued since 2012. Multiple candidates have not only embodied their army but also influenced the entire community. The significance of the Person of the Year award lies in the fact that it recognizes individuals regardless of whether they are seen as controversial figures, anti-heroes, or protagonists. The focus is on those prominent figures who have had a greater influence than a typical community member, leaving a lasting legacy.
As is tradition, before unveiling the plaques for the runner-ups and the winner, we would like to take a moment to honor those who deserve special recognition for making this year extraordinary and leaving a lasting impact on the community. Congratulations to the Honorable Mentions, including 32OP, Shallissa, and Shinzo for consistently bringing challenges to the environment, inspiring others to strive for excellence, and establishing themselves as notable figures in the community. Honorable Mentions also go to Coolguy and Edu for their continuous dedication to creating a thriving community and their contributions to the headlines this year.
We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Dino for creating the stunning Person of the Year graphics. Dino’s dedication and effort in crafting these beautiful designs are truly appreciated.
Now, without further ado, we present to you the Club Penguin Armies 2024 Person of the Year.
The runner-ups have been ordered alphabetically.
Fitsuki: Runner-up
The Vengeful Pharoh
Silent, yet devious. Coming off of a strong launch in 2023, it was only natural for Fitsuki to continue his streak of silent, yet ruthless infamy. Becoming the official Elite Guardians of Club Penguin main leader in late 2023, Fitsuki continued to lead EGCP throughout all of 2024, preserving its status as a dominant force.
Playing a critical role in successfully defending against five armies during the Christmas Crusade, Fitsuki gave everyone a taste of his unrelenting behavior by refusing to accept a neutral peace. He also played a significant role in EGCP’s first-ever March Madness participation, securing third place. Of course, this success did not come without controversy, as Fitsuki faced consequences for pushing boundaries a little too far.
Conflicts such as Operation: Saladin and Operation: Visigoth resulted in near clean-sweeps, cementing EGCP as a dominant force. While these victories, alongside the Around the World Cup triumph, were largely team efforts, Fitsuki’s relentless and brutal approach during negotiations could not be understated.
By late July, Fitsuki had fully taken the helm, leading EGCP into a 100-battle conflict against the Army of Club Penguin. Winning 40% of the battles, Fitsuki’s unyielding determination ensured EGCP fought to the very end, refusing to surrender. His pride and thirst for domination drove him to continue attacking ACP at all costs, culminating in a massive raid alongside Secret Service.
Fitsuki’s reputation for infamy extended beyond diplomacy, as he became highly controversial even within EGCP. Perhaps the final straw was his attempt to seize complete control of the army, leading to his coup. A determined leader, Fitsuki did not go down without ensuring the total destruction of everything around him, ultimately resulting in the closure of EGCP amidst controversy.
Indeed, Fitsuki might not say much, but when he does, expect a flame.
~Cobra, Former Elite Guardians of Club Penguin Leader
Joelfreak: Runner-up
The Master of Puppets
Building armies from the ground up is no easy feat, but leaders like JoelFreak have proven that with determination and vision, even the smallest of beginnings can be turned into a monumental success story. In a community often dominated by veteran leaders and established armies, Joel has emerged as a fresh influence, building armies from the ground up and turning them into competitive forces capable of challenging even the strongest of armies. His story is just a testimony to what can be achieved with hard work and dedication to start from nothing and rise to the top in the game of CPA.
JoelFreak began his journey in February 2020 when he founded the Miners of CPO, choosing to make his own army rather than joining an established one. It was this decision that epitomized his determination to make something out of nothing and set in motion his future as a leader who would rise to challenges with a desire for building and elevating armies from the ground up. He later led the Marines to several notable achievements, including guiding the Marines to victories over Pizza Federation and Templars in subsequent wars. In 2021, Joel joined the revived Secret Service, where he played a key role in their rise to #1 on the Small/Medium Top Ten and their breakthrough into the Major Top Ten, a rare accomplishment for Small/Medium armies.
In 2024, JoelFreak returned to the Secret Service as leader and took them to new heights. However, his return was met with significant backlash, as the army faced criticism for back-and-forth badmouthing. Despite this, the constant discussions about Joel and his leadership only amplified his relevance within the community. Far from being deterred, the controversy fueled his motivation to work harder and solidify his influence.
Under Joel’s leadership, Secret Service not only attained major status but also won several #1 placements, including the Tropical Rumble tournament. By forming alliances like the International United Alliance with the Aliens, Special Weapons and Tactics, and Squids, Joel cemented his role as the “Master of Puppets,” skillfully pulling the strings and orchestrating a network of smaller armies to strengthen SS’s dominance. Through his strategic maneuvers, he positioned SS as a powerhouse, dominating the battlegrounds.
SS also was able to reach the finals of the Project Conquest: Blood Bowl and delivered a crushing 10-0 war victory over the Templars, who were the #1 army at the time. Under Joel’s guidance, the army climbed to a top-three position, a testament to his ability to turn controversy into triumph and elevate SS from its humble beginnings to unparalleled prominence.
JoelFreak later took on the challenge of leading the Doritos of Club Penguin, restoring the army to its former glory and surpassing expectations. Under his leadership, DCP quickly became the most dominant force in CPA, reaching sizes of up to 90 during major events and consistently securing the #1 spot in the Top Ten. DCP’s remarkable revival included reaching the finals of Christmas Chaos XIV, an impressive feat for a newly revived army competing against established rivals. His leadership redefined what it means to be a new influence within the Club Penguin Army community, proving that even out of nothing, greatness can be achieved.
-32OP, Doritos of Club Penguin Leader
link3000: Runner-up
The Enduring Rebel
Some leaders carve their names into history with brief flashes of brilliance, while others endure, building a legacy brick by brick. Link3000 represents the latter—a leader whose steady hand and sharp vision have guided the Rebel Penguin Federation through some of its most defining moments in recent times.
Link3000 began their journey in June 2020 during the COVID-19 surge, quickly proving themself as a dedicated and capable member of the RPF. Rising swiftly through the ranks, they soon joined the High Command team before assuming leadership in May 2022. From the very start, Link showcased strategic brilliance, guiding RPF to victories in major tournaments such as AUSIA Arena and Christmas Chaos XIII, and playing a pivotal role in the Summer Sovereignty War against the Templars, followed by World War 8 in 2023.
However, it was in 2024 that Link3000 truly cemented their legacy. Co-leading alongside Gabgeirl, they spearheaded RPF through one of its most successful years to date. Under their leadership, RPF remained undefeated in a prolonged and dramatic war against the Secret Service, a campaign that highlighted Link’s resilience and tactical expertise. The war saw RPF make huge territorial gains, establishing their dominance on not just the battlefield, but the map as well. Link’s efforts earned them the esteemed title of RPF Icon in the RPF Hall of Fame—an honour reserved for some of RPF’s most impactful leaders.
Throughout 2024, Link’s leadership fostered remarkable growth within RPF. Server membership surged past 15,000—marking the largest growth the army had seen in years—and a new generation of staff rose under their mentorship. Their crowning achievement came in the finals of Christmas Chaos XIV, where RPF achieved a flawless 3-0 victory against Doritos of Club Penguin, with an astonishing peak size of 90+ penguins in attendance.
Beyond the battlefield, Link’s influence extended into the wider Club Penguin Army community through their involvement in the Top Ten Committee across multiple CPA organisations. Their dedication to fostering cooperation and diplomacy between armies has solidified their reputation as both a tactician and a statesperson. They have earned the respect of people from all corners of the community, even those who traditionally don’t align with or favour RPF.
With each passing year, Link3000 has proven themself not only as a capable leader but as an enduring symbol of the strength and legacy of the Rebel Penguin Federation. Their unyielding commitment to excellence, both on and off the battlefield, leaves no doubt as to why they are a deserving recipient of this award.
~Elexonck, Former Rebel Penguin Federation Leader
Mchappy: Runner-up
The Ultimate Architect
Mchappy has been a prominent figure in Club Penguin Armies, steadily rising through the ranks of the media department to Editor-in-Chief in October 2022. Consistently delivering high-quality content and unwavering support to the media team, his efforts ultimately earned him a well-deserved promotion within the league. After a year and three months, former Chief Executive Producer Wynn announced his promotion to Chief Executive Producer, alongside Disha, who was serving as an Executive Producer at the time.
Throughout his tenure as Chief Executive Producer, Mchappy has been a reliable presence in the league, maintaining stability while introducing innovative ideas to foster creativity and engagement within the community. Transitioning from Wynn’s era to his own was no small task, as he stepped into big shoes and played a crucial role in shaping CPA into the stable and robust organization it is today. A key aspect of his administration has been his ability to innovate within the league, particularly through the introduction of new tournaments. Notable examples from this year include the highly impactful Around the World Cup and the revamped Legends Cup, which he transformed into a double-elimination format. These events have not only been highly successful but have also set a new benchmark for tournament organization and execution in Club Penguin Armies.
Even in the absence of a map early in his tenure as an administrator, Mchappy demonstrated resourcefulness by keeping the community engaged with his leadership and creative initiatives. Once the map was introduced, he played a large role in shaping its development, contributing to discussions and ensuring it met the community’s needs effectively.
During his administration, Mchappy faced considerable backlash at times. However, this did not deter him from driving the league to new heights. His efforts extended beyond internal operations, leaving a lasting impact on the broader community. Mchappy’s contributions made him a well-known figure in the army community, with his name and influence recognized by many as a testament to his dedication and administration. The foundation Mchappy laid during his administration continues to influence the league today, with his innovations serving as a blueprint for future heads of CPA and other leagues. Mchappy’s work has become an integral part of the army community’s history, and his name will undoubtedly remain associated with progress and dedication for years to come.
– Mare, Chief Executive Producer
ugly: Winner
The Untamed Clover
Transitions of power from one leader onto the next rarely ever go as planned. This is especially prevalent when leaders who made a massive impact on their army pass the torch onto newly appointed leaders entrusting the future of the army to them. Often the absence of an established leader leaves large shoes to fill and even higher expectations from their army and the wider community. This creates an insurmountable burden of pressure that new leaders must carry on their backs even in cases of solo leading in hopes of finding early success. While many leaders crumble under the pressure and fail to outshine their predecessors, others welcome the challenge in full stride and set their sights on nothing less than perfection, with the goal of raising the bar even higher. Ugly exemplifies this categorization of rising to the challenge and fighting no matter how dire the situation may appear in the moment.
Ugly first joined the community in February 2020 as a recruit for Aliens before working his way up to leadership in several armies such as Fire Warriors and even winning some S/M tournaments along the way. In June 2023, Ugly joined the Army of Club Penguin and quickly ascended the ranks from mod into HCOM. Proving himself dependable while playing a pivotal role in ACP’s successful 2023, it’s no surprise he earned his spot to ascend and take the helm as the next Commander in Chief at the start of 2024.
Ugly had anything but an easy path as newly appointed leader having to take over as a solo leader with a staff team that needed heavy rebuilding, dealing with countless backlash from the community, and waging war against Water Vikings that put ACP on the losing end. Despite the rough start, these setbacks and failures helped shape Ugly as a leader not just in strategy and decision making, but also developing a strong, unwavering voice in the community to advocate for both his army and the Sapphire Concordat.
As anti-acp threats loomed on the horizon, Ugly mobilized the Sapphire Concordat against the Secret Service, successfully eliminating their presence off the CPA map in what was known as the one day July Jeopardy War. Shortly after experiencing his first war victory, Ugly and his co-leader Roxy were met with a declaration of their own from the Elite Guardians of Club Penguin who were looking to settle the score. This war quickly devolved into a war of attrition where neither side showed any signs of backing down hoping that the other side would eventually be worn out. Any other leader would’ve cracked under the pressure and been driven to near insanity enduring 50 battles in one war campaign and it nearly broke Ugly too, but his stubborn determination to keep fighting until the end refused to give in. Rallying his army behind him, Ugly successfully turned the tide of the war and after a record setting 104 battles, ACP had successfully conquered EGCP, not by treaty nor by surrender, but by taking their whole nation, a feat rarely seen in present day wars.
Coming off one of the most impactful wars of this era, Ugly’s hunger for victory was still left unsatisfied. Under his reign, ACP went on to break countless ACP records, rack up 19 total first place finishes for the year, win Project Conquest: Blood Bowl, win Most Achieved back to back, and end the year off earning #1 Army of the Year on the Top Ten. Like an untamed beast, Ugly has never shied away from an argument or a debate often showcasing how fiercely he will fight in order to make his point heard. Like him or hate him, there’s no denying that 2024 was Ugly’s year to take the spotlight, raise the bar for ACP, and outshine his predecessors. Ugly this year defied all expectations, proving the haters wrong, and solidifying himself as the one and only Person of the Year for 2024.
~Calgocubs21, Former Army of Club Penguin Leader
Congratulations to all the Honorable Mentions, Runner-Ups, and the 2024 Person of the Year! Over the past weeks, the administration team and advisors, excluding those who were considered for the award, carefully worked to narrow down the selections. We believe these individuals stood out as the most influential figures of the year. Additionally, the year 2024 was marked by impactful events including administration changes, leadership transitions, retirements, the emergence of new armies, the return of old ones, intense wars, the release of a new map, and much more. As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to see what the future holds and the milestones yet to come. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year!