For the second time in three years, local hairstylist LaTroy Brinkley went to the Steve Harvey Hoodie Awards as a nominee and came home without an award.

But to him, just being nominated and featured in Essence magazine was an honor big enough to match his personality.

“To be in the top four out of 16,000 salons was an honor,” said Brinkley, owner of Serendipity salon at 100 N. Main St. “We came in second place.”

The Hoodie Awards, a creation of comedian Steve Harvey, are in their 10th year. The purpose of the awards is to honor community heroes. Awards are given for such people as schoolteachers, church pastors and community leaders as well as businesses such as soul food restaurants and car washes.

Nominations were called in by radio listeners to the Steve Harvey Morning Show.

Brinkley also was nominated as part of the staff at The Chop Shop in 2010.

The trip to Las Vegas earlier this month for the awards was packed with work, he said. There were interviews to be done, meetings with event sponsors to be had and, of course, the awards show.

“Vegas was wonderful,” Brinkley said. “It was refreshing. It opened up a lot of opportunities.”

The 1995 Lakeland graduate has degrees from Virginia State and Hampton universities and a cosmetology certificate from New Horizons.

He has a daughter.

He said he enjoys neighborhood clients just as much as he does celebrity clients, such as entertainer Mo’Nique.

Serendipity opened in January. In addition to its business ventures, the salon has conducted a number of events for charity.