Last weekend I attended the Evening of Thanks dinner held at Serbian Social Center in Lansing. The event is organized by the Lansing Volunteer Recognition Committee to celebrate the many dedicated volunteers who give their time for various causes and organizations within the village.
This year was the sixth annual dinner and the largest one yet with 330 attendees and 48 volunteers being honored. Also awarded that evening was the ATHENA Award, which is given by the Lansing Business Women’s Association. Marilyn Kooy was the recipient of that award. I’ve known Marilyn for years through her involvement with the Lansing Historical Society. The award was a complete surprise and her children and grandchildren greeted her with flowers as she went up to receive her award.
Each year there are many names of the honorees that I recognize. Often volunteers are active in more than one group and you see them often around town and plenty of different functions. I’m also always amazed at how many new people I see and meet, showing me how many more people there are behind the scenes in so many places lending a hand. Here are the 2012 honorees:
Donna Murphy – American Legion Auxiliary Unit 697
Barbara McGowan – Buford Walker Senior Housing
Crystale Pierce – Calvin Coolidge School
Monica Lockton – Camp Quality
Terry Baranowski – Columbian Ladies of Lansing
Dorthea Carlson – First Reformed Church of Lansing
JoAnn Kijewski - First United Methodist Church
Marilyn Aiken – Friends of Lansing Library
Jim Heffron – Grace Reformed Church
Sally Valente – Hospice of the Calumet Area
Harry Morton – Kiwanis Club of Lansing
Patricia Leck – Lan Oak Park Foundation
Ralph and Linda Villarreal – Lansing Assembly of God
Stanley Bona – Lansing Boy Scouts
Diane Ostroski – Lansing Business Women’s Association
Lynn Cartwright – Lansing Chamber of Commerce
Cephas Mickles – Lansing Church of Christ
Elaine McGrail – Lansing Community Pantry
Crystale Pierce – Lansing Girl Scouts
Len Koenes – Lansing Golden K Kiwanis
Paul Schultz – Lansing Historical Society
Patty Eidam – Lansing Junior Woman’s Club
Dom Ramirez – Lansing Knights of Columbus
Mike Winters – Lansing Lions Club
Elizabeth Paulsen – Lansing Meals on Wheels
Debbie Dennis – Lansing Presbyterian Church
Tom Nowak – Lansing Public Library
Jacob Kosiara – Lansing Redbird Baseball Club
Desiree Wilson – Lansing Swim Organization
Jeff Schoettle – Lansing Veterans Memorial Ceremonial Honor Guard
Clara Krygsheld – Lansing Volleyball
Kevin Yarasovich – Lansing’s Neighborhood Network
Denise Dickey – Lester Crawl School
Joanne Becker – Luther East High School
Alejandra Nieto – Memorial Junior High School
Roberto Mendoza – new Hope Church
Kathy Sylvester – Oak Glen School
Jasmine Goodloe – Patti Leach Youth Center
Richard Turek – Rotary Club of Lansing
Kim Jacobson – St. Ann Parish
Monica Scheppe – St. Ann School
Marilyn Schultz – St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church
William Albrecht – St. John’s Ev. Lutheran School
Sherri Farlow – T.F. South Athletic Booster Club
Cheri Vana – T.F. South Music Parents Association
Rosayln Hathorn – The Success Center
Maria Gonzalez – W.C. Reavis School
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