Akron Jaycees recognize area volunteers at awards
banquet
WEST AKRON — Individuals who have exhibited exemplary service to the community were recognized at the Akron Jaycees awards banquet Jan. 25 at Tangier restaurant.
The awards included the Distinguished Service Award (DSA), the Outstanding Young Citizens Award and the William E. Vielhaber Memorial Scholarship Award.
A panel of three judges selected the award recipients. Judges included Robert DeJournett, minister of the Akron District Church of God in Christ and community and government relations manager of Summa Health System; Lori Lautenschlager, vice president of association development for the Akron Area YMCA; and Marc Merklin, the 1997 recipient of the DSA and an attorney with Brouse, McDowell LPA.
The DSA is presented to someone who is judged to best exemplify the spirit of volunteerism, according to the Akron Jaycees. This year, the 67th annual award was presented to Katie Dudek, a resident of Green.
Dudek is doing her student-teaching at Norton City School’s Cornerstone Elementary and plans to graduate from The University of Akron’s College of Education this spring. She has been involved with Habitat for Humanity since her freshman year of college and is president of the UA Habitat for Humanity Group and also has served two years as vice president. She volunteers at least one full day a month with Habitat, overseeing more than 30 fellow students for Habitat projects and participating in local events to raise funds and awareness.
Dudek also is a reading tutor at Akron Public Schools’ (APS) Leggett Elementary School for kindergarten through third-grade students, makes bagged lunches once a week at St. Bernard Church and is on staff of the Buchtelite, UA’s student newspaper.
Other nominees for the award were Christine Kline, Michele Tomer and Chailendra Walker.
As a tribute to Dudek’s exemplary volunteerism, the Akron Jaycee Foundation will make a $500 donation to the charity of her choice.
Several APS high school seniors were honored as Outstanding Young Citizens, including: Gerald Vance III, $2,000; Nora Bryan, $1,000; and Brittany Bennett, Jessica Carr, Elizabeth Heimbaugh [see related story on Page 1], Joshua Putnam and Cory Walter, $500 each.
Students receiving the award are selected on the basis of academic achievements, community involvement, extracurricular activities, written and verbal communication skills and future potential.
Other Outstanding Young Citizens recognized were Kelly Bennett, Jessica Logsdon, Adrian Miller, Matilyn Pribanick and Lindsey Tucker.
The William E. Vielhaber Memorial Scholarship Award was presented to Marija Tesla ($600) and Timothy Spencer ($300). The award is named for the 1975 past president of the Akron Jaycees who died unexpectedly at the age of 45, and is distributed to seniors at Coventry High School who best emulate Vielhaber’s strong belief in community volunteerism.
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