Five new volunteers have been awarded for their efforts through the United Way of Manitowoc County.
The organization’s 2nd Annual Volunteer Impact Awards was held yesterday morning (April 16th) at the Inn on Maritime Bay.
The Up and Coming Volunteer Award went to Manitowoc Lincoln’s Student Maddie Black, who has made an impact volunteering with CASA’s annual Magic Trolley Ride.
Phil Walters and Paul Kraynek were given the Team Volunteer Award for their work assisting in the dry docking of the USS Cobia last year.
Both men collaborated not only to get Cobia out of the water but also to continue to make fixes on the historic submarine today.
Walters tells Seehafernews.com that he was surprised but honored to get the award and credited his work partner, Paul.
“Paul and I work really well together,” he stated. “If I don’t know something, he does, and if he doesn’t know something, I do. Plus, the other people, the other volunteers we work with, we have a good working relationship.”
Karen Bauknecht Vansisten says she felt very special after receiving the Volunteer Leadership Award for her many hours dedicated to volunteering at the Lakeshore Humane Society.
She also said volunteering at age 78, the moments she gets to see are very important.
Also, she loves working with animals.
She says of her furry friends, “They give us so much, and can not speak for themselves. So I’m going to do all I can for them.”
She and her twin sister have adopted 30 pets in their time. The United Way of Manitowoc County’s Volunteer of the Year went to Betty Bittner from the Rotary Club of Two Rivers.
She’s also given her time with the 100 + Women Who Care and has rung bells with the Salvation Army of Manitowoc County.
The Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Award was given to Lisa Stolp for her years of work with CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocates.
She’s been doing the work for 17 years and has given 2,000 hours of her time.
During her acceptance speech, Stolp mentioned the volunteer spirit of Tom Drill, whom she’s gotten to know.
