The Above and Beyond award was given to the staff of Hometown Radio for their efforts to stay on the air and provide information during the storm. Station owner Robert Wagner accepted the award on behalf of staff members, including Charlie Perry, Vicki Delys-Hyde and Rick Schobel, who were also in attendance.
The Ambassador of the Year award honoring one of the Chamber's 15 Ambassador's Club members went to Deb Jones, Career Services Director at Centre College.
Chamber executive director Paula Fowler said that Jones, who was unable to attend Friday's banquet, worked quietly but tirelessly behind the scenes to make events such as Business Over Coffee and the Chamber's Salvation Army gift wrapping day run smoothly.
Several people received the School Bell Awards, which are presented to volunteers who have contributed time and talents to ensuring quality education in the three local school systems.
The Boyle County Schools Bell Award winner was Dr. Rodger Ross, who has volunteered in the school system since coming to Danville in 1988.
The Danville Independent Schools Bell Award went to Kent Mann for the volunteer work he has done at Jennie Rogers Elementary.
Reading instruction, accelerated math lessons and assistance with the academic team are among the services Mann has provided over the past several years.
The Kentucky School for the Deaf Bell Award winner was Lezanne Smock for her work in the Outreach Department at the school.
Smock helped to organize the Family Learning Vacation for parents of deaf and hard of hearing parents, as well as serving as a contact for families of children recently diagnosed with hearing loss.
The Bruce Montgomery Leadership Boyle County award was given to Tom Tye, a graduate of the program that encourages citizens to become active as leaders in the community.
Tye, an investment representative with Edward Jones, has served on the Danville Architectural Review Board, the Danville Arts Commission Board and worked with the Dollars for Scholars Program.
The Rising Star award, a new honor given to a young professional for exceptional involvement in the community, was given to Melanie Clark.
Over the past year, Clark, a Danville attorney, got the local Young Professionals group involved with volunteer work at Sunrise Children' home. She is a Big Sister in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, serves on the Heart of Kentucky United Way community investment panel and is a member of the Danville Rotary Club.
The Outstanding Volunteer award went to Virginia Birney for her long list of volunteer activities.
Birney, who worked in occupational therapy for over 40 years, volunteers with individuals with acute and chronic mental illnesses at Southwood Therapeutic Rehabilitation Program and provides occupational therapy to patients while they are receiving chemotherapy at the Commonwealth Cancer Care Center volunteers
The Community Impact Award and Outstanding Business Person Award
The Community Impact Award was accepted by Jan Wertz and Kathy Nelson on behalf of Danville-Boyle County Humane Society and the Happy Paws Spay/Neuter Clinic.
Wertz and Nelson started the clinic to assist low income pet owners. On a volunteer basis, they have overseen the renovation of the Stewarts Lane the building that now houses the clinic. They also hired a veterinarian and recruited volunteers to staff an operation that spays or neuters an average of 25 animals a day.
The Outstanding Business Person Award was given to John Albright, owner of Caldwell Stone chairman of the Boyle County Industrial Foundation and bank director at Farmers National Bank.
Albright has volunteered on the Great American Brass Band Festival Steering Committee since the Festival's Inception in 1990 and has served as Chairman of the Festival Steering Committee for the last several years.
The Outstanding Small Business award went to Morely Wheel Service and owner Joe Morely.
The business, which employs four people, was recognized for making a significant investment in its downtown property and for providing exceptional hands-on customer service.
Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center was awarded the Outstanding Large Business Award. The award was accepted by Linda Tillman, Ephraim McDowell's director of volunteer services and Harry Nickens, vice president for community relations.
