Hundreds of volunteers that help make your community a better place were all honored Wednesday night as a part of the 2022 Golden Heart Awards ceremony held at Sturgeon Bay High School.
Emceed by former Destination Sturgeon Bay Executive Director Pam Seiler and Sturgeon Bay School District Superintendent Dan Tjernagel, the awards ceremony honored volunteers in six categories. Presenters noted that the judges for the awards struggled to reach a consensus, opting to award all of the volunteers with plaques of recognition.
Bill Aune, Kathy Wagner, William Nick, Ronald Delwiche, Barb Chisolm, Madelyn Ostrand, and Barbara Graul were awarded the Karl May Lifetime of Service Award. The teachers and staff of St. Peter’s Lutheran School, St. John Bosco Catholic School, and every public school in Door County earned the Essential Workers of the Year award. Southern Door teacher Shannon Finger earned special recognition in the category, as did Door County Medical Center’s Michelle Johnson and Sturgeon Bay’s police and fire departments. Guy Fortine and Judy Samida from Crossroads at Big Creek and Marilyn Hansotia from the Door County Land Trust garnered the Environmental Stewardship Award. The volunteers of the Door County Medical Center Auxiliary House and Garden Walk, Door County Seed Library, Habitat ReStore, Scandia Village Birchwood Art Project, YMCA, Miller Art Museum Desk, Door County Candle, Meals on Wheels Program, and the 100+ Women Who Care Door County chapter were all honored with the Group Volunteers of the Year Award. Taylor and Kaden Stahlke, Jane and Karl Wise, Patricia Ploor, Robert Lindahl, Micaela Inman, Wayne Humbles, and Clarice Brey received the Adult Volunteer of the Award.
The Youth Volunteer Scholarship Award could only go to one individual. Southern Door’s Anna Olson was recognized for her efforts with organizations like the Adopt-A-Highway program, Boys and Girls Club of Door County, and Door County Toys for Kids with a $500 scholarship. Olson’s nominator said, “volunteering is a part of her character.”
You can watch the entire program below:
