Senior Volunteer of the Year, Older Hoosier of the Year Award Winners Announced

Last year's recipient, Frank Skronski, presents Joan Chesak with this year's Senior Volunteer of the Year award. Also pictured: Joan Haugh

The Senior Volunteer of the Year and the Older Hoosier of the Year award winners were announced Thursday during a luncheon at the Bass Lake Fire Department.

“Today, we are honoring all of our volunteers for the past two years, for 2009 and 2010,” said Community Services of Starke County Director, Joan Haugh. “This is just our opportunity to give them a little credit for all of the many hours of service they’ve put in or the donations they’ve given to support our programs and the food pantry. We’re very grateful for them and if anyone out there would like to volunteer, please call me.”

“The Senior Volunteer of the Year is Joan Chesak of San Pierre. She’s been on our Board for many years and she’s very involved in the community with Habitat for Humanity, her church, 4-H and she’s still farming.”

Last year's recipient, Gene Blastic (R) presents Claude Slisher with the Older Hoosier of the Year award. Also pictured: Joan Haugh

Claude Slisher was named the Older Hoosier of the Year.

“Claude lives in Knox and is married to Connie,” continued Haugh. “He’s been an educator at the Knox school system for many years. He does a lot behind the scenes that you don’t know about. He goes to Africa, Haiti, and he went down to New Orleans after Katrina. He’s on the Library Board and Habitat for Humanity. He’s helped our agency with energy education so he has given a lifetime of service to the community.”