CommunityWendy Stanek, an employee in the Medina County auditor’s office, received the statewide Volunteer of the Year Award from the Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People agency. ESOP is a nonprofit, HUD-certified housing counseling agency based in Cleveland. Stanek helped establish an ESOP program in the Medina office that has counseled more than 1,000 families since 2009. Irene Robinson of Akron, a volunteer at Hospice of Visiting Nurse Service, received an Outstanding Senior Volunteer Award from Medical Mutual of Ohio. The award honors individuals 65 or older who act selflessly to help others. Robinson, 87, has been a visitor to patients in Summit County nursing facilities and in their homes for five years.The Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board has honored four trailblazers: Christopher McGowan, director of outpatient psychiatric services at Akron General Medical Center, the Maggie Carroll Smith Award; Michael Woody, retired Akron police lieutenant, the Drs. Fred and Penny Frese Award; Lauren Munk, prevention coordinator at Community Health Center, the Sister Mary Ignatia Award; and the staff of 91.3-FM radio, The Summit, the Dr. Bob Smith Award. New board officers for the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio in Macedonia are Joan Villarreal, SVP loan operations, Lorain National Bank, chairwoman; Ebony Yeboah-Amankwah, executive director of state affairs, FirstEnergy, first chairwoman; Julie Ann Grossi, retired executive vice president of retail banking, FirstMerit Bank, second chairwoman; Karen Talbott, retired president, Visiting Nurse Service and Affiliates, treasurer; and Brenda Heidinger, MIS coordinator/claims specialist, Mahoning County Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board, secretary.Pamela Parsons, 7, of Massillon, received a community service recognition award from the Summit Arbor 765 Gleaner Life Insurance Society in Akron. She started a business scooping up dog poop in exchange for donations to the Family Living Center. The society is a fraternal organization that helps people in crisis. EducationThe Canton Lehman High Alumni Association selected its 11th annual class of Distinguished Alumni. David Horton, Class of 1969, was selected in the category of arts and entertainment; Robert Fleischer, Class of 1959, athletics; Dan Finn, Class of 1974, business; Tom Pieper, Class of 1960, civic/community; Kent Smith, Class of 1959, coach/administrator/teacher; Elaine Esber Elias, Class of 1957, medical; James Casper, Class of 1949, education; and Corinne Esber Mahshie, Class of 1956, service to the alma mater. Alumni association president is Larry Taylor. Maureen Pisanick, nutrition director and dietician for Hudson City Schools, was among those honored by the White House for meeting the criteria for the Healthier U.S. School Challenge of 2011. Evamere, Ellsworth Hill and McDowell Elementary schools were among more than 1,600 nationwide to receive the Healthier U.S. School Challenge Award. Sydney Lakos of Brimfield Township, a senior nursing student at the University of Toledo, was elected to the board of directors for the Ohio Nursing Students Association. She is a 2008 graduate of Archbishop Hoban High School. The Beacon Journal welcomes announcements about school, community and military news. Submit news to staff writer Carol Biliczky at cbiliczky@thebeaconjournal.com or by fax at 330-996-3033.