The Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley recently honored six area residents during the group’s 2017 Breakfast for Champions’ awards at Coca-Cola Park, Allentown.

Honored at the April 4 ceremony were Janet and Donald Hagenaur, of Whitehall, who volunteer with the Union and West End Cemetery Association, Allentown; Mia Bobenko, of Orefield, who volunteers at The Gress Mountain Ranch; Kris and Ian Buss, of Breinigsville, who volunteer with the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley; and Kathryn O’Keefe, of Allentown, who volunteers with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania.

Also honored at the breakfast were Vivian Smith, who volunteers at Gracedale Nursing Home, Nazareth, and Bonnie Hall, who volunteers at Crayola, Easton.

Barbara Miller, president of the Union and West End Cemetery Association, said she nominated the Hagenaurs for the Sam and Betsy Torrence Partners in Volunteerism Award, sponsored by the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

“In 1998, Janet and Donald Hagenaur and a core group of 10 volunteers took over the bankrupt Union and West End Cemetery, a historic Civil War cemetery in downtown Allentown, created in 1854,” Miller said. “For 19 years, Don and Janet have mowed the 20-acre Union and West End Cemetery - every week, April through October.

“Janet answers hundreds of queries from Pennsylvania and all over the world, researching grave locations, historical and genealogical information about persons buried in the cemetery, updating burial and veterans’ information.”

Janet and Donald Hagenaur commented briefly about their nomination.

“I can’t believe we have been nominated,” Janet Hagenaur stated.

“There are others that are more deserving than us,” Donald Hagenaur added.

Kathryn Gress, with The Gress Mountain Ranch, told The Press why she nominated Bobenko for the Sandy Kelly/UPS Youth Volunteer Scholarship Award, sponsored by UPS.

“From the day I met Mia, I knew she was special,” Gress said. “Mia is an all-around girl, my right- and left-hand lady for the Gress Mountain Ranch.”

Lisa Kappes, assistant executive director with the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley, explained why she nominated Kris and Ian Buss for the Family Volunteer Award, sponsored by Louise Wright.

Kappes said the mother-and-son team of Kris and Ian Buss have gone above and beyond for the foundation for five years.

“Kris and Ian have been counselors each year for Camp Smile,” Kappes said. “Two years ago, Kris was promoted to head counselor of the whole camp. She helps with the organization of all the campers and counselor applications and medical forms.”

Brittany Sedler, recruitment manager with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, explained why O’Keefe was nominated for the Excellence in Volunteer Management Award, sponsored by the Morning Call newspaper.

Sedler said O’Keefe is highly dedicated and motivated to see as many girls in the Allentown School District as possible reap the benefits of Girl Scouts. She added O’Keefe’s goal for this year is to serve at least 200 girls in traditional Girl Scouts.