Each Friday, The Gazette salutes those who make Emporia and the surrounding area a better place to live and work. Give these folks a pat on the back ...
ASHLEY RILES and Courtney Mlynar, who each found a way to help others far from home. Riles spent eight days over spring break working at an orphanage in Honduras; Mlynar has been an AmeriCorps volunteer in the Gulf Coast area since January, helping Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts.
• Hetlinger Developmental Services, which brings in more than 5,300 pounds of donated cans a year for recycling.
• Members of the First Baptist Church and the Christian Motorcyclists Association, who came together for a “Biker Sunday” and bike blessing to help jump-start a local CMA chapter.
• Supporters of the David Traylor Zoo who helped the zoo raise $16,000 at its first coin auction. The rare coins were donated anonymously in December.
• The Emporia State University women’s tennis team, which claimed the MIAA Tournament championship last weekend. Both the women’s and men’s team have also made the NCAA Division II National Tournament. They live to serve.
• Heather Coe, Angela Finch, Leslie Stanbrough and Layne Moore of Emporia High School, who won a bronze medal at the Kansas Relays on Saturday.
• ESU softball player Megan Davison, who now has 50 home runs on the season, one short of the MIAA record set by Truman’s Elizabeth Economon in 2004.