This year’s Paul W. Gabonay Volunteer Service Award recipient is Hanna Kane of St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana.  Hanna is senior Mass Communication/ Business Administration double major. An active volunteer in her community, Hanna has served this year as president of her local Habitat for Humanity chapter, organizing and leading three day-builds, as well as serving as a representative on the Jasper County HFH affiliate. Over spring break, she led a work team to Amarillo, Texas to build homes, and in May 2015, she will participate in a group of volunteers traveling to Romania to work on behalf of Habitat.

Beyond her work for Habitat for Humanity, Hanna has coordinated a Relay for Life event at Saint Joseph’s, recruiting teams, organizing fundraisers, and serving as liaison with the regional Relay for Life specialist. She has also volunteered with the Dyer, Indiana Fire Department to increase awareness of fire safety with local children and their families; and has organized a community service project, “Cards for Children,” for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Hanna’s Habitat chapter advisor summarized his nomination of her with these words: “The Saint Joseph’s College motto is ‘Involved for Life,’ and with Hanna Kane this is more than a motto. For her, it has become a way of life.”  We are pleased to recognize her efforts on behalf of her community and beyond with the second annual Paul W. Gabonay Volunteer Service Award, which includes a $500 monetary award and a commemorative plaque.