Volunteers honored with U.P. Service Awards

MARQUETTE — Nonprofit agencies would have an extremely difficult time carrying out their missions without the help of volunteers, and Upper Peninsula residents were honored today as outstanding volunteers.

The sixth annual U.P. Service Awards at the U.P. Nonprofit Conference recognize businesses, organizations and residents for their volunteer work. NMU student Maddie Touchinski of Marquette took the award in the youth category.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “I also was awarded the Marquette County youth award, but this U.P.–wide award really means a lot to me, to be recognized for something I love doing, caring for people, helping out people.”

This was the tenth year for the U.P. Nonprofit Conference, a chance for people from nonprofit groups across the region to share information with one another on how to operate their agencies.

“So, appropriately, the theme is Celebrating A Decade Of Impact, because when you think about all the services that are provided by these wonderful people in the room over a ten–year span, it’s an amazing thing that they’re doing for our community,” Great Lakes Center for Youth Development president Amy Quinn said.

Girl Scouts volunteer Mary Vertanen of Marquette received the adult award. George Major of Newberry was the senior winner. The Alger Community Food Pantry and Superior Entertainment Center of Marquette also received Service Awards.