Piqua honors locals for exceptional commitment to volunteering
The Scott J. and Margaret W. Hinsch Community Service Awards were given to people who demonstrated extraordinary commitment to volunteering in 2024.
The Hinsch Family Fund of The Piqua Community Foundation was created to honor the volunteering legacy of Scott J. and Margaret W. Hinsch. They devoted their lives to servicing others in Piqua.
Nominations for the award are reviewed annually by the fund's committee. Three organizations were selected this year. Each honoree was given a commemorative glass plaque and a $2,000 unrestricted grant from The Hinsch Family Fund for their organization.
The first group honored was Mary Lou Fierce, George Sweetman and Kate Sweetman. The trio was recognized for their work in the Garden Tribe Schoolyard Garden with Piqua City Schools. They replaced the deteriorating wooden raised garden beds with new metal ones. Since 2017, the group has spent countless hours maintaining the greenspace and educating fifth-grade students.
Founder of the Garden Tribe Schoolyard Garden, Ruth A. Koon, who nominated the trio, shared her thoughts.
'When we established the garden in 2017, a lot of sweat and tears were put into it, but Mary Lou, George and Kate have made it continue since then. We could not do it without them,' said Koon.
The next honorees were the pair, Erin Moran and Dana Treon, for the All Kids Bike Program at Washington Primary School. When Piqua City Schools received grant funding for Strider Conversion Bikes, the new task of teaching over 120 kindergarten students to ride. That's when Erin Moran and Dana Treon, both parent volunteers, stepped up. The pair dedicated two months to supporting every kindergarten PE class.
Washington Primary School Principal Heather Koehl spoke on the school's gratefulness.
'We are so appreciative of our volunteers, Erin and Dana, and all the work they put into the All Kids Bike program. Without them, Holly could not have taught 120+ kindergartners how to ride bikes, and we had everybody riding without training wheels before the end of the series,' said Koehl. 'They were wonderful and very vital to our program.'
The last person honored was Sandy Hemm for overseeing the YWCA Piqua renovation in 2024. Leading the first major renovation of the building since 1992 was a comprehensive project.
Executive Director Leesa Baker praised Hemm for her dedication to the YWCA.
'Sandy has devoted decades to the YWCA Piqua and has served its membership in many capacities. In 2024, she led a comprehensive effort to renovate, restore and revitalize the YWCA facility and grounds on Wayne Street,' said Baker. 'Sandy truly championed this monumental project from start to finish, just as she always championed the mission of the YWCA Piqua.'
To learn more about The Piqua Community Foundation and The Scott J. and Margaret W. Hinsch Community Service Awards click here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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