A record 40 nominations were received for the 26th annual Klamath County Volunteer of the Year award. The local nominees were singled out for their service during a ceremony April 9 at the Klamath Basin Senior Citizens’ Center, and Oregon Tech assistant professor, Franny Howes, Ph.D., was among those recognized.
The annual Klamath County Volunteer awards are presented each year by United Way of the Klamath Basin. This year’s 26th annual awards were evaluated by local media members Gerry O’Brien, Paul Hanson, Lyle Ahrens, and Rob Siems.
“This annual event showcases the true spirit of volunteerism throughout the Klamath Basin,” said event chairperson Marla Edge, in a news release. “The United Way is proud to partner with The Klamath Medical Service Bureau Foundation and the Wendt Family Foundation to make this event possible.” Edge is also Director of Academic Agreements, Educational Partnerships & Outreach at Oregon Tech.
At the event preceded over by master of ceremonies Oregon Tech President, Nagi Naganathan, Dr. Howes was recognized for her individual commitment to the community outside of her normal job. As program director of Professional Writing and assistant professor in the Communication department, Dr. Howes also organizes and directs Lemon Brick Road Studios Comics Club at the Klamath Public Library. Through the club, Howes mentors budding comics artists as they make mini-comics (or dioramas, or videos) and dream up wacky new stories. The club meets one Saturday a month for three hours and is open to artists ages 12 to 19. Howes works with participants to create storylines, illustrate comics and bring their stories to life. This is the third year of club since Howes created it in 2016.
Also acknowledged at the event was Don McDonnell, associate professor and director of the radiologic science program at Oregon Tech, who received the United Way Campaign Volunteer of the Year award for coordinating the university’s employee campaign and raising $14,209 for a 125 percent increase in support. McDonnell was recognized for his work at the United Way annual meeting in January.
