(FRANKFORT, Ky.) -- Ann Yager Hamlin, director at Stith Funeral Home in Danville, is the recipient of the fifth annual Joseph W. Kelly Award.
The award was presented to Hamlin today by the Kentucky Board of Education at its regular meeting in Frankfort.
Hamlin volunteered to chair the Business Mentoring Afterschool Program, a local initiative developed by the Danville/Boyle County Chamber of Commerce this school year. The program pairs students with business mentors for a nine-week period, introduces them to the world of business and provides service-learning opportunities.
Hamlin coordinated the program, recruiting, matching and training more than a dozen businesspeople from the community with students from Bate Middle and Boyle County Middle.
Her efforts led to the program being recognized by the National Afterschool Alliance with its Afterschool Champion Award and by the Kentucky Community Education Association with its Outstanding Organization Award.
Paula Fowler Kilby, executive director of the Danville/Boyle County Chamber of Commerce, nominated Hamlin for the award. Kilby noted that Hamlin spent many hours working with the program and recruiting businesspeople to participate.
"It is indeed successful today because of her time, energy, enthusiasm and commitment," Kilby said. "She is already evaluating the program for next year and working to refine the curriculum, while also recruiting more businesses to participate."
The award was created in honor of Joseph W. Kelly, a respected businessman and chair of the Kentucky Board of Education from 1991 to 1998. Kelly’s efforts and expertise were crucial to the implementation and nurturing of Kentucky’s school improvement efforts.
The annual award is given by the Kentucky Board of Education to businesspeople who have offered outstanding leadership and service toward promoting school improvement and equitable educational opportunities for all Kentucky children.
Previous Winners of the Joseph Kelly Award
2003 -- State Representative Jimmy Higdon, owner of Higdon's Foodtown in Lebanon
2002 -- Frank and Mattie Justice, founders of the Frank and Mattie Justice Charitable Foundation in Pikeville
2001 -- Billy Harper, president of Harper Industries, Inc., in Paducah
2000 -- Vince and Valorie Tanner, owners of the Beaver Dam McDonald's restaurant
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