KARST TO RECEIVE MONTANA SERVICE AWARD

Rod Karst of Glasgow will be honored with the ServeMontana Award at the ServeMontana Symposium luncheon ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Red Lion Colonial Hotel ballroom in Helena at noon. The Governor’s Office of Community Service and the Montana Commission on Community Service announced Tuesday the 2012 recipients of awards presented to outstanding community volunteers and organizations for their service to Montana.

Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger will present eight ServeMontana Awards to outstanding national service members, community volunteers and organizations in the social impact areas of humanities, education, healthy futures, environmental stewardship, veterans and military families and economic opportunity.

Karst is a high school teacher, coach and volunteer committed to inspiring leadership in youth. He is a member of the Glasgow City Council and the Glasgow Recreation Board. In January he received the President’s Award from the Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture.

“We are proud to honor these individuals and organizations who represent the true spirit of civic engagement.” said Kim Miske, chair of the Montana Commission on Community Service.

Thursday’s awards ceremony luncheon will be part of the 2012 ServeMontana Symposium, a two-day conference focused on providing training and resources for national service programs, nonprofits, and organizations who use and support volunteers.

Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger will also present six ReadyMontana Awards to outstanding community volunteers and organizations in the areas of disaster services, emergency preparedness and emergency response. First Lady Nancy Schweitzer will present six First Lady’s Math & Science Awards to exceptional individuals, organizations and groups for promoting math and science education.