A champagne and charcuterie reception followed presentations and photographs at the Crest Theater in Great Bend as the Great Bend Tribune honored its fourth class of “20 Under 40” recipients Friday evening. The event also included the second class of senior volunteers receiving “Silver Impact Awards” from Barton and Pawnee County communities.
The Tribune created the award in 2022 to honor 20 outstanding young professionals dedicated to shaping the future of Central Kansas. From entrepreneurs to educators and electricians, from stay-at-home moms to educators, the Class of 2025 represents the very best of community service. With each annual event, the Tribune seeks to inspire the next generation of leaders to get involved, give back and create lasting change. Friday’s program included the reading of each honoree’s biography as well as the presentation of a plate portrait fashioned from the Tribune’s own stock as a lasting memento of the event.
In similar fashion, the Silver Impact Awards are presented to five exceptional senior volunteers for their decades of dedication and service.
Along with their portrait, the senior honorees presented a short summary of their own experiences that served to encourage not only the young awardees to remain engaged, but also to entreat others to follow their example.
Honoring its own
Prior to the main event, Tribune General Sales and Composing Manager Dee Duryee called veteran employee Karma Byers to the stage for a surprise presentation.
“At the Tribune, we believe in the power of local stories,” Duryee noted. “Before we get started, we want to take a moment to recognize one of our own. “Karma has been with the Tribune for more than 50 years. “Karma has been a key contributor, a mentor, the ‘keeper of all knowledge’ and irreplaceable commitment. She has tried to retire twice, but keeps on coming to our rescue. Karma, we can’t thank you enough for everything you have done for us; whenever we call, you are always there and we appreciate you more than you know.”
“This is a great family to work with,” Byers said. “It truly is.”
20 under 40
Each youthful honoree was then called alphabetically to the stage by Tribune pressman and writer Andrew Murphy, who read a short biography. Following the presentations, a class photo was taken of the group.
Silver Impact
Lifetime Great Bend resident Sheryl Cheely was first to be honored among the senior honorees. Honorees Perry and Krista Smith were represented by their daughter Kelsey Sciacca.
Sheryl Cheely
From reviving the dragstrip in the 1970s to a charter member of the My Town board and her current passion of the Dolly Trolley named for her mother, Sheryl Cheeley has spent her volunteer time promoting amenities in the Great Bend community.
“I wouldn’t do this for just anybody,” Cheely began. “I had lunch today with an old friend today and we talked about what I should say tonight. We didn’t decide on anything, but one of the things we talked about was service.
“I’ve found out that if you specifically ask a person to do something like ‘Could you bring a pie?’ that always helps.” On leadership, she noted there were two distinct classes: one, how to be a leader, and then how to help people.
“The third thing we talked about was dreams,” Cheely said. “Keep those dreams; do your service, do the leadership, and have fun with what you are doing.”
LaRae Cravens
LaRae Cravens still has her pink jacket from when she was a Pink Lady volunteer for St. Rose Hospital in the 1970s. A leader of both local Boy and Girl Scouts, a Meals on Wheels delivery driver and currently as a long term care ombudsman, she is also a team captain for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s campaign in Great Bend.
“I’m so proud of the ‘20,’ I wish we had that many older people,” Cravens, who is now in her 80s, noted. “As we get older, we can’t do what we used to do. If I hadn’t done what I was doing, I would have probably sat at home and became an old, grumpy woman by myself. This way, I can go out and be grumpy with the rest of the group.”
“This I have learned: ‘Give it out, and you’ll get it back.’”
Linda McCaffery
Linda McCaffery is a former history instructor, archivist and author who now plies her talents at the Barton County Historical Society and Museum in Great Bend.
“I just want all of you to know, that no matter how old you are, you can volunteer,” she said, noting that the Museum’s youngest volunteer is 12 and the oldest volunteer is 94. “Please remember to write down your story. Nobody, nobody, lives an ordinary life. Write it down, share it and then make sure that we have a copy.”
Dan Sanneman
Atwood native Dan Sanneman came to Larned 41 years ago, and was almost immediately immersed in volunteer life in Pawnee County.
“Honestly, you 20 people out there, keep up the good work,” he said. “Keep it going, because us old buzzards, one of these days we’re not going to be around. We need young people to step up.”
Dr. Perry and Krista Smith
The Smiths weren’t able to attend the event in person, but were represented by their daughter Kelsey Sciacca. As a couple, the Smiths have exemplified the spirit of service and community in Great bend for more than 40 years. Their current service includes working with Barton County Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, and numerous local boards.
