Distinguished Service Awards bestowed on pair
Two women have been named the county's 2017 Distinguished Service Award winners for their volunteer service throughout the area.
Judy Neigh was named the Senior Distinguished Service Award winner and Meghan Lucas the Junior Distinguished Service Award winner.
The women will be honored at a dinner May 2 at Butler Country Club. The Butler Eagle and Rotary Club of Butler sponsor the award each year.
Judy NeighNeigh began her lifetime of service to others as a young woman while dating her husband of more than 50 years, Joe.The couple regularly drove a priest to the small coal mining community of Argentine to celebrate Mass for the residents.Neigh also taught Confraternity of Christian Doctrine classes for the Catholic children of Argentine, beginning at age 15.Neigh has been very active in her parish, St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, since marrying Joe and joining the congregation there.Neigh serves as a eucharistic minister, counts the Sunday collection, is a member of the Women's Council, delivers flowers to shut-ins, works on the Octoberfest festival, and is a lifetime member of the Butler Catholic Daughters of America.For more than 22 years, she and Joe have served communion Wednesday nights at Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where Judy is now the leader of the Wednesday night communion volunteers.
Meghan LucasThe Junior Distinguished Service Award winner is a fourth-grade teacher at Emily Brittain School on North Washington Street.Lucas' students are often the recipient of various lessons regarding service to others, including making busy bags for hospital waiting rooms and Christmas cards for overseas troops.Lucas walks in the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure each year in Pittsburgh, makes and delivers meals to shut-ins and volunteers at her church, St. Wendelin Roman Catholic Church, where she has served on many committees including grounds cleanup and planting flowers as well as serving on church council.Lucas has taught CCD classes for many years and coached the church volleyball team and organized games along with serving dinner at the annual church picnic.Lucas has packed bags at Thanksgiving for St. Vincent de Paul and worked at community meals.She helped launch the Kids' Weekend Backpack program at Emily Brittain in which students in need receive food to take home and in the upcoming “Stuff-a-Bus” fundraiser there.
