Those who make contributions and are leaders in this community deserve to be recognized.

Many of the tasks these fine people perform aren’t for personal gain, recognition or accolades – they simply do it because they care about our community and the people living in it.

Some of those great community members and leaders were recognized recently at the NAACP Freedom Fund Gala at Western Kentucky University’s Augenstein Alumni Center.

It was a wonderful event for all of those who attended. This year’s theme was “Our Lives Matter, Our Votes Count.”

While the event was meant primarily to recognize the many contributions of community members and leaders, it also encouraged people to make their voices heard Nov. 8. Organizations like these deserve a lot of credit for urging people to get involved in the democratic process and for filling their responsibility by getting out and voting for the candidates of their choice on Election Day.

The honorees at the event also deserve to be praised. Some of the honorees at the event included retired Warren East High School Principal Beverly Dillard and current Parker-Bennett-Curry Elementary School Principal Delvagus Jackson, who both received the Ambassador of the Education Award.

Aurelia Spalding, communications and marketing coordinator at WKU, was given the Nick and Pat Kafoglis Diamond Award, which recognizes those who demonstrate leadership, a passion for community engagement and a positive outlook for the future.

Howard Bailey, who retired last year as WKU’s vice president for student affairs after 45 years at the university, received the Prince and Cora Mack Humanitarian Award in recognition of his work improving the quality of life for others and raising awareness of social and political issues that hinder opportunities for people to succeed.

Cardine Harrison, a retired General Motors Bowling Green Assembly Plant employee who has volunteered extensively with the local Salvation Army and serves on the city’s workforce recruitment and outreach committee, was honored with the Hugo and Jean Becker Golden Heart Award, given to a recipient who demonstrates enthusiasm, empathy, courtesy and kindness to others.

The George Washington Carver Center and Fruit of the Loom won the L.E.A.D. Award in recognition of their contributions to the community.

Four local high school graduates – Tamia Barbour, Jakaliff Sublett, Wilson Grant Blakeman and Nia Dye – also were honored by the NAACP with scholarships. Barbour attends the University of Louisville; Sublett attends the University of Kentucky; and Blakeman and Dye are both students at Centre College.

Each and every one of these honorees were all very deserving of their awards. All have distinguished themselves in one way or another.

We are very proud of them and commend them on being honored in such a way.