Thursday was a special night for a number of area volunteers.

The Annual Awards Banquet, sponsored by the Carbon County Conservation District, Carbon County Environmental Education, Natural Resource Service, Carbon County Penn State Extension and USDA Farm Service Agency, is hosted every November to honor the people who make these agencies a highlight in the Carbon County communities. The event was held at the Mahoning Valley Ambulance Association.Susan Gallagher, chief naturalist at the Carbon County Environmental Education Center, was the master of ceremonies.A moment of silence was also held in memory of Joyce Hinkle of Weatherly, who passed away earlier this week. Hinkle had years of dedicated service to the Penn State Extension.Following dinner, presenters recognized boards and individuals for their commitment to conservation, 4-H, volunteerism and service to the community.Environmental Education AwardsJeannie Carl and Franklin Klock, naturalists at the Carbon County Environmental Education Center, presented the Educator of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Friend of CCEEC awards.The awards are given to individuals or groups that embody the mission of CCEEC. This year's recipients were Sue Coughlin, Educator of the Year; Joseph Zercie, Volunteer of the Year; and Sue Perkins, Friend of CCEEC.Master GardenersNancy Grotevant, Penn State Extension district director for Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties, then highlighted the Penn State Extension board members and Master Gardeners.She bid farewell to outgoing extension board member Amy Miller and welcomed incoming board member Tony Boyle.She also presented certificates to the Carbon County Master Gardeners for volunteer hours served in the community. They included Michael Cormier of Lehighton, 150 hours; Eileen East of Jim Thorpe, 250 hours; and John Kupec of Summit Hill, Maryann Serafini of Albrightsville and Ed Knittle of Lehighton, 750 hours.Grotevant honored one Master Gardener, Julie Foley, who is also a member of the Pennsylvania Master Gardeners and did volunteer work in New York."With her New York hours that she volunteered and with her Pennsylvania hours, she (Julie) is well into her 1,000th hour of volunteer service for Master Gardeners," Grotevant said, as the Master Gardeners presented Foley with flowers and a certificate from Penn State University.Special AwardsMindy Graver, family living and family resiliency educator for Penn State Extension, presented Carbon County Commissioner Wayne Nothstein with a Friend of Extension Award through Epsilon Sigma Phi. The award is of the highest recognition from the extension, and was originally to be presented to Nothstein at a banquet at Penn State University in State College on Wednesday, but he was unable to be there.Howard Gregory and Georgia Farrow presented the Rachel W. Hoffmeier 4-H Scholarship Award. This scholarship was established as a memorial to Rachel W. Hoffmeier, a former extension home economist who made significant contributions to friends, family and co-workers. This year's $250 scholarship was presented to Kaitlyn Frantz of Andreas and Melissa Nothstein of Lehighton. Frantz is the daughter of Richard and Louise Frantz and is a member of the Mahoning Valley Community Club. Nothstein is the daughter of Jacob and Kimberly Nothstein and is a member of the Carbon County Livestock Club.4-H AwardsFarrow then honored outgoing 4-H Development Committee members Tony Boyle, Howard Gregory and Carissa Troxell and welcomed incoming members Sarah Graver, Theresa Kattner and Laura Kennedy.She also presented the 4-H Leader Years of Service awards. The recipients are:• One year: Ann Fogel, Sarah Graver, Daniel Myers II, Shawn Tonkin and Deanna Wentz, all of Lehighton• 15 years: Tony Boyle of Andreas.