Arkansas City Honors Carol Hearne and ACMS KAY Club with 2025 Joe B. Avery Community Spirit Award

The City of Arkansas City is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Joe B. Avery Community Spirit Award, recognized during a presentation held October 20 at USD 470’s Avery Learning Center. This year’s honorees are the Arkansas City Middle School KAY Club and longtime community volunteer Carol Hearne.

ACMS KAY CLUB
Under the leadership of sponsors Rakiyah Taylor and Jeff Shaw, the Arkansas City Middle School KAY Club continues to set a high bar for service, leadership, and wellness among local youth. Current board members include Cara Cales, Grant Rogers, Brooklyn Vickers, Reagon Mora, Emrey Calvin, Jakoby Hamrick, Reid Call, and Haven Esparza.

In September, the club held a Pretzel Fundraiser, and just last week members partnered with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) to assemble school kits for children whose families have faced disaster and displacement.

Earlier this year, the club received the Blue Cross Blue Shield “Be the Spark” Grant to support its Bullpup Wellness Crew—an initiative promoting both physical and mental health for students. Their current Area 6 project, To Live a Healthy Lifestyle, centers on organizing a schoolwide volleyball game between students and staff.

The KAY Club also leads several annual community-focused events, including:
• The Richard Potterton Food Drive each November
• Penny Wars in December, with proceeds providing Christmas gifts and meals for local families
• Regular fundraisers and “Hat Days” supporting school, community, and global causes

In 2024, members donated $1,500 to six local church food pantries and collected nearly 16,000 food items for families through Manna Ministries, Angels in the Attic, and Northside Baptist Church. They also hosted an “Impact Night” during a middle school football game to raise funds for a local family who lost their home to fire and purchased winter clothing for USD 470 students in need.

In 2023, the club established the David Pond Memorial Scholarship in honor of a beloved paraeducator whose compassion and dedication left a lasting mark on Arkansas City schools.

Through these ongoing efforts, the ACMS KAY Club continues to inspire peers and the broader community with its commitment to service, compassion, and leadership.

CAROL HEARNE
A familiar face in Arkansas City civic life, Carol Hearne has dedicated decades to public service, philanthropy, and community leadership. She has served on the South Central Kansas Medical Center Board of Trustees, chaired the Hospital Endowment Foundation, and continues to support the Community Health Foundation. She was also a founding board member and driving force behind establishing the Federally Qualified Community Health Center in Cowley County.

Her influence extends deeply into the arts and culture of Arkansas City. Hearne served on the Burford Theatre Board and its Campaign Leadership Committee, helping raise funds for the theatre’s remarkable $7 million restoration. Today, she continues her commitment to the arts as Chair of the BisonBison Film Festival, an annual event celebrating emerging filmmakers from across the region.

Hearne also volunteers monthly at the Chaplin Nature Center, is a long-standing member of the Arkansas City Arts Council, and is a familiar face at community events such as Art in the Park and PrairieFest. Since 2018, she has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for Cowley County, giving a voice to abused and neglected children.

In addition to her work in healthcare, the arts, and child advocacy, Hearne’s civic leadership includes years of service with the Arkansas City Area Chamber of Commerce, where she served both as a member and chair.

Her generosity as a philanthropist and her kindness as a neighbor have touched countless lives. In 2024, her lifelong dedication to the community was recognized when she was named the Arkalalah Grand Marshal—a fitting tribute to someone who has spent a lifetime championing Arkansas City.

ABOUT THE JOE B. AVERY COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD
The Joe B. Avery Community Spirit Award honors the legacy of Joe B. Avery, a longtime member of the Arkansas City Human Relations Commission and a champion for compassion, equity, and civic pride. Avery dedicated his life to improving the community, working tirelessly to create opportunities and strengthen connections that improved the quality of life for all residents.

Following his passing in 2008, the City of Arkansas City Community Spirit Award Committee created this annual recognition in his name. Fittingly, Joe was the first recipient of the award in 2009. His wife, Donna Avery, later served as an honorary advisor to the committee until her passing in 2019, helping ensure the award stayed true to the values they both embodied.

Presented annually, the Joe B. Avery Community Spirit Award recognizes individuals or organizations who exemplify community spirit, service, and diversity. Honorees are selected by a city-appointed committee based on:
• Significant humanitarian contributions to Arkansas City
• Residency in Cowley County for at least five years
• Achievements with lasting, positive impact beyond professional duties

PAST RECIPIENTS
2009: Joe B. Avery and Bruce Watson
2010: Dr. Nick Rogers
2011: Pastor James Watson Jr.
2012: James Fry
2013: Curtis Freeland
2014: Delphia Jennings
2015: Kerry Schnackenberg
2016: Jim and Carol Owens
2017: Carlla Pike, Kalin Taylor, and Rob Carroll’s Sandblasting & Painting
2018: Christopher and Mitchell Gingher
2019: Jill Hunter
2020: Mike Evinger
2021: Anita Judd-Jenkins and Foss Farrar
2022: Rags Smith
2023: Robin Henderson
2024: Angels in the Attic; Tammy Lanman-Henderson