November awards

Associations 

York County Economic Alliance will celebrate the Spirit of YoCo Awards on Dec. 7 at Heritage Hills Resort. 

Honorees will be York County Veterans Outreach, Community Service Award; Regina Mitchell, York Housing Authority, Non-Profit Community Impact Award; Donald E. and Lois J. Myers School of Nursing and Health Professions at York College of Pennsylvania, Education/Workforce Development Advocate of the Year; Neil Weaver, acting secretary, Department of Economic and Community Development, Appointed Official of the Year, Judge Maria Musti Cook, Elected Official of the Year; Margaret Eckles Ray, Volunteer of the Year; Mark Derr, Non-Profit or Government Employee of the Year; York Revolution community ownership concept, Diversity Impact Award. 

Banking/Finance 

York-based Traditions Bank, a subsidiary of Traditions Bancorp Inc., announced this year that it was expanding its Her Traditions Scholarship Program to include an award specifically for women in the trades. The first recipients are Grace Benton, a Dover Area High School graduate who will attend the University of Kentucky to focus on agricultural and biological engineering, and Olivia Keefer, a graduate of Hanover High School who is attending Millersville University and majoring in technology and engineering education. 

Government 

State Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, R-York, was awarded the Guardian of Small Business award by the National Federation of Independent Businesses due to her legislative efforts throughout the 2021-22 session. 

Media 

York-based GAVIN, a boutique brand communications agency serving regional, national and international clients in health care, education, government and manufacturing, won three prestigious industry and business awards from PRNews Agency: the Elite Top 100 and a pair of Platinum Awards. 

Nonprofits 

York County Community Foundation inducted Edward G. Horvath into its Professional Advisor Recognition Society at YCCF’s annual Professional Advisors Breakfast Seminar. The award recognizes accountants, attorneys, financial planners, investment advisors and trust officers for their efforts in advancing philanthropy by promoting charitable giving through YCCF’s endowment funds. 

Other 

Three prominent members of the Hispanic community received Lifetime Achievement Awards in October at the City of Lancaster’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. Journalist Enelly Betancourt was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for Advocacy; Nicolas Collado (Jesse El Moreno), founder of Quisqueyanos Latinos Cultural Sports and Community Center, was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Community Development; and Luis Pagan, who helped establish the Spanish American Civic Association, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for Foundational Leadership. 

Willow Street-based Willow Valley Communities’ supportive living community, The Glen at Willow Valley, has been named the No. 1 nursing home in Pennsylvania for 2023 by Newsweek for the fourth consecutive year. 

Real Estate 

Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors was recently awarded the Platinum Accreditation for Commercial Services from the National Association of REALTORS. This signifies the association’s commitment to providing commercial services to members, engaging commercial practitioners, and being the voice for commercial real estate in the region. 

Camp Hill-based Landmark Commercial Realty announced Chuck Heller, executive vice president, achieved the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors designation. 

Compiled by Paula Wolf