The Community Summit honored five Plateau and Sumner community members for their outstanding impact in the area. Each person was given a “Community Impact/Unsung Hero” Award at the 17th Annual Community Summit.

The recipients were two high school students and three community leaders:

• Julie Bevaart opened the doors to White River Community Outreach last January. Frustrated by the difficulty in navigating government social services programs, Bavaart created her program to help connect people in need with what they require with a minimum of red tape. “I wake up in the morning knowing I’ll help at least one person that day,” she said. “Knowing somebody isn’t living in a car anymore because I could help is very rewarding.”

• Mike Cella, a Sumner High School senior, has made it his goal this year to learn the name of every student at his school and spends each morning greeting students as they arrive on campus. He was awarded for the connections he makes daily by improving the quality of life around him. “Names are so important to connecting to the people around you,” he said. “At first, people would fake me out by pulling away at the last second on a high five or handshake. Now they do it, but their demeanor has changed. They appreciate that somebody is trying to learn about them.

• Iona Cantonio has managed the day to day operations of Lions 4 Kids House, an organization providing clothes and hygiene products to kids in need, for over two years. “I didn’t plan to accept the award at first,” she said. “There are people in the audience more deserving of this. But the people at Lions 4 Kids said ‘You need to do this for us.’”

• Karlie Pyl, a Bonney Lake High School student, was honored for her volunteer work as a student tutor. She has worked with students with Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. “I have to think about new ways to teach a subject that will help my student understand,” she said. “It’s taught me a whole new level of patience.”

• Sonja Workman volunteers with the Court Appointed Special Advocate Association, speaking on behalf of abused and neglected children in the judicial system. She first came to the work eight years ago by responding to a newspaper ad. “I took the training course and I decided to stick with it for a year,” she said. “My first case lasted three-and-a-half. I stayed with it and I enjoy it.”