Mount Union's Regula Center honors Janet Weir Creighton, Pat Kovach-Gates

• Stark County Commissioner Janet Weir Creighton is 2023 recipient of the Ralph Regula Award for Public Service.
• Pat Kovach-Gates, a retired educator, is the 2023 recipient of the Mary Regula Award for Community Service.
• The University of Mount Union's Regula Center for Public Service and Civic Engagement held its annual award ceremony on March 23, 2023.

ALLIANCE − The University of Mount Union's Regula Center for Public Service and Civic Engagement honored several individuals on Thursday.

Stark County Commissioner Janet Weir Creighton was awarded the Ralph Regula Award for Public Service. The Mary Regula Award for Community Service went to retired educator Pat Kovach-Gates.

The awards recognize individuals who live or work in Stark County and embody the ideals of the late Ralph and Mary Regula, political and community stalwarts for several decades.

2022 Recipients:Mount Union honors Stark County residents with Ralph, Mary Regula Awards

The recognition occurred during the Regula Center's annual luncheon at the Alliance Country Club. The event celebrated the center's projects, programs and successes over the past year, and provided an annual report.

Regula Center strives to serve the community

"It is really about celebrating our students and the community partners we work with every day," said Abby Schroeder, director of the Regula Center.

Schroeder received praise from Mount Union President Gregory King, who hailed her leadership.

The successes included participating in various community service projects, growing the Raiders Cove resource center for students and spearheading a partnership to revitalize the former Alliance Neighborhood Center.

Several other individuals, including a Mount Union student, also were recognized for their work in community service.

Mount Union junior Joseph Haas received the Charles J. Ping Award for outstanding leadership in community service. Kelleen Weber, director of alcohol, drug and wellness education at Mount Union, received the David Hoch Memorial Award.

Seven Mount Union students − Jacob Buttar, Kaylee Adkins, Sarah Conley, Rae Carruthers, Samantha Finkenthal, Emilee Styranec and Benjamin Reiman − also were named Regula Scholars for the next academic year. They will travel and attend seminars, receiving tuition assistance and a stipend.

Creighton, Kovach-Gates appreciated the recognition

Creighton and Kovach-Gates also received proclamations from Alliance Mayor Alan Andreani and recognition letters from U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson during the event.

Creighton also has served as Stark County recorder and auditor, and as mayor of Canton. She also worked as director of intergovernmental affairs for President George W. Bush in 2008 and 2009. Creighton has been a county commissioner since 2010.

Ralph Regula − whom she called a friend − was "respected and revered" in all political circles, Creighton said. "He was always lifting me up, giving me words of encouragement," she said.

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Creighton added: "Public service has been a dream come true. I don't regret any decisions I've made. But what I have learned is that what I love the most is recruiting, mentoring and training our future leaders."

Gates, a longtime member of the Kiwanis Club of Alliance, volunteers at the Alliance Community Pantry, Meals on Wheels, Alliance Area Habitat for Humanity and is involved in the Alliance VFW.

"I don't do those things to get awards. I do them because of the people you meet," Gates said through tears. "The people who I run meals to who don't have anyone else to talk to. Those are the ones."

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @bduerREP