Citizen Involvement Day Award Recipients

The City of Bath celebrated Citizen Involvement Day on Saturday, October 10, 2020. Congratulations to this year's award recipients! 

Citizen of the Year: Stephen August

Community service does not always draw attention; sometimes it takes the form of behind-the-scenes, “nuts and bolts” work. Stephen serves the Bath community with thoughtfulness and dedication in these quiet ways through his work on the boards of the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, Patten Free Library, and the RSU 1 School Board. He has fostered an environment where collaboration trumps competition, and, in doing so, grown a patchwork of partnerships that genuinely enrich the lives of Bath’s citizens and visitors. For his outstanding leadership, and the many ways he gives his time to organizations that strengthen our community, the City of Bath is proud to name Stephen August the 2020 Bath Citizen of the Year.

Al Smith Community Spirit Award: Wendy Jung

Wendy is a well-known face in the Bath community. She has spent time as a lacrosse coach, field hockey coach, PTA president, and runs a “Build ‘Her Up” fitness program for female athletes. She also organizes the beloved Trick or TROMP and food drive to benefit the Bath Area Food Bank every fall. But Wendy doesn’t stop with these activities – she also donates her time and skill as a photographer to the Bath community. When COVID-19 dramatically changed graduation for Morse High School seniors, Wendy offered to photograph portraits for free. The photos were turned into banners, which were hung in the downtown to show community support for the graduates. The City of Bath thanks Wendy for being a shining example of what it means to be a community cheerleader.

Community Project Award: Good Food for Bath

Good Food for Bath was organized in 2017 by the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust to ensure collaboration and collective action between non-profits, schools, housing entities, city officials, state legislators, and volunteers who strive to ensure food security in their communities. Thanks to this organization, isolated efforts to address food insecurity have been adapted to complement one another and ensure that no need is overlooked. The City of Bath is grateful for Good Food for Bath’s dedicated work to feeding the community.

Community Project Award: Dogwill

There are many incredible community partnerships that support the residents of Bath during their times of need, but Dogwill fills the often-overlooked gap of food and supplies for pets. Carolyn Lockwood and her team have been transporting, organizing, and distributing donations across the City since 2018. In many of the homes where Dogwill delivers, individuals live alone, and the companionship of their pets contributes to their emotional wellbeing. When COVID-19 hit, some individuals came under financial pressure and/or lost access to transportation for picking up pet supplies and Dogwill stepped in to provide regular deliveries. The City of Bath thanks Dogwill for supporting the canine residents of Bath and their owners.

Youth Award: Hannah Gates

Hannah began volunteering at the Bath Area Food Bank when she was in first grade. As a freshman in high school she organized and ran the Morse Student Grocery Program and continues to advocate for food insecure students. When the effects of COVID-19 began to reach our community, Hannah started volunteering at the food bank more than 40 hours a week. From March to August, 2020, Hannah helped deliver thousands of meals to area housing units. The City of Bath thanks Hannah for her tireless service to those in need.

Youth Award: Boden Gould

Boden is a young champion of nutrition and health. He is a long-time volunteer with the Bath Area Food Bank and a youth council member for Fuel Up to Play 60, a school health and wellness program which empowers students and educators to build healthier schools. In 2019 he helped promote a breakfast challenge with local businesses and civic organizations which fed  more than 400 students at Morse High School. The City of Bath thanks Boden for advocating for the health of our community.

More: Current News City Manager News