WILSON – Volunteers working on behalf the City of Bushton in Rice County. They joined others in the state to accept community development awards at the Kansas PRIDE Program’s 2013 Day of PRIDE.

The annual event was held on April 27th and co-hosted by Wilson and Lucas, which are neighboring PRIDE Communities. PRIDE is a volunteer-driven community and economic resource available to Kansas communities. It is co-administered by K-State Research and Extension and the Kansas Department of Commerce, Business and Community Development.

Co-locating the event provided opportunities for representatives from other PRIDE communities to learn more about community development projects in Wilson, which hosted the morning program, and Lucas, which hosted the luncheon and afternoon program, said Trudy Rice, K-State Research and Extension PRIDE coordinator.

Both cities earned recognition as a PRIDE Community of Excellence this year, said Rice, who noted that the designation recognizes ongoing community development.

Bushton, which is located at the geographical center of Kansas and has a population of 300, earned a PRIDE STAR Cultural Capital Award for efforts on its family-friendly 125th Anniversary Celebration.

STAR Awards recognize one successful completed project. Recipients earn a commemorative award for display at the project site or city offices.

Bushton resident Jane Habiger also was honored as one of five state recipients of the PRIDE Community Partner Awards.

Recipients are nominated by their communities for the award, which is intended to recognize exceptional volunteers for leadership, citizenship and service to the community.

Habiger was praised for taking the lead in planning and managing the anniversary celebration. The event drew more than 1,000 people and generated funds to cover expenses, plus the cost of a new city sign and holiday lights for the city center.

Recipients of the Community Partner Awards receive a commemorative certificate.

In speaking as the Bushton PRIDE representative, Nancy Swain, local PRIDE spokesperson, noted that PRIDE projects bring the community together.

Swain, who is in her 10th year as chairman of Bushton PRIDE, noted that previous PRIDE projects have included improvements to the city park, a new stage, and playground that have proved popular with residents.

The Bushton community garden also has encouraged residents to work together to produce fresh produce that many in the community enjoy, she said.

PRIDE events, including summer movies (at the stage), a back-to-school bash, Easter egg hunt (in the park) and Santa’s Bazaar with a ‘Best Soup in Bushton Contest’ are well attended, Swain said.

“We’re an active group, and that means a lot to our community because PRIDE events and projects help to build a spirit of unity within the community,” Swain said.

For more information about the Kansas PRIDE Program in Bushton, contact Swain at 620-727-7206. More information about the state program and 2013 award recipients is available at www.kansasprideprogram.ksu.edu.