Keuka College presented the 2025 Donald and Corinne Stork Award for Community Service to Stacy and Chris Wyant during a luncheon on Tuesday, Aug. 12, in the College’s Geiser Dining Commons.
The Stork Award, established in 1991, recognizes individuals whose dedication to the common good reflects the values of Keuka College and the example set by its first recipients, Donald and Corinne Stork. Past honorees have included educators, public servants, and civic leaders whose work has left a lasting mark on the region.
“Chris and Stacy embody the spirit of this award through their decades of tireless commitment to Penn Yan and the people who call it home,” said Finger Lakes Economic Development Center CEO Steve Griffin, who, along with College President Amy Storey, presented the award.
President Storey noted the importance of the example set by the Wyants and the Stork Award winners who came before them, many of whom were in attendance Tuesday.
“You are the role models,” she said. “You are the gold standard. You are what we try to teach our students to be when they go out into their own communities. So thank you for providing our students with that worthy example.”
The Wyants have contributed to numerous causes, from leading food drives and the Penn Yan Rotary Club’s foreign exchange program to supporting scholarships for young women through the Philanthropic Education Organization. They have also been steadfast members of Bluff Point United Methodist Church and reliable neighbors known for their quiet acts of generosity, like providing meals or clearing snow from a neighbor’s driveway.
“Chris and Stacy remind us that community service doesn’t always come with a spotlight,” said Mr. Griffin, a workforce development specialist with the College. “More often, it comes with a shovel.”
In accepting the award, the couple thanked family, friends, fellow volunteers, and, most of all, “God, for giving us the physical, financial, and spiritual gifts to be able to be included on such an amazing list of givers.”
“Chris and I know where Corry and Don Stork’s hearts were and why this prestigious award carries their names,” said Stacy. “We saw it with our own eyes and tried to follow their example.”
The ceremony also included a proclamation from the New York State Legislature honoring the Wyants’ service, affirming that their generosity and dedication embody the very best of community spirit.
While the Wyants didn’t grow up in the Penn Yan area, Chris said they are nonetheless proud to call it home.
“We get to live here,” she told the audience of nearly 100. “And we are so thankful for it.”
