The First National Bank of Arenzville, Jacksonville, and South Jacksonville is pleased to announce that Katie McDannald is the recipient of the 2024 Blue Diamond Community Service Award.

Katie was born and raised in the Triopia area, and is currently an administrative assistant at Lincoln Land Community College in Jacksonville. Prior to her work at LLCC, she was employed by the Jacksonville Police Department and US Bank. Katie was nominated because of her extensive volunteer work in the Arenzville and Jacksonville area.

She founded and coordinates the yearly Concord Fish-fry, now in it’s 7th year. She organizes vendors, arranges food service, and coordinates activities for this popular event.

She is very involved in the performing arts, becoming the theatre director for the Triopia Junior High and Senior High schools. In 2023, she reorganized the tradition of play performances in honor of the many years of dedication of Ken Bradbury. She has also been a volunteer for Green Pastures Performing Arts Camp near Chapin.

Katie is dedicated to the youth of our community, serving on the Jacksonville Promise Scholarship committee. This group provides support to students pursuing higher education in our area.

Besides her dedication to youth, she offers her time and skills in other ways. Katie fosters animals in the community that are in need of forever homes. During the COVID epidemic, she created a video to help assist patrons while employed at Steak & Shake in Jacksonville.

Her friend, Amber Crowley stated, “Katie puts everyone before herself. She spends an amazing amount of time volunteering in our community, and specifically to the youth of the community. Everything she does is out of the bottom of her heart, and she always gives more than 110% to every program. She is always positive and goes out of her way to make others smile.”

First National Bank is proud to award Katie McDannald with the 2024 Blue Diamond Community Service Award. The bank is honored to acknowledge community servants in our area, and Katie exemplifies those traits: putting others before ourselves.

Congratulations Katie!