Steve and Sue Heller of Penn Yan will receive Keuka College's 2026 Donald and Corinne Stork Award for Community Service, recognizing more than three decades of volunteer work and civic leadership in the community.
The award will be presented during a luncheon at noon Tuesday, Aug. 11, on the Keuka College campus. The luncheon is open to the public, with registration information available through the college.
Keuka College said the Hellers were selected for their long record of service with local organizations, events and causes, including the Yates County Arts Council, the Keuka Lake Association, the Keuka College Community Associates Board, Krossin' Keuka and the Life Is a Journey 10K.
"Steve and Sue exemplify the spirit of service that the Stork Award was created to celebrate," Keuka College Associate Vice President for Advancement Billy Jo Jayne said. "They've spent years investing their time, talents, and energy into organizations and initiatives that make our communities stronger."
The couple has also supported Keuka Comfort Care Home and Penn Yan community events, including the Downtown Business Council's Fall Festival. Sue Heller has served as the hospice home's volunteer coordinator and worked with residents and families, while Steve Heller has helped provide consulting and strategic planning assistance to community organizations.
Keuka College President Amy Storey said the couple's service reflects the role relationships and shared commitment play in strengthening communities.
"What makes Steve and Sue so deserving of this recognition is not simply what they have done, but how they have done it – together," Storey said. "Strong communities are built on relationships, trust, and a shared commitment to the greater good."
The Hellers have been involved with Krossin' Keuka since its beginning, helping guide the swim-across-Keuka Lake fundraiser. Anne Killen, who co-chairs the event with Steve Heller, said the couple shows "genuine care" for the community, the lake and their neighbors.
Steve Heller is a former adjunct instructor at Keuka College. Sue Heller served for nearly 20 years as an EMT with the Penn Yan Volunteer Ambulance Corps. The couple are longtime members of Penn Yan United Methodist Church.
Penn Yan natives and "hometown sweethearts," the Hellers have been married for more than 50 years. They returned to Penn Yan in 1989 after about 15 years in the Buffalo area and helped launch Keuka Appraisal Services with relative Brian Hawley.
Established in 1991, the Donald and Corinne Stork Award for Community Service recognizes area residents whose volunteerism, leadership and civic engagement reflect Keuka College's commitment to public service. The award is named for its first recipients, the late Donald and Corinne Stork.
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