Pilot Club member Barbara Watson was awarded the 2025-2026 Individual Heart Award for outstanding volunteerism at the Heartland District convention in Manhattan.

The Heartland district is made up of four Pilot states, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, and from all the clubs and members, Barbara Watson was recognized as the individual Heart award recipient for most volunteer hours throughout the entire district at the gold level.

Great Bend Pilot club also received recognition and led the district by being awarded first place in Club Newsletter, Club Yearbook, Club Heart Award and Service Hours for a club with over 10,000 total hours for the year.

For 38 years the Pilot Club of Great Bend’s mission has been to improve the quality of life in our community, these awards illustrate our clubs’ dedication and enthusiasm for service, volunteerism and friendship.

Great Bend Pilot members annually support the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, plan workshops and programs on Autism and other neurodivergent conditions, use the award winning BrainMinders program to teach brain injury prevention to youth and seniors, along with our “Helmet People” bike helmet giveaways, while donating and supporting other community activities and program.

To learn more about Great Bend Pilot club go to www.greatbendpilotclub.com or Facebook www.facebook.com/pilotclubgreatbend.