The Kansas Task Force for Confidence in Education selected Chris Akin, DeSoto, for the 2003 Friends of Education Award. The award recognizes individuals and organizations who show dedication to public education. Akin received a certificate of award in the school volunteer category.

Akin was a proponent of the past three DeSoto bond issues and walked door-to-door to support the bond initiative. She is co-president of Riverview Elementary Parent-Teacher Assn., and a member of its site council. She also serves on a variety of district committees, including the strategic planning action team for improved community communication.

Akin and her husband, Tony, have lived in the DeSoto school district for seven years. Their son, Aaron, is a second-grader at Riverview Elementary, and their daughter, Amber, will start kindergarten.