Capt. Pat Karlin, of Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical, is winner of the first Lawrence Bank Star of Excellence Award.

The award program is designed to recognize people – such as civic leaders, neighborhood volunteers, police officers, firefighters, military personnel and Kansas University students and staffers – who have made significant contributions to the community.

Karlin has spent 15 years with the department, and his community involvement includes coaching youth football, baseball and soccer teams; providing leadership at Red Dog’s Dog Days; and participating in Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) at Langston Hughes School, to help keep children safe.