John Tacha, owner of Bureau of Lectures and Concert Artists Inc., Lawrence, is the May recipient of the Lawrence Bank Star of Excellence Award.

The award is given to civic leaders, neighborhood volunteers, police and firefighters, Kansas University students and staff, military personnel and others who have made significant community contributions.

Tacha was honored for devoting more than 30 years of service to a variety of community boards in Lawrence, many of them for organizations benefiting children. Among the organizations: Lawrence public schools, Cottonwood Inc., Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment and First Douglas County Children’s Initiative Group.

As a member of the school board, he worked to secure passage of a bond to finance construction of projects including Free State High School.

“It is just something the community really needed,” he said.

As owner of Bureau of Lectures and Concert Artists, Tacha provides entertainment options for schools throughout the United States. This year the organization plans to conduct more than 5,000 assembly programs in 40 states.