Curt Gill embraces opportunities to further projects, programs and education in Porter County.

A Valparaiso resident since 1976 and vice president of Centier Bank, Valparaiso branch since it opened in 1988, he believes in the community and to giving back.

Gill served as director of the American Cancer Society for 30 years. He just retired in August. He has been a member of Valparaiso Rotary Club for 21 years and is a past president and is currently involved with the Porter County Tobacco and Education Prevention Coalition. He serves on the Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation, was a member of a delegation to China last October, and has been on the Valparaiso Town Gown Committee for at least 15 years.

A 12-year member of the Porter County Career and Technical Education Advisory Council, Gill recently received its Outstanding Service Award. His support of career and technical education students and programs were cited as some of the reasons for the award. School principal and director Jon Groth presented the honor.

The purpose of the advisory council is to provide assistance to the county Career and Technical Education administration in system design and program evaluation, to bring community input into the planning process to better serve the interests of students, parents, future employers of graduates and the community.

"I work in the community, want to be involved and I plan to continue," he said. "And Centier Bank is very supportive of volunteer opportunities and me in these pursuits."