The Lehighton Area Chamber of Commerce held its awards banquet Thursday at the Mahoning Valley Ambulance Building, selecting Maureen Karas as its “Citizen of the Year.”

Born in raised in Galway, Ireland, Karas was cited for being an active church member and vice president of the Woman’s Club of Lehighton.

Others honored included: Linda Dietz, Volunteer of the Year; Judy Ardella, owner of Judy’s Arts ’N Things, Business of the Year; Friends of the Library, Volunteer Group of the Year; Denise A. Gerber, Educator of the Year; and Rachael Solt, Heather Bowman and Christopher Kunkle, Student Scholarship Award winners.