Each year, Rotary District 6270 honors extraordinary individuals who put peace into action – building bridges of understanding, compassion, and inclusion across Eastern Wisconsin. The 2025 Agent of Peace Awards recognizes two such leaders whose volunteer service reflects Rotary’s highest values of Service Above Self, integrity, and fellowship.

 

This year’s honorees are Mary Koczan of Sheboygan, the Community Recipient, and Jenne Hohn of Ozaukee County, the Rotary Member Recipient. Both women exemplify the Rotary spirit of transforming empathy into impact – creating spaces where everyone belongs and peace can grow.

As the lead representative for Friends of Peace Park Sheboygan, Mary Koczan has turned a once- unused public space into a living monument to peace. What began as an idea to create a reflective park has blossomed into a thriving hub for peace education, cultural exchange, and volunteer engagement.

 

Under Mary’s leadership, Peace Park has become the centerpiece for Sheboygan’s International Day of Peace Celebration, uniting residents, students, and international visitors – including delegates from the city’s sister city in Tsubame, Japan. Through art, dialogue, and service projects, Koczan’s team brings people together to celebrate diversity and build understanding.

 

Her vision extends beyond events. By forming partnerships with the City of Sheboygan, local schools, and civic groups, she’s created a sustainable model of community stewardship. Each season, volunteers plant gardens, add interpretive signage, and maintain accessible walkways – turning the park into a lasting symbol of Rotary’s vision for lasting peace.

 

Learn more at https://sheboyganpeacepark.org.

For Jenne Hohn, a Past President of the Thiensville-Mequon Rotary Club, peace is found in inclusion – ensuring that every individual is valued and welcomed. Inspired by her late friend, Ken Kuemmerlein, Jenne began coaching Special Olympics athletes in Ozaukee County and now leads as part of the program’s local leadership team.

 

She coaches multiple sports, including basketball and volleyball, and serves as a Unified Golf Partner –sharing victories, challenges, and laughter with athletes of all abilities. Her empathy and energy have strengthened the program, increased participation, and built deep community bonds.

 

But her vision doesn’t stop there. Jenne co-chairs the Mequon Rotary Park Inclusive Playground Project, a landmark $4.5 million initiative that will create 1.5 acres of accessible play space for children and families of all abilities. The project, now well underway, is transforming Mequon Rotary Park into one of Wisconsin’s most inclusive recreation spaces.

 

Peace begins when everyone has a place to belong. Every time we open a door, build a ramp, or create a space for inclusion, we bring our community closer together.

 

Learn more about the playground project at https://mequonrotarypark.com

Both Mary and Jenne show that peace is not passive – it’s active, intentional, and local. Their volunteer leadership demonstrates how Rotary’s vision comes to life every day:

 

Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

 

Past District Governor Don Griffing praised the honorees, saying:

“Mary and Jenne remind us that peace is built through relationships – through showing up, serving others, and believing in the power of community. They are living examples of Rotary’s mission in action.”

 

The Agent of Peace Award, presented annually by Rotary District 6270, honors one community member and one Rotary member who have made exceptional voluntary contributions to peacebuilding and humanitarian service beyond their professional roles. For more information on the Agent of Peace Award and ways to nominate future honorees, visit https://rotary6270.org/page/agent-of-peace/