Introducing Vivian Kochanowski, your BANK VI Hero of the Week!

Vivian was nominated for her work with the students at Ell-Saline Elementary School, something she has done since her granddaughter Lexi was in Kindergarten.

Vivian, who is retired from the nursing field, spends everyday postively impacting the lives of more than 200 people. She starts the day by voluteering in band, then traveling across the building by tutoring where needed. She also completes various tasks for staff of the school, including making copies and repairing classroom supplies.

Her most valuable part of her day is being the “Milk Lady”. She helps distribute milk to the students of the school. She knows every single student’s name and what their milk preference is. She even helped create Strawberry Milk Day at the school. If your lucky, or need a “pick me up”, she’ll give you a special Mrs. K “milkshake”.

Even though her granddaughter is now a student at Ell-Saline High School, Vivian continues her volunteer at the elementary school nearly a decade later. She says it’s like having 250 grandkids. Many Ell-Saline students, including those that have moved up to the middle and high school level, continue to call her grandma. “It would be awfully hard to walk away and leave those kids, they just make my day,” she said.

If you know someone that gives back to our community or goes that extra mile to make our community a better place, nominate that extraordinary individual for Hero of the Week by clicking here!