People shook hands and gave friendly smiles to friends and family over ice water and finger foods at the Hannah Community Center on Monday.

The evening was a chance for friends, family and city officials to honor citizens with the 15th annual East Lansing Crystal Awards.

Four crystal bowls, with the names of the honorees engraved on them, were handed out to the applause of well-wishers.

More than 40 people showed up to pack into a room on the first floor of the center, 819 Abbott Road, to give their thanks.

Sue Granger and Gerald Osborn, Janet Mahoney, Jerry Mattson and MSU/Lansing Area Folksong Society were the newest recipients of the awards.

The winners were chosen from 55 nominations by friends and family members who thought their selection deserved to receive the spotlight in the community.

Granger and Osborn received the award for their work with Ellen’s Race. The 5K race now is in its ninth year and is in honor of their daughter, Ellen.

Ellen, an East Lansing fourth-grader, died in 1993.

“We are honored,” Gerald Osborn said. “We couldn’t do the annual race without the help of other people,” he said.

The race has raised more than $100,000 in donations to charities like the Pinecrest Elementary School and the Michigan Capital Girl Scouts.

Doing this race has helped so many people as well as themselves, Granger said.

Janet Mahoney was honored for her work with East Lansing teenagers.

Mahoney has organized several alcohol-free activities for teens to participate in after school.

She also helps plan activities at the Hot Spot Teen Club in the community center.

“I love working with students, that has always been my favorite thing to do,” she said.

Mattson, a former MSU professor of American Thought and Language, said having a chance to honor citizens shows just how much the city appreciates its hard working citizens.

“If you stay around long enough you earn some points,” he joked. “(But) it’s a real credit to the community they do this.”

Joan Mattson said she was proud of her husband’s achievement.

“I think he is the most deserved person they could have chosen,” she said.

The fourth recipient honored an entire group for its work with folk music since 1975.

The MSU/Lansing Area Folksong Society’s board of 12 members stood up to accept their award.

The society has spent 16 years working with the Children’s Concert Series and has donated the use of their sound system to the East Lansing Art Festival.

The society couldn’t survive without East Lansing, said Trevor Zachariah, president of the society.

“Without you we couldn’t do this, you are the volunteers who help us and the patrons who come and see us,” the second-year veterinary student told the crowd.

The awards help people get recognition for their good work with the city, East Lansing Mayor Mark Meadows said.

“You have to have an annual event that is positive and recognizes community involvement,” he said.