The Rev. Benjamin Libert and family.

The Rev. Benjamin Libert is the new pastor at Sunset Hills United Presbyterian Church. A Pittsburgh native, Libert holds a master of divinity degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He has served as associate pastor at Cross Roads Presbyterian Church in Monroeville, and as pastor of Highland United Presbyterian Church in Newport, Pennsylvania, before taking over at Sunset Hills. He lives on Broadmoor Avenue with his wife, Sarah, and their two boys.

Dan Jenkins, Elm Spring Road, received a Northwestern Mutual Outstanding Community Service Award for his involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh (BBBS). Jenkins, a wealth management adviser at JKS Financial, has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters for more than 20 years, working as a mentor, serving on multiple committees and as board president. Northwestern Mutual has donated $15,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters on Jenkins’ behalf.

Andy Booth, Markham Drive, received a Spirit Award from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for his volunteer work with the foundation. Last year Booth took part in a fund-raising bike ride in Tucson and was recognized for his contributions to the team he was on.

Lucy Fischer, Magnolia Place received a Chancellor’s Award for Research from the University of Pittsburgh. Fischer, director of Pitt’s Film Studies Program, has published seven monographs and four edited books, and her essays have been anthologized 30 times in scholarly volumes. She served as president of the Society of Cinema and Media Studies and received its Distinguished Service Award. The Chancellor’s Award recognizes the research Fischer has done over the course of her career.

The city of Atlanta is commending Demetria Danielides-Abde, Lansdale Place, for her actions last December in saving the life of a gunshot victim. Danielides-Abde, a flight attendant with Republic Airlines, was out for a run when she came upon the victim, who was bleeding heavily from a leg wound. While using the victim’s belt as a tourniquet, Danielides-Abde says she was confronted by the gunman, who then fled the scene as police and paramedics approached.

Baptist Homes receptionist Elizabeth Smee and Providence Point executive assistant Colleen Smith have been named Employees of the Year by the Baptist Homes Society. The two were selected from a pool of Employee of the Month award winners. Both employees will receive an award of $1,000 in appreciation of their commitment to the mission, vision and values of Baptist Homes Society.

Audubon Avenue resident Bob Guns has authored his second book, Slammed Again!, a self-help book aimed at survivors of multiple serious illnesses or medical conditions. Guns, whose first book, Rewire Your Brain, Rewire Your Life, was a memoir of his recovery from a debilitating stroke, has also experienced prostate cancer, bulging disc surgery and severe hearing loss. Slammed Again! focuses on approaches to deal with difficult health issues. The book is available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.

Mellon Middle School student Alexander Martin will compete this month in the Pennsylvania National Geographic State Geographic Bee at the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. Martin is one of 105 qualifiers who were invited to the competition. The state champion will receive $100 and a spot in the National Geographic Bee Championship in Washington, D.C., May 22-25.