ABINGTON, Pa. — The Abington Township Police Department presented Gina Montgomery, the transportation manager at Penn State Abington, with the Ken and Sue Hoffman Award for outstanding volunteerism for her years of service to the community. 

Montgomery, a lifelong township resident, received the award this week at the 24th annual Pre-National Night Out, which draws thousands of residents who connect with community resources and safety information while kids explore fire engines and meet first responders and government officials.

The advance planning for Night Out falls to Ken Hoffman, but Montgomery manages on-site logistics, arriving by 8 a.m. and staying until everything is broken down around 10 p.m.   

According to Lt. Kevin Magee, the division commander of Community Policing for the township, Montgomery’s skills impact the success of the event.

“Gina helps take Pre-Night Out to another level,” he said. “She is a standout person, and she has a unique talent to keep people on an even keel. Gina doesn't do this for the recognition. Her heart is in the right place.”

Ken Hoffman, who along with his wife has more than two decades of combined volunteer experience with the Abington police, traces Montgomery’s commitment to community service to her dad, Dave Rondinelli.  

Rondinelli volunteered with the local town watch for years and ultimately retired as the head civilian employee in community policing. He brought Montgomery into the fold. 

“It’s a family tradition of volunteerism, and they help bring the community together in a positive way,” Hoffman said. 

Montgomery was characteristically humble when she learned she would receive the Hoffman award. 

“I've been volunteering for so many years that it’s become second nature,” she said. “My dad and I are very close so whenever he needed my help at Pre-Night Out and at other events, I was there.” 

Magee is thrilled to have such outstanding role models supporting community policing. 

“Gina, Dave, Ken and Sue bring a passion to community service,” Magee said. “Volunteerism has been down since COVID, and you really see the committed ones who stuck around. You have to take note of people who have weathered the storm.” 

The skills that Montgomery brings to her volunteer roles bleed into her day job managing parking logistics at Penn State Abington. She coordinates complex shuttle and bus schedules along with supervising eight drivers and six part-time workers. Issuing student identification cards, parking permits, parking enforcement and guest parking also fall under her purview. 

“I love working with the people and the students on our campus,” she said. “I speak with students at New Student Orientation to help prepare them for the semester and I go to every resource fair to answer their questions.”  

The job is physically demanding, too, since she is often outside for hours in all types of weather. The visitor parking and drop-off areas are tight so safety is a priority. Montgomery's role has evolved since she arrived at Abington in 2018. 

“We’ve done parking surveys, and now we manage the options more efficiently,” she said. “Since we are in a neighborhood, all of the residents have my phone number so they can call me if they have any issues or concerns.”

Magee, from the township community policing unit, understands why Montgomery is so successful on campus. 

“Gina brings the skills to traverse the generations,” he said. “She can deal with the kids and faculty and all of the different backgrounds she encounters.”

When Montgomery is off campus, she can be found busy with her other passion — volunteering. She is currently planning a golf outing to benefit her son’s high school football team, and she’s coached youth basketball. 

“I’ve been volunteering for years. It’s just who I am,” she said. 

About Penn State Abington

Penn State Abington provides an affordable, accessible and high-impact education resulting in the success of a diverse student body. It is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st-century public higher education within a world-class research university. With more than 3,100 students, Penn State Abington is a residential campus that offers baccalaureate degrees in 25 majors, accelerated master's degrees, undergraduate research, the Schreyer Honors College, NCAA Division III athletics and more.