District Volunteers Honored by Governor
Suzanne Nichols, Outstanding District Volunteer 2009, receives a state Volunteer Award from Governor Chet Culver.
| 1 | 2 |
Outstanding District Volunteer Suzanne Nichols and the staff of the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art were recipients of the 2009 Governor’s Volunteer Award on behalf of the Cedar Rapids Community Schools. The awards were presented by Governor Chet Culver during a special ceremony held in June.
Nichols was selected as the Outstanding District Volunteer for 2009 from the group of Outstanding Building Volunteers as nominated by each school. Nichols is an active classroom helper, SPEAK UP coordinator, cafeteria volunteer, field trip chaperone, and student council parent volunteer at Grant Wood Elementary School. She also manages the Grant Wood school store, overseeing the fifth grade students who sell products. Additionally, she plans monthly family events to support and strengthen the school community.
The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art staff received a group honor from the Governor. The Museum staff was nominated as a group for going above and beyond in assisting with flood recovery efforts related to the District’s art collection.
“The District is extremely grateful for the dedicated efforts of all of our volunteers and community partners,” noted Marcia Hughes, Community Relations Supervisor. “It’s wonderful to have a public opportunity to shine the spotlight on the valuable contributions of these friends of education and, by extension, on all volunteers.”
The Governor’s Volunteer Award program was established in 1982 to honor and recognize volunteers for the commitment, service and time that they contribute to Iowa's government agencies and nonprofit organizations. More than 680 volunteers statewide were selected for awards in 2009. The program is coordinated by the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service and the Governor’s Office.
The most recent “Volunteering in America” study shows that volunteers in Iowa collectively contribute 89.3 million hours of service and have an estimated economic impact of $1.7 billion annually.