|
Ninety-two learners, tutors, board, and family members, undeterred by the rain, attended the Literacy Volunteers of Roanoke Valley Annual Cookout and Award Ceremony. Those who braved the weather, which got better as the event proceeded, witnessed the announcement of the 2003 Sig Davidson Learners and Dudley Woody Tutors of the Year Awards for both the Basic Literacy and English-for-Speakers-of-Other-Languages Programs. This year’s awardees were learners Travis Crowe for Basic Literacy and Sam Hsu for English for Speakers of Other Languages. Tutors Claire Blake and Carol Sheahan were awarded the tutor awards for Basic Literacy and English for Speakers of Other Languages respectively.
Travis and Claire came forward to receive their awards together. Having worked together for six years, this learner-tutor pair has had great success. In April, Travis passed the GED tests, reaching a significant milestone but not the end of his studies. The two plan to continue their work together as Travis moves on to college classes. Their story demonstrates the power of a collaborative partnership when commitment and perseverance provide the foundation for learning. We are so very proud of Travis’s achievement and appreciate his willingness to share his story to motivate others. Many of our learners want to reach the milestone of the GED, and Travis and Claire’s partnership shows them that, with hard work and a long-term commitment, they can make it too.
ESOL Learner of the Year, Sam Hsu, whom tutor Kathy Seeley nominated, has worked in the program for two years. He has made note worthy advances in his English studies in that time, moving from the beginning level to high intermediate. Sam’s participation in the program beyond his work with his tutor has been very significant as well -- for example, his contributions to student publications like Cultural Soup and Writing from the Heart. Literacy Volunteers sends a hearty congratulations to Sam for all his hard work.
ESOL Tutor of the Year, Carol Sheahan, whom learners Terumi Murakami and Sonoko Kubota both nominated, has been a Literacy Volunteers tutor for three years. Carol has worked with several learners over those years and currently works with the pair above. Her work with her learners has been highly successful. She has assisted them in making great achievements in their English studies. Carol also gives lots of time and effort to help out the program in other ways. Literacy Volunteers thanks, Carol, for all she does for her learners and the program.
The two learners of the year rose to the top of a field of very fine nominees, who all received certificates of recognition at the event. The learner of the year nominees in the Basic Literacy Program were Joe Dillon, Lois Glass, Carl Jackson, Evan McCreath, Wayne Moran, Legrande Noel, Charles Rogers, and JoAnn Taylor. The ESOL Program nominees were Bolormaa Hajidsuren, Kyoko Takemoto-Jennings, Claudia Maffucci, Lucy Tamez, and Noriko Tokuda. The nominees from the Monday night math group were Barbara Coles, Ruth Gaither, Barbara Johnson, and Dianne Neal. Congratulations to all of these fine nominees.
The two tutors of the year make great representatives of the exceptional folks who become volunteer tutors in general. Literacy Volunteers is fortunate to have so many hard-working and dedicated volunteers. The tutor of the year nominees also outstandingly represent the people who give so much to the learners in our programs. The ESOL nominees were Lara Allen, Elaine Bassett, Ginny Craig, Beth Deyerle, Gene Freedman, Lorrie Huffman, Linda Kruse, Barbara Landon, Jennie Sue Murdock, Karen Recknor, Jeanne Scott, and Nancy Steinweg. The Basic Literacy nominees were Floyd Addison, Suzanne Barnett, Nancy Chapin, Donna David, Linda Fisher, Betty Jo Hayes, Nicole Lawrence, Carol Lugar, Dennis Pendleton, and Karen Recknor. Congratulations to all.
Nuria Crowe received the 2003 Ruth Lipnik-Sarah Rubush Volunteer of the Year Award. Nuria has been a volunteer office worker for well over a year. Her volunteer service during that time has been exemplary. She is the integral force that keeps the Literacy Volunteers office running. The program owes her so much for what she has done for this organization. The number of tasks she has done for Literacy Volunteers, like managing the books, paying bills, etc., are too numerous to recount. Nuria is a special person who is a joy to work with. Congratulations, Nuria, for this well-deserved award.
Literacy Volunteers also honored the backbone of its organization, our long-time tutors. Five-year tutors were Kathy Seeley and Fred Taylor. Helen and Farley Childress have six years. Seven-year tutors were Claire Blake, Barb Carraher, Lewis Crossgrove, and Jeanne Scott. Nancy Chapin has eight years. Kathleen Lautigar and Judy Perdue have reached the ten-year milestone. Emily Moore has eleven years. Susie Fetter and Lee Bristor have a phenomenal thirteen and fourteen years respectively. Literacy Volunteers of Roanoke Valley could not exist without the long-term commitment of these fine folks.
A big thanks to all the volunteers who helped to make the cookout a success. Board members Floyd Addison, Ron Swenson, and volunteer Ralph Crowe did the grilling. Libby Dungan helped set up and monitor the food table as well as bringing her delicious potato salad, chili, and chocolate cake. Carolyn Riddleberger, board president, and Judy Underwood from Bank of America provided and prepared the hamburger fixings. Board member Pat Dungan presented door prizes. Faye Swenson assisted in the set up and clean up. Nuria Crowe personed the sign-up table, distributing name tags and door-prize tickets. A special thanks to Rose Early-Willey from Bank of America for donating two sheet cakes and the entire Crossroads Branch of Bank of America staff for their work on door-prize donations.
Finally, Literacy Volunteers would like to thank all the learners who contributed to Writing from the Heart, which debuted at the cookout, especially the two writers, Travis Crowe and Evan McCreath, who read their pieces at the event. Travis pumped up the crowd with his piece, “What the GED Means to Me,” and Evan McCreath made us reflect upon the life-long race we all have for self-improvement in his fine piece, “I Am a Runner.” Both writers shared a similar theme, “Don’t give up.” Everyone in attendance deeply appreciated their readings.
Despite the weather, this year’s cookout and award ceremony was a success. If you’d like to get involved with Literacy Volunteers of Roanoke Valley so that you can receive your invitation to next year’s event, please call 265-9339 and visit our Web site www.lvarv.org. We are a not-for-profit community-based literacy organization. Our mission is to teach reading, writing, and language skills to adults free of charge through volunteer efforts. Since we always have learners waiting for tutors, we constantly recruit new volunteers. Other assistance and, of course, financial support is also welcome. So give us a call and join the fun.
|
