HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRESS RELEASE 04_15_09
For Immediate Release Contact: Anne Boykin Date April 15, 2009 979.450.3296 City of College Station Heritage Programs Honors Volunteers with PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD Award
is a Prestigious National Honor for Volunteer Service College Station, Texas – The City of College Station Heritage Programs today announced it has awarded 2 volunteers with the PRESIDENT’S
VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD, a national honor offered in recognition of volunteer service. Barbara Althaus, a Bryan resident who serves on the Brazos County Historical Commission, is a member
of Brazos Writers and the Daughters of the American Revolution and writes the Brazos County Flashbacks (seen in Historic Downtown Bryan), received a gold award signifying over 500 hours
of volunteer time in the last year. Most of those hours have been spent promoting and researching the Brazos County Historical Commission’s El Camino Real Project. Althaus is also writing
a book about her great uncle, Dean Kyle and Kyle Field. Kyle was on the faculty at Texas A&M many years ago. Robin Silva served as a SP6 Senior Operating Room Technician in the U.S.
Army Medical Field Corps for 5 years from 1962-1967 both stateside and overseas in Germany and France. Silva was awarded a lifetime achievement award signifying over 4,000 hours for
her work with the Veterans Day celebrations of 2007 and 2008, her work on the Board of Directors of the Museum of the American G.I., HonortheNames.com, American Legion Post #159, 14th
Armored Division Association, and with the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation. The work of both Althaus and Silva has significantly contributed to the online historical archives
(http://HOLD.cstx.gov) of the City of College Station Heritage Programs. Both awards were presented by Anne Boykin, Heritage Programs Coordinator for the City of College Station, at
the monthly Exploring History Lunch Lecture Series at the College Station Conference Center. Established in 2003, the AWARD is available on an annual basis to individuals, groups and
families who have met or exceeded requirements for volunteer service and have demonstrated exemplary citizenship through volunteering. As one of thousands of Certifying Organizations
participating in the AWARD program, the City of College Station Heritage Programs confers the award to recognize the outstanding achievements of heritage volunteers in Brazos Valley.
“In his 2002 State of the Union Address, President George W. Bush created the USA Freedom Corps, and called on every American to make a lifelong commitment to volunteer service. The
PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD recognizes individuals and families who have answered that call,” said Anne Boykin, Heritage Programs Coordinator of the City of College Station Department
of Parks and Recreation. “America’s volunteers work to make our communities stronger and safer. As a Certifying Organization for the AWARD program, the City of College Station is proud
to be aligned with this prestigious volunteer award, and we are especially proud of our volunteers who have made volunteer service a central part of their lives.” The PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER
SERVICE AWARD is an award for volunteer service that every American – from every age and every walk of life – can aspire to achieve. To be eligible to receive the AWARD, individuals,
families and groups submit a record of their annual volunteer service hours to participating Certifying Organizations, such as the City of College Station, that will verify the service
and deliver the AWARD. AWARD eligibility for individuals and groups is based on hour requirements varying by age. “These recipients of the PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD are role
models for all Americans,” Boykin said. “Each volunteer hour contributed makes a difference in improving the quality of life for others, and I encourage everyone to contribute to our
community by volunteering. Volunteers bring us closer together as families, as communities and as a Nation, through their commitment.” The AWARD is issued by the President’s Council
on Service and Civic Participation, a group created by President Bush to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers are making to our Nation. Chaired by two-time Super Bowl Champion
Darrell Green, with former U.S. Senators Bob Dole and John Glenn as honorary co-chairs, the Council comprises leaders in government, media, entertainment, business, education, nonprofits
and volunteer service organizations, and community volunteering. For more information about volunteering for Heritage Programs, please contact Anne Boykin at 979.764.3491 or aboykin@cstx.gov.
For more information about how to qualify for the PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD and to find out how to identify additional volunteer opportunities in this area, visit www.PresidentialServiceAwa
rds.gov or call 1-866-545-5307. ### Robin Silva receives Lifetime Award from Anne Boykin. Barbara Althaus displays her gold award.