Camp HOPE

ASPIRE Therapeutic Riding Program is looking for volunteers for Camp HOPE from August 1st-5th for children of all abilities. We need Buddies, Group Leaders, Activity Leaders, and Registration Help. The camp is held at the National Cattle Congress in Waterloo from 9 am until 3 pm. For more information please contact us at (319) 296-0964 or at info@aspiretrp.org

Weekly Volunteer Opportunities Update

• Aspire Therapeutic Riding Program needs volunteers for the My Waterloo Days Parade on June 4 from 8:30 a.m. until noon. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

• Back to School Project needs volunteers to register families in Black Hawk County to receive new school supplies Monday through Friday, June 13 until July 29. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

• The Cedar Valley Derby Divas need volunteers for ticket sales window, will call window, ticket takers and merchandise table for a roller derby bout on June 11 from 5:15 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

• The Cedar Valley Volunteer Emergency Club needs volunteers to assist with the Sturgis Falls Celebration from Friday, June 24th through Sunday, June 26th. Opportunities include providing traffic control for several events including a short parade late Friday afternoon, the main parade on Saturday morning and the half marathon Sunday morning. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

Iowan of the Day Nominations

Do you know an Iowan with a passion for volunteering? How about someone who takes every opportunity to go the extra mile for those in need? If so, this is an incredible opportunity to recognize this shining star!

The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation and Cookies Food Products are looking for nominations for the 2011 Iowan of the Day program. The program, which began in 1997, was created to honor those individuals who exemplify the Iowa spirit of dedication, hard work and generosity.

Ten winners will be named Iowans of the Day and each will have a special day of recognition at the 2011 Iowa State Fair. Perks include an introduction on the Anne & Bill Riley Stage, $200 cash, a golf cart for the day, VIP parking, gate admission for four, hotel accommodations at the Des Moines Downtown Marriott, four tickets to the evening Grandstand event and one year subscriptions to Iowan and Iowa Gardening magazines.

For nomination forms, please stop by your local post office, library, or contact Drew at the Blue Ribbon Foundation at (800) 450-3732. You can also download nomination forms at www.blueribbonfoundation.org/iotd.html. The deadline for all nominations is July 1. Nominees from 2008, 2009 and 2010 will also be reconsidered. All nominees must currently reside in Iowa.

Recognize your outstanding Iowan with a day of honor at the 2011 Iowa State Fair! Send in your nominations today!

Weekly Volunteer Opportunities Update

• Hartman Reserve Nature Center and the Cedar Valley Sustainability & Environmental Educators are bringing a new event to the UNI campus Tuesday, May 24 from 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Volunteers are needed to serve as Classroom Guides, Presenter and Exhibit Hall Assistants, Check-In Booths and Lunch Volunteers. There will be a required class guide training session from 8 - 9 a.m. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

• The American Red Cross - Hawkeye Chapter needs Disaster Action Team members to provide relief to victims of fire, flood, tornado, winter storms, and other natural disasters, and assist communities in recovering from disaster. Team members must be able to be available for a 24 hour call period. Training and preparation is required and provided. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

• Aspire Therapeutic Riding Program needs volunteers for the My Waterloo Days Parade on June 4 from 8:30 a.m. until noon. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

• Back to School Project needs volunteers to provide new school supplies to at-risk children in Black Hawk County Monday through Friday, June 13 until July 29. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

Factors that Influence Volunteer Rates - Iowa

Greater Attachment to the Community Encourages Volunteering

Indicators such as homeownership and the number of multiunit dwellings, help determine whether residents have a long-term commitment and attachment to their communities. Data show that as the rate of homeownership increases the volunteer rate also tends to increase. Nationally, 66.6% of individuals own their home. In Iowa, 72.9% own their home. Conversely, communities with a large percentage of multi-unit housing, such as apartment buildings and condominiums, have lower volunteer rates. Nationally, 32.4% of individuals live in multi-unit housing, while Iowa has a rate of 22.5%.

 

Long Commutes Can Curtail Opportunities to Volunteer

Long commutes can be expected to reduce the time and opportunity individuals have to connect to organizations in their communities, thus reducing average volunteer rates. Nationally, commuters travel on average just over 25 minutes to work. In Iowa, commuters travel on average 19 minutes to work.

 

Volunteering Rises with Education

For states and large metropolitan areas, as the education level increases, the likelihood of volunteering also rises. At a national level, 85.0% have a high school diploma or GED equivalent and 27.7% have a college degree. In Iowa, 90.3% have a high school diploma or GED equivalent and 24.3% have a college degree.

 

Volunteering is Less Common in High Poverty Areas

Poverty is another socioeconomic characteristic that tends to be strongly associated with lower volunteer rates. However, it is difficult to determine whether high poverty rates reduce the overall propensity to volunteer, whether high volunteering in a community leads to a reduction in poverty, or if both effects occur. At a National level, the poverty rate is 13.2 percent. Iowa has a poverty rate of 11.5%.

 

Higher State Unemployment Related to Lower Volunteering

As shown in the Volunteering in America 2010 Issue Brief, states with high rates of unemployment usually have low volunteer rates. While theorists have ideas as to the basis of this relationship, more research is needed to determine a cause. In 2009, the national unemployment rate was 8.5%. In Iowa, the unemployment rate was 5.4%.

 

Volunteer Rates Lower in Cities with High Foreclosures

In general, higher foreclosure rates are expected to have an impact on volunteering rates; that is, it would not be unexpected if higher foreclosure rates in a city corresponded with lower volunteer rates. In 2009, we see the evidence. Cities with high foreclosure rates tend to have a corresponding lower volunteering rate. For more information, see the Volunteering in America 2010 Issue Brief. In Iowa, the foreclosure rate changed by 0.0 percentage points between 2008 and 2009 (Foreclosure data used for this analysis was provided by RealtyTrac).

 

The Capacity of a Community's Associations Impacts Volunteer Rates

Communities with higher nonprofits per capita are likely to have higher volunteer rates. As the number of nonprofits per 1,000 city residents increases, the volunteering rate also increases. At a national level, there are an average of 4.45 nonprofit organizations per 1,000 residents. Iowa has, on average, 8.87 nonprofits per 1,000 city residents.

For more information visit http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/IA

VALU Training - Sign up NOW!

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley (VCCV) invites non-profit member agency representatives to attend the next VALU meeting. 

The next VALU Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2011

from 11:30 – 1:00 p.m.

Topic: “Utilizing Summer Youth Volunteers” with Lauren Finke,

Executive Director, Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley

Location: Meeting Room 1 of the Kimball Ridge Center.

VALU is open to anyone interested in volunteer management. Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley member agency representatives attend free of charge.

Others may attend for $5 per person.

This is a "Bring Your Own Lunch" event.

Dessert snacks provided.

RSVP to Anne_Nass@vccv.org

L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth

L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth is committed to recognizing powerful women who have taken on the responsibility to make a change in our world for the better.

Please join our ever growing community that celebrates the L'Oréal iconic philosophy "Because You're Worth It" and nominate a Woman of Worth who is making a beautiful difference in the lives of people in her community.

Ten honorees will receive $10,000 for their causes - with one of them receiving an additional $25,000 as the 2011 Woman of Worth National Honoree. Nominations open April 11 and run through June 30, 2011. This is your chance to raise your voice - and celebrate women who raise the bar!

ELIGIBILITY & CRITERIA

• Be a woman 18 years or older.
• Have a record of exemplary service within her community and the community at large.
• Be able to demonstrate the impact of her work within her community.
• Be aspirational and inspirational to others.
• Demonstrate commitment to her cause.
• Exemplify leadership.
• Non-compensated.

For more information visit http://www.womenofworth.com/home/home.aspx

Weekly Volunteer Opportunities Update

• The Family and Children’s Council is holding a training for new Parent to Parent volunteers on Saturday, May 21 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Family & Children’s Council. Please pre-register by Monday, May 16. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

• The Cedar Valley Derby Divas need volunteers for ticket sales window, will call window, ticket takers and merchandise table for a roller derby bout on May 21 from 5:15 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

• Hartman Reserve Nature Center and the Cedar Valley Sustainability & Environmental Educators are bringing a new event to the UNI campus Tuesday, May 24 from 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Volunteers are needed to serve as Classroom Guides, Presenter and Exhibit Hall Assistants, Check-In Booths and Lunch Volunteers. There will be a required class guide training session from 8 - 9 a.m. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

• Alternatives Pregnancy Center needs an individual or a group to assist with spreading the word about Alternatives events and act as a liaison in the faith-based community. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

Give Tribute to Older Americans this May

You'll want to high-five the grandparents this May - it's Older Americans month! Spending time with our elders is one of the most accessible and rewarding service activities - and one that's great for families with children of any age. So heed this year's theme of Connecting the Community by celebrating the older adults in your family and neighborhood. It's so easy to make a positive difference in their lives.

Ideas to connect...

·  Bake cookies and take them to a care facility, homebound friend or neighbor.

·  Gather a group of kids or families and put on a talent show or music concert at a senior center or host a craft or game night.

·  Adopt a grandparent by forming a special relationship with an elderly person who has few visitors.  

·  Deliver meals for Meal on Wheels.

·  Assist a homebound senior in your neighborhood.

Contact the Lauren Finke at 319-272-2087 or e-mail her at lauren_finke@vccv.org to learn more.

Summer Opportunities

Does your agency need volunteers for summer activities? Do you have summer camps, outdoor work, or seasonal activities approaching that need youth volunteers?

Now is the time to secure volunteers! Youth are now making plans for employment, vacations, and summer service work. If you have a place for them act now!

Non-profit agencies may join the VCCV at no cost and are then free to register your volunteers on 1-800-Volunteer.org.

Contact Lauren Finke for more information at 272-2087 or lauren_finke@vccv.org.

Global Youth Service Day Results

Volunteers braved cold, windy weather in the Cedar Valley to participate in Global Youth Service Day, April 14. Sponsored by the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley and Black Hawk County Extension, the Global Youth Service Day project, “The Great Sweep”, involved a spring cleaning of Lincoln Park and some of the streets in downtown Waterloo. Approximately thirty five volunteers produced an amazing number of garbage bags of litter and left downtown Waterloo looking much better. Volunteers came from a variety of organizations and agencies. They included a wonderful group from ConAgra Foods, members of the Boy and Girls Clubs, Boys Scouts, Girl Scouts, and other individual volunteers.

Global Youth Service Day is an annual campaign that celebrates and mobilizes millions of youth to improve their communities. It is celebrated in over 100 countries.

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley thanks all who participated.

For more information, contact Jean Seeland at jean_seeland@vccv.org or 272-2087.

Service Learning Update

So much current research shows that the optimal age for learning is 3 or 4 years of age. Operating under that premise we are embarking on new territory—we are initiating  service learning experiences at two day care and preschool centers in the Cedar Valley, Cedar Valley Preschool and Child Care in Cedar Falls and Grin and Grow day care in Waterloo. These experiences have been made possible by the Volunteer Generation Fund Grant.

Many of our other service learning classes are concluding their projects. The home schooled students have collected or made and given coats, blankets, scarves and hats to the Salvation Army. The eighth graders at Peet Junior High are busy raising money for the Humane Society and the Food Bank. The Janesville eighth graders have raised money for a pedestrian bridge. They also experienced some civic responsibility when they wrote letters to their elected representatives and spoke at a City Council meeting.

West High students are writing public service announcements and planning a radio show about hunger in our community. Expo students continue to work on service projects. One class is writing some public service announcements on why students should stay in school.

Our Do Something Clubs at the Boys and Girls Club continue to learn about our community and work to give back. Students at the Poyner site have visited a retirement home and played games with, painted fingernails of, and enjoyed treats with the residents.

Service Learning may be summed up in the words of a West High student:  “Until we started discussing this, I didn’t realize the needs in our community. Now I want everyone to know and then to do something.”   

For more information on Service-Learning contact Jean Seeland at 272-2087 or Jean_Seeland@vccv.org.

Weekly Volunteer Opportunities Update

• North Star Community Services needs individuals to assist with the Inclusive Community Theatrical Performance from May 9 – 11 between 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Opportunities include assisting with make-up, costumes, serving as stage hands and tear down. Volunteers with enclosed trailers are also needed to haul sets, props and costumes to the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

• The Family and Children’s Council is holding a training for new Parent to Parent volunteers on Saturday, May 21 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Family & Children’s Council. Please pre-register by Monday, May 16. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

• The Cedar Valley Derby Divas need volunteers for ticket sales window, will call window, ticket takers and merchandise table for a roller derby bout on May 21 from 5:15 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

• Hartman Reserve Nature Center and the Cedar Valley Sustainability & Environmental Educators are bringing a new event to the UNI campus Tuesday, May 24 from 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Volunteers are needed to serve as Classroom Guides, Presenter and Exhibit Hall Assistants, Check-In Booths and Lunch Volunteers. There will be a required class guide training session from 8 - 9 a.m. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

Three VCCV Board Members Win Awards

The Women of Persimmon Celebration held its 5th annual fundraising luncheon for the YWCA of Black Hawk County. The purpose of the event is to recognize outstanding women and organizations who exemplify our mission to eliminate racism and empower women in their daily lives and businesses. There are five nomination categories: Professional Woman, Volunteer, Young Women of Tomorrow, Youth Advocate and Organization that Empowers Women. The sixth award given is the YWCA Woman of Persimmon Award, awarded to someone who’s made an important impact on the YWCA over the years.

VCCV Board Member, Julie Pitzen received the Professional Woman Award and Amy Costliow the Young Women of Tomorrow Award.

VCCV Board Member, Chris Vadner was awarded "Board Member of the Year" at the 7th Annual Cedar Valley Nonprofit Awards Luncheon hosted on April 15th in the Commons Ballroom at UNI. The event was hosted by UNI's Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Student Association (formerly American Humanics).





Featured Board Member: Charlie Allen

Charlie Allen is currently Managing Vice President at CBE Group; responsible for all day to day operations. He has been with CBE for 16 months. Charlie absolutely loves his job and the people he works with at CBE. Moving to the Cedar Valley has been a fantastic move for Charlie and his wife.

Charlie Grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and spent 9 years in the Air Force. Charlie and his wife, Melody, moved to Cedar Falls from Richmond, VA to work with the CBE Group. Charlie and Melody have 2 Golden Retrievers, Sophie Belle and Lucy Lou. Charlie’s three ladies are fantastic.

Charlie has been very involved with Junior Achievement and Toastmasters in the past and has started to work with Junior Achievement here and plans to continue working with Toastmasters.

Charlie and Melody live on the Cedar River and love the water, boating, and kayaking. Charlie and his wife truly feel like they have found a home here and are both excited about getting more involved in the community through the VCCV.

Last but certainly not least.... Charlie is a huge Florida Gator and Atlanta Braves fan!

 



Thank you Charlie for all you do!

Mayors’ Top Teen Award Winners

The 13th annual Mayors' Top Teen Awards and Mother Moon Service Scholarships were presented by the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley Tuesday at Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center.

The awards program, which recognizes outstanding youth volunteers in the Cedar Valley, included an evening reception for teens, their parents and friends.

Criteria included demonstrating excellence in volunteerism in the Cedar Valley and a setting a good example as a role model for others. Teens ages 13-18 are eligible for the award.

In addition, the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa awarded Mother Moon Service Scholarships to 10 students.

Winners

Emily Andresen
Andresen volunteers her time through the Hudson High School National Honor Society by working at blood drives at the high school. She also volunteers through St. John's Lutheran Church through service projects. The project that she enjoys the most is volunteering for the House of Hope in Waterloo, which she chose as a service project at a leadership class at Wartburg College. Her project yielded food, books, laundry soap, personal care items and diapers for House of Hope families. In addition, she was able to raise nearly $200 to purchase microwave ovens, toasters, and can openers.

Ashley Babinat
Babinat has been involved with Young Leaders of Character. This group has helped her realize that she can be a leader and make a difference. She also is a Mother Moon Service Scholarship recipient.

Rachael Bair
Bair has volunteered for Red Ribbon Week, blood drives, Peers and Leaders mentoring program, cleaning her church, 4-H activities and Love Cedar Valley.

Laura Bannon
Bannon loves athletics, but when she injured her shoulder she knew she needed to find another way to be involved. She began coaching the Cedar Falls Storm, an eighth-grade girls club volleyball team.

Carissa Becker
Becker is involved in volunteer work with her school, church, Teen Trust and her community. She is a Mother Moon Service Scholarship recipient as well.

Kristi Beier
Beier's life has been changed by volunteering --- both during a mission trip to Tennessee last year, and as a summer camp counselor. She also has earned a Mother Moon Service Scholarship.

Kelly Budreau
Budreau has worked with Red Cross blood drives, the Buddy Walk for children with Down's syndrome, Aspire, Teen Trust, the Humane Society, local day cares and nursing homes. She is a Mother Moon Service Scholarship recipient.

Jacob Byers
Byers has gone on mission trips, worked with kindergarteners, helped with Knights of Columbus events, shoveled snow, participated in a food drive and played bingo at a local nursing home.

Sung-Min Cho
In the summer, Sung-Min Cho went to Country View to play piano during the lunch hour. As a high school junior at Waterloo Christian School, he leads worship music with his guitar for weekly chapel and plays the saxophone every Sunday morning for service with his church band. He leads a prayer group for students, has tutored a fellow student and helped coach the junior high basketball team. In addition, Cho has been involved in school fundraisers, volunteers at the Food Bank and at a local day care facility. He rakes leaves and performs other volunteer duties for individuals around the community.

Ross Droppert
Droppert is an active senior at Hudson High School and has been involved in cross country for four years, along with soccer and track. He also is a member of the Hudson Show Choir Band and co-founded the Robots Club. Droppert has been a co-teacher for Sunday school at Prairie Lakes Church and is involved in the church youth group. He was part of the FFA agriculture marketing team that won at nationals and is treasurer of the Hudson FFA chapter. He has participated in the Black Hawk Stars 4-H Club for eight years and has been very active in County Council. His community service projects include Operation Military Kids, the 4-H Clover Kids Junior Fun Night, the 4-H Lock-In Food Drive for Northeast Iowa Food Bank, as well as volunteering at the omelet breakfast, county fair, junior fun night, the petting zoo and Pony Express.

Kelsey Ewald
Ewald has volunteered for a wide variety of causes, but her most rewarding experiences were when she helped with Special Olympics and Exceptional Persons summer camp. Ewald will receive a Mother Moon Service Scholarship.

Jamie Farley
Farley was instrumental in the success of a recent food drive at Cedar Falls High School, going above and beyond her school community to garner support for the effort.

Sara Gabriele
Gabriele spent last summer tutoring at the UNI Center for Urban Education summer academy program and spent more than 100 hours volunteering for the Obama campaign in 2008. She also is a Mother Moon Service Scholarship recipient.

Samantha Gaffney
Gaffney gives of her time in a variety of ways, like serving community meals, concession stand, food drives and dance performances.

Hollie Hampton
Hollie has spent her volunteer time helping the youngest and oldest members of the community. She babysits regularly for her two young cousins, has volunteered at Lou Henry Elementary and also has volunteered at Lakeview Lodge.

Dalila Husidic
Husidic is a sophomore at West High. She participates in the Bosnian dance troupe that bring traditional Bosnian dance to the Cedar Valley, and would like to become a veterinarian.

GraceAnn Hoyer
Hoyer volunteered at the Denver Rescue Mission in Denver, Colo.

Elyse Jordan
Jodan volunteers through student food drive Jordan's West High Student Senate organized. She has gone door-to-door collecting canned good, passed out flyers, participated in the Community Food Drop and volunteered at Hy-Vee. She also will receive a Mother Moon Service Scholarship.

Lynn Koenigsfeld
Koenigsfeld is a busy junior at Hudson High School, active in softball, golf, show choir crew, wrestling manager and National Honor Society. She serves as a teacher's assistant and is on the Superintendent Advisory Board. She has been involved in the FFA program and was part of the agriculture marketing team that won at nationals. An eight-year member in the Lincoln Links 4-H Club, she is active in Black Hawk County 4-H Council, Black Hawk County 4-H Youth Committee and the Black Hawk County 4-H and FFA board. Her community service projects include the 4-H Clover Kids Junior Fun Night and the 4-H Lock-In Food Drive for Northeast Iowa Food Bank, as well as volunteering at the omelet breakfast, county fair and junior fun night.

Kamryn Kronschnabel
Kronschnabel helps with the children's program at her church. She also has given her time to 4-H, the La Porte City Nursing and Rehab Center, Cattle Congress and the Union Carolers.

 

Makenzie Lewis

Lewis has volunteered since 2008 with Special Youth Challenges, a nonprofit organization that takes mentally and physically handicapped children hunting.

Ashlea Malek
Malek's most satisfying volunteer experience was the Buddy Walk, a fundraiser for children with Down's syndrome.

Saman Malik
Malik is a student at Cedar Falls High School. She has been involved with District Equity Board and is a member of both H-Unit and Harmony, and the International Club, where she has served as president. She's been a member of the school orchestra and is multilingual. Malik has actively served at Allen Hospital for three years, has been a mentor with elementary students and has served as a religious instructor for the past five years at the Islamic Center. She also served on the Teen Trust board.

Emily Meier
Last year, Meier served on the Teen Trust board and volunteered at Special Olympics. She will receive a Mother Moon Service Scholarship.

Ben Merz
Merz has spent many hours onstage and behind the scenes at Waterloo Community Playhouse and Black Hawk Children's Theater and has participated in three productions utilizing his acting skills. Behind the scenes he finds time to assist as a prop crew member and has helped on set building crews for several additional productions. He attends Cedar Falls High School.

Kiley Morgan
With a professional manner and a willingness to take difficult cases, Morgan visits Cedar Valley Hospice's terminally ill patients. Morgan is a student at West High School, balancing volunteer work with courses at Hawkeye Community College and work as a hostess in an area restaurant.

Shane McFadden
McFadden goes to Don Bosco High School and enjoys playing piano, participating in band and acting onstage.

Gabbi Nass
Nass is a senior at Columbus High School. Through the cheerleading program she assisted in planning and executing cheer camps for elementary students and visited and assisted residents at Country View as a part of team-related service. She has been involved within her school in food drives, car washes, youth group, confirmation and retreat teams. Nass has attended every Young Leaders in Action Youth Leadership Conference since her freshman year. She has volunteered at the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley, given more than 130 hours to St. Edward's Day Care, volunteered at Black Hawk Elementary School and helped with the Walk for Water event at Hawkeye Community College.

 

Stefanie Newhouse

Newhouse has spent more than 180 hours in the past year volunteering for Glory Road Farm, a hobby farm operated by the owners of Hanson's Dairy. She feeds and milks cows, cleans the barn, builds stalls and hauls manure. She also is an active 4-H and FFA member.

Hannah Reibkes
Reibkes has spent time serving community meals.

Courtney Rich
Rich is a member of the West High Dance team that won an award for volunteering. Her team has helped the elderly, volunteered at the Food Ban, and read to small children. In addition, Rich volunteers at Allen Hospita.

Arellhi Sandoval-Duran
Sandoval-Duranhas served dinner at Queen of Peace Church and recently signed up to be a volunteer at Covenant Medical Center. She also will receive a Mother Moon Service Scholarship.

Amra Sehic
Every Friday afternoon, Sehiccan be found volunteering at Allen Hospital.

Emma Scott
Scott is a senior at West High, enjoys theater and journalism and is an avid volunteer.

Russell Seekins
Seekins is a busy junior at Hudson High School and works with Habitat for Humanity. He is a seven-year member of the Black Hawk Stars 4-H Club and volunteers at Brown's Heritage Farms where he has become proficient handling draft horses. Seekins is involved in the Black Hawk County 4-H Council, Black Hawk County 4-H Youth Committee and the Black Hawk County 4-H and FFA board. His community service projects include the 4-H Clover Kids Junior Fun Night, the 4-H Lock-In and the annual 4-H banquet. In addition, he volunteers at the omelet breakfast, county fair and has helped his club with Pony Express fundraising.

Logan Studer
Studer went on a mission trip last summer at a homeless mission in Colorado. He also will receive a Mother Moon Service Scholarship.

Amanda Swalve
Swalve is a member of the Homeschool Heroes 4-H Club and the Black Hawk 4-H County Council, Black Hawk County 4-H and Youth Committee and the Black Hawk County 4-H and FFA fair board. She has been a 4-H Club officer for five of her eight years in 4-H. Her community service projects include the 4-H Clover Kids Junior Fun Night, the 4-H Lock-In and Operation Military Kids, as well as volunteering at the omelet breakfast and county fair. Every week she works with the second- and third-graders at Waterloo Prairie Lakes Church. In addition, she has volunteered with Aspire, Northeast Iowa Food Bank, the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Swalve teaches sign language to a high school class and sings with the Metropolitan Chorale.

Paige Westphal
Westphal has volunteered with Meals on Wheels where she delivers food to home-bound senior citizens. She also serves her community through the Muscular Dystrophy Association and by teaching dance lessons.

Kevynne Wimberely
Wimberley is a junior at West High and is interested in journalism and marketing.

Grant Wolfe
Wolfe is a busy junior at Hudson High School, where he has been very involved in football, baseball, track, trapshooting team and FFA. He is on the Superintendent Advisory Board and is an eight-year member of the Black Hawk Stars 4-H Club. His community service projects include Operation Military Kids, the 4-H Clover Kids Junior Fun Night and the 4-H Lock-In at the YMCA, as well as volunteering at the omelet breakfast, county fair, junior fun night, the petting zoo and Pony Express. In addition, Wolfe spent a week rebuilding and repairing houses in Coalminers Town in West Virginia.

Olivia Wright
Wright has given freely of her time in mentoring a second-grade girl in Hudson, helping her with school work and organizing activities.