Mayors' Top Teen Awards 2016

The 18th Annual Mayors’ Top Teen Awards and Mother Moon Service Scholarships were presented by the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley on Tuesday evening at the 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. Award 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.

25 nominees received certificates from Mayors Jim Brown (Cedar Falls), Mayor Doug Faas (Evansdale), and Mayor Quentin Hart (Waterloo). In addition, the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa awarded Mother Moon Service Scholarships* to ten students.

Sponsors of the event included the cities of Cedar Falls, Dunkerton, Evansdale, Gilbertville, Hudson, La Porte City, Raymond, and Waterloo; Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa; R.J. McElroy Trust; and Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley.This year’s honorees are as follows:

From left, top, Basil Chatha, Landon Albro*, Charles Magee*, Brody Brinker, Deni Dautovic, Jessica Ahles*; middle, Payton Sash*, Emma Schaffer*, Elizabeth Schaefer*, Kayla Reiter, Maddie Herring, Elinor Smith*, Rachel Iliff, Hannah Jacobs; and bottom, Alyssa Corkery, Bobbie Hilmer, Eleanor Sullivan*, Jocelyn Roof, Aastha Chandra, Ardis White*, Emily Fischel*.

Not pictured: Rachel Dillavou, Alexis Kapanka, Ethan Sankey, and Sarah Venem

Congratulations!

The 38th Annual Mayors’ Volunteer Awards

The 38th Annual Mayors’ Volunteer Awards were presented by the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley on Tuesday, April 12 at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center. The awards program, which recognizes outstanding volunteers in the Cedar Valley, included a luncheon with 150 attendees. Award categories this year included the Volunteer Award, which recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding volunteers regardless of age or years of service. The Outstanding Emerging Volunteer Award, which was open to those age 19-35. And the Lifetime Achievement Award that was open to any nominee with 20+ years of volunteerism in the Cedar Valley. Award criteria included demonstrating excellence in volunteerism in the Cedar Valley and a commitment to serving the community.

28 nominees received certificates from Mayor Jim Brown (Cedar Falls), Mayor Doug Faas (Evansdale), and Mayor Pro Tem Ron Welper (Waterloo) and the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance and Chamber Ambassadors.

The 2016 winners were: Ronnie Bankston nominated by Waterloo Community Schools; Allison Bright nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa; Hazel Brown nominated by Allen Hospital; Reed Craft nominated by National Cattle Congress Board of Directors and the Salvation Army Board of Directors; Edward DePaepe nominated by Big brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa; Karen Ernst nominated by Boys and Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley; Grace Fennelly nominated by Allen Hospital; Roger and Vicki Neessen nominated by Western Home Communities; Vi Reetz nominated by Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare; Vicki Schueler nominated by North Star Community Services; Brianne Stewart nominated by Waterloo Community Schools; Gwen Timmerman nominated by Donna Timmerman; Jim Ward nominated by Northeast Iowa Food Bank.

The Mayors and Chamber Ambassadors selected 12 Mayors’ Volunteer Award winners. 

Global Youth Service Day, April 15 - 17

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley’s Youth Action Council will lead Global Youth Service Day with young people April 15 – 17. This annual day of service celebrates and mobilizes the millions of children and youth who improve their communities each day of the year through service and service-learning.

On Friday, April 15 the Youth Action Council will work with youth at the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley and host a lemonade stand on the corner of Lime and 3rd Streets.  

Lemonade purchasers will be given a card and asked to complete the sentence: I will make the world a better place by... The youth will collect the cards and send them to Mayor Hart. By doing this, it will create an awareness of the commitment and kindness found in the Cedar Valley. Proceeds of the sale will be donated to a nonprofit in the community as designated by the youth.  

Additionally, on Sunday, April 17 the Youth Action Council will sponsor a Hunger Banquet from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1301 Kimball Avenue, Waterloo. The purpose of the meal is to create an awareness about hunger issues in our community. This is open to the public. A free will offering will be accepted.

 “Needs in our community are particularly great right now. Addressing the challenge of mobilizing youth and resources to solve community problems will take a sustained effort, and we hope many who are serving during Global Youth Service Day will make an ongoing commitment to serve throughout the year,” said Jean Seeland, Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley’s Youth Program Coordinator.

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley works to promote and support effective volunteerism and to serve as the resource and coordination center for volunteers and community partnerships.

Please contact Jean Seeland at the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley to express interest in participating or to secure additional opportunities by calling 319-272-2087 or emailing jean_seeland@vccv.org. Volunteer opportunities may also be accessed at www.vccv.org.

April – A month of volunteerism

Volunteerism has become an integral part of society, effecting youth and adult volunteers, nonprofits and businesses at large. April has become the month for volunteer recognition with the nominations of the Governor’s Volunteer Awards, Mayors Day of Recognition of National Service, National Volunteer Week, and Global Youth Service Day. Additionally, volunteerism will be celebrated locally at the Mayors’ Volunteer and Top Teen Awards. The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley is the lead agency for these April events. 

Coordinated by Volunteer Iowa, the Governor’s Volunteer Award program provides an easy, low-cost way for Iowa nonprofits, charitable organizations, and government entities to honor their volunteers with a prestigious, state-level recognition award. Nominations are due April 4 and Awards are presented during recognition ceremonies held each spring at several locations around the state.

Every day, in cities across America, national service is tackling tough problems and strengthening communities. Whether supporting food banks and homeless shelters, restoring city parks, building homes, managing community volunteers, providing health services, or tutoring and mentoring students, national service members help mayors tackle tough problems.

To spotlight the impact of national service and thank those who serve, mayors and country officials will participate in the fourth-annual Mayor and County Recognition Day for National Service on April 5, 2016.

National Volunteer Week is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities. It’s about demonstrating to the nation that by working together, we have the fortitude to meet our challenges and accomplish our goals.

This year National Volunteer Week’s theme, Celebrate Service, presents an opportunity for individuals, families, nonprofit organizations and government entities alike to celebrate the ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things through service April 10th – 16th.

Each year, millions of youth around the world work together with schools, youth organizations, nonprofits, community and faith-based organizations, volunteer and national service programs, government agencies, faith communities, and other individuals to address critical issues and change their communities on Global Youth Service Day.

Global Youth Service Day is held during National Volunteer Week, April 15th – 17th. Through programs such as this, youth volunteers are recognized for the tremendous impact they are making on our country's most critical challenges year-round.

Locally, the Mayors’ Volunteer Awards honor the exemplary contributions of individuals ages 19 and older who dedicate their time and talent to volunteerism in Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Evansdale and surrounding communities in Black Hawk County.

The Mayors’ Top Teen Awards honor youth ages 13-18 attending a school in Black Hawk County. The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa also selects one junior from each of the accredited high schools in Black Hawk County to receive the $1000 Mother Moon Service Scholarship.

This year, the Mayors’ Volunteer and Top Teen Award recipients will be recognized at special events on April 12 at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center. The awards program is sponsored by the cities of Cedar Falls, Evansdale and Waterloo, the Greater Cedar Valley Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, the RJ McElroy Trust and the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley.

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley works to promote and support effective volunteerism and to serve as the resource and coordination center for volunteers and community partnerships. To secure volunteer opportunities, call the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at 319-272-2087 or email. Volunteer opportunities may also be accessed at www.vccv.org.