With the school calendar growing shorter each day, Killeen ISD senior administrators joined campus staff members in giving heartfelt thanks to a special group that makes a huge contribution to the lives of students just because they want to help.
The district hosted its annual Volunteer Award Celebration Monday at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center to honor individuals in several categories as well as the campuses with the most volunteer hours for the year.
Parenting and At-Risk Specialist Andrea Dykes praised volunteers for giving from the heart. Superintendent Jo Ann Fey thanked the volunteers for their commitment and reminded them of the powerful and positive difference they make.
In all, 8,432 volunteers logged 47,228 hours in KISD schools and events during the school year.
The campus with the most hours was Killeen High School with 6,208 hours.
The top middle school was Nolan Middle School with 3,113 hours. The elementary school with the most was Saegert Elementary with 3,385 hours.
Helping Hand volunteers of the year, based on nominations, went to Levallois Hamilton at Killeen High School, Tasha Moore at Union Grove Middle School and Jaquelin Martinez at Pershing Park Elementary School.
The Adopt-A-Unit of the Year was the 1st Cavalry Division Artillery DIVARTY with 91 hours at Maude Moore Wood Elementary School.
Seniors of the Year were Bruce Tuttle with 354 hours at Clifton Park Elementary School, John Lauck with 19 hours at Patterson Middle School and James Shackelford with 126 hours at Killeen High School.
The Adult Volunteers of the Year were Tia Sabo with 400 hours at Skipcha Elementary School, Ellie Yang with 1,597 hours at Nolan Middle School and Denise Newson with 509 hours at Chaparral High School.
Estimated monetary value of this year’s volunteer hours in KISD was $963,451 based on Department of Labor information.
Killeen High School parent liaison, Lamiea Ezell praised the volunteers who come to her school for selflessly giving of themselves to mentor and tutor youth. She often arranges for speakers and helps facilitate career day and resource fair events.
“Volunteers at Killeen High are phenomenal. They come in to serve, they want to reach our high school. They are passionate, and they all bring something different,” she said.
“They pour into students. A lot of students are locked in when a speaker comes in. They want more information. Some educators want them to come back. That really makes it work,” she said.
Hamilton, a frequent volunteer at KHS is a frequent speaker and invites others to do the same. He is the community engagement coordinator for the city of Killeen.
“I graduated from Killeen High School. I transitioned in. I was experiencing homelessness. Having mentors pushing me and checking on me that caused me to push myself. That put something in me to want to give back and give them that push.”
Volunteer Award Ceremony photo gallery:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720325081702
