Several companies, organizations, and individuals from the area were recently presented with the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award to recognize their volunteer engagement during the 2023-2024 school year.
The President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) was founded in 2003 by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. It recognizes “the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity” and honors those “whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action,” according to the website for the award.
While the award is technically presented by the White House and the President of the United States, certifying organizations are granted authority to give out the PVSA to volunteers. Junior Achievement of West Kentucky is a local certifying organization.
JA Interim President Autumne Baker said the organization served more than 20,000 students in the region over the last school year.
“The volunteers have made a tremendous impact in our local schools through their partnership and support of Junior Achievement,” Baker said. “ JA volunteers provided in excess of 115,000 hours of instruction to these students this past year teaching them concepts of financial literacy, work readiness and soft skills, and entrepreneurship. These groups and individuals have certainly answered the call to service.”
To be eligible for the award, companies/organizations/schools must provide a minimum of 200 community service hours throughout the fiscal year, while individuals must provide a minimum of 100 hours. There are multiple award levels depending on the number of service hours completed.
The following companies/organizations/schools were recognized for their work in 2023-24:
Bronze Award – 100 or more hours in a year
- Apollo High School students
- Calloway County High School students
- German American Bank
- Henderson County High School students
- Old National Bank
- Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline
- Tell City High School students
- The Murray Bank
- United Community Bank
Silver Award – 500 or more hours in a year
- Brescia University students
Gold Award – 1,000 or more hours in a year
- U.S. Bank
The following individuals were recognized for their work in 2023-24, all receiving the bronze award for 100-249 hours in a year:
- Ben Bartow, Cresline Plastics, Henderson County
- Tammy Belt, United Community Bank, Union County
- Gary Greubel, Waupaca Foundry, Perry County
- Jill Howard, WKEC, McLean County
- Tim Stark, The Murray Bank, Calloway County
Junior Achievement also awarded the Bill Elmer Volunteer of Excellence Award. Elmer, president of Texas Gas, was instrumental in bringing JA to Owensboro in 1959 and remained involved with the local organization for the next four decades. The award is presented to volunteers who exemplify Elmer’s passion and enthusiasm for JA.
The four honorees this year were:
- Jill Howard, West Kentucky Educational Co-op/McLean County High School
- Chip Pride, JA of West Kentucky Board Treasurer, Independence Bank
- Allison Ross, JA of West Kentucky Board Chair, Metalsa
- Nick Thompson, JA of West Kentucky Board Immediate Past Board Chair, Thompson Homes
