The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“Service Above Self”
In an effort to branch out and recognize local students who spend part of their time volunteering, the Crested Butte Rotary Club is developing a new award. Starting this year, a high school junior will be recognized with the Rotary Service Above Self Award.
Committee chairman for youth programs Joel Vosburg explained that the local club wants to acknowledge community service and volunteering in the community.
“It is a way to recognize a local student in a new way,” Vosburg said. “It will be awarded at the annual Community School recognition breakfast held every May. The idea is that a high school junior can add the award to their résumé when applying to schools.
“There is a lot of recognition for kids with good grades or star athletes,” Vosburg continued. “This is meant to encourage recognition of kids who give back to the community. Hopefully it will help younger kids thinking about giving back. We want to show appreciation for the concept of community service. It is a way to give kudos to a local kid in a new way.”
Representatives of organizations can nominate a student who puts in volunteer hours. Vosburg said the student could be volunteering for a local non-profit organization, a church group or even a national project. The important thing is that the student is giving back without being paid.
“This isn’t an award where a student can nominate themselves,” Vosburg explained. “It should be a nomination from an outside source. If someone wants to nominate a student, they should include reasons why the student deserves the award, give some details about hours contributed to an organization or some background on how the student has helped an organization.”
Along with the award, the Rotary will present $500 to the individual chosen for the award. Another $500 will be donated to the organization of the student’s choice in his or her name.
“We want to encourage people to nominate a high school junior and we want to start it this year,” said Vosburg. “You can give the name of a student to any Rotary Club member or to Jennifer Reed, who is the Crested Butte Community School counselor. There will be a permanent plaque at the school recognizing the annual recipient.”
Vosburg said a committee made up of Rotary members, school representatives and a member of the public at large will review the nominations and make the selection each year.
“People, especially kids, should be recognized for giving back to the community,” summed up Vosburg. “There are so many opportunities for students and the Rotary just wants to support that idea of service and giving back.”
People are encouraged to review the local Rotary website at www.crestedbutterotary.org. The first award will be presented this spring.
