Excellence conceptDieken, Cooley honored as Volunteer Stars
Gavin Cooley and Holly Dieken have been chosen as Hamilton County’s winners of the 2016 Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards. They will be honored, along with winners from other Tennessee counties, on Feb. 12 at the ninth annual Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards Program in Franklin, Tenn.
Holly Dieken, winner in the adult volunteer category, began volunteering with Center for Mindful Living two years ago, serving in many capacities, including handling day-to-day necessities as well as outreach events.
When the center had to relocate last year, she organized a moving sale that netted $1,000. A natural handyman, she has fixed the center’s dishwasher, hung curtains and done assorted other odd jobs. She caters meals for board meetings and special workshops.
For three years, 9-year-old Gavin Cooley has volunteered at The Samaritan Center, getting games and puzzles ready to be sold in the Ooltewah agency’s toy store. Gavin checks to make the toys have all their pieces and instructions and, if not, he finds replacement pieces from a surplus collection so the toys are ready for the sales floor.
Samaritan Center staff say Gavin comes in every school break to volunteer: summer, Christmas, Thanksgiving, spring and fall.
According to state-generated statistics, 1.3 million Tennessee volunteers give more than 149 million hours of service annually, contributing the equivalent of $3.4 billion to Tennessee’s economy.
Two finalists named for Cooke Scholarship
Two of Chattanooga State Community College’s Global Scholars, Ashwyn Sam and Chandler Kennedy, have been chosen as semifinalists for the Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship. The scholarship provides up to $40,000 per year as an undergraduate transfer award.
More than 3,000 students in the nation applied for this award, according to the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, and 597 were named semifinalists. Up to 60 may win the scholarship. Final selections will be announced in April.
DAR honors Jan Moses
The Chickamauga chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution presented Jan Moses with its Community Service Award during its January meeting,
Eligible recipients must have contributed to their community through voluntary heroic, civic, benevolent service or by organizing or participating in community activities.
Moses is a paralegal who has worked for 30 years with the Minor Law Firm in Dalton, Ga. In 1986, she co-founded the local chapter of Make-a-Wish Foundation and continues to volunteer with the nonprofit. She also is a founding member of Hats from the Heart, the MaryEllen Locher Foundation and a co-founder of the Miracle League of Chattanooga.
She has been a volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House of Chattanooga for many years, as well as giving time to MEL’s Club, Concert to Inspire, Pink Bowl, Hoops for Hope, the Inspire Luncheon and Volley for a Cure luncheon.
– Compiled by staff writer Susan Pierce