INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The School District of Indian River County honored its top volunteers at a luncheon on last week at C. J. Cannon’s Restaurant in Vero Beach. The theme of the appreciation luncheon was, “Exceptional People…Extraordinary Hearts.” Annually, all schools in the District are asked to select senior, adult, and youth volunteers who have demonstrated outstanding dedication and commitment to quality education for the students of Indian River County.
This year, 50 volunteers were honored. Each volunteer received a certificate of appreciation, with the winners receiving a plaque and an award.
“The 50 volunteers here today have donated 15,107 hours over the past year and a half and their years of service to the school district amount to 210 years,” said Schools Superintendent Dr. Fran Adams. “You are truly exceptional people with extraordinary hearts and I thank you.”
Volunteers are selected based on the number of hours of service, years of service, unusual type of contribution, and/or characteristics of services rendered. Those selected are then considered for the District’s top volunteer in each category.
The 2012 Volunteers of the Year for the School District of Indian River County are:
Charles Ernst – Senior Category, nominated by Highlands Elementary School
Mr. Ernst has been volunteering in the school district for 13 years, with 11 of those years at Highlands Elementary School. He works one-on-one with Kindergarten and 1st grade students three days a week. The students love Mr. Ernst and have said they wish he could be at school with them all day, every day. The Highlands Elementary School staff appreciates and loves Mr. Ernst and considers him part of their “family.”
Ru-Ying Suen – Adult Category, nominated by Vero Beach High School
Mrs. Suen has been volunteering for over a decade for the District’s orchestra program at Vero Beach High School, Gifford Middle School, and Oslo Middle School. Mrs. Ru-Ying has served as secretary for the Vero Beach Orchestra Boosters since its inception; formed and organized the VBHS OPUS (Orchestra Parents United in Support); coordinates the volunteers and chaperones for orchestra events; coordinates out-of-state trips for the orchestra; maintains the entire uniform inventory for 140 students (to include personally repairing and patching uniforms); and the list goes on.
Matthew Stott, Director of the Vero Beach High School Orchestra, credits Mrs. Suen with enabling him to be a better educator through her behind-the-scenes efforts and support.
Brenda Ramos – Youth Category, nominated by Fellsmere Elementary School
Ms. Ramos is a Sebastian River High School student who attended Fellsmere Elementary and has come “home” to Fellsmere Elementary to volunteer. She spends time weekly at the school working in the before and after school programs and tutoring students in math. She has been described as a versatile young lady who helps out in the classroom, the office, the library, and anywhere she is needed.
Paige Newinski, Fellsmere Elementary School Teacher, said, “One of Brenda’s many strengths is her ability to communicate how to solve mathematic equations. She works in my classroom with students helping them with their math facts and problem solving abilities. These students are motivated in math because of the time they get to spend with Brenda. She is a wonderful role model.”
The volunteers nominated for 2012:
- Alternative Center for Education: Patricia Willis, Senior Volunteer
- Beachland Elementary: Sue Schwerin, Senior Volunteer – Donna Rana, Adult Volunteer
- Citrus Elementary: Berdyne Williams, Senior Volunteer – Tracee Neville, Adult Volunteer
- Dodgertown Elementary:Jack Chamberlain, Senior Volunteer – Sandy Peters, Adult Volunteer
- Fellsmere Elementary: Vicki Snell, Senior Volunteer – Maria Cortez Perez, Adult Volunteer – Brenda Ramos, Youth Volunteer
- Gifford Middle: Lisa Page, Adult Volunteer
- Glendale Elementary: Joyce Eckler, Senior Volunteer – Julia White, Adult Volunteer – Madison Capito, Youth Volunteer
- Highlands Elementary: Charles Ernst, Senior Volunteer – Jennifer Sowa, Adult Volunteer
- Imagine School at South Vero: Cathy Phillips, Senior Volunteer – Michelle Duffey, Adult Volunteer – Reagan Brackett, Youth Volunteer
- Liberty Magnet: Karen VanDeVoorde, Senior Volunteer – Rebecca Sovine, Adult Volunteer – Emily Honey – Youth Volunteer
- Osceola Magnet: Jené Siebert, Senior Volunteer – Tasha Bowles, Adult Volunteer
- Oslo Middle: Dee Dee Perkins, Senior Volunteer – Marsha Patton, Adult Volunteer – Matthew A. Fulcher, Youth Volunteer
- Pelican Island Elementary: Bernice Idlette, Senior Volunteer – Jeanine Sampson, Adult Volunteer – Rebecca Walleshauser, Youth Volunteer
- Rosewood Magnet: Patty Platt, Senior Volunteer – Lori Van Auken, Adult Volunteer – Stephanie Herrick, Youth Volunteer
- Sebastian Elementary: Helen Pechart, Senior Volunteer – Jane Hite, Adult Volunteer – Danielle Harris, Youth Volunteer
- Sebastian River Middle: Robert Glassman, Senior Volunteer – Jill Arce, Adult Volunteer – Shayla Macias, Youth Volunteer
- Sebastian High: Robin Raiff, Adult Volunteer
- Storm Grove Middle: Sandra Groth, Adult Volunteer
- Treasure Coast Elementary: Terri Tucker, Adult Volunteer
- Vero Beach Elementary: Viola Sicurella, Senior Volunteer
- Vero Beach High: Jean Cravens, Senior Volunteer – Ru-Ying Suen, Adult Volunteer – Sami Hashmi, Youth Volunteer
- Wabasso School: Kay Bohm, Senior Volunteer – Itrelle Tookes, Adult Volunteer – Matthew Wickham, Youth Volunteer