16 Feb 2015 Greenbrier chamber names award winners
Greenbrier city employee Shellie O’Quinn will be recognized as the Citizen of the Year at the Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce annual banquet on Thursday, March 12.
Ty Kelso will receive the Volunteer of the Year Award and Ethan Edwards has been named Student of the Year.
Winners of the chamber’s business awards will be announced at the banquet.
Christina Munoz Madsen, associate vice president of communications, public relations and marketing at the University of Central Arkansas, will serve as the guest speaker at the event, which will be held at the Greenbrier Junior High Cafetorium.
Tickets are $35 per person and may be purchased by contacting the Chamber at 501.679.4009.
According to her nomination, Shellie is a vital part of Greenbrier. Serving as director of the Melton Cotton City Event Center, Shellie is always looking for ways to promote good health and bring new programs to Greenbrier. She plans many different events at the Center that appeal to a broad base of people. Shellie makes sure there is a variety of things to do at the center, from health programs to craft shows and business expos, Shellie also began the Greenbrier Gets Fit health initiative. She works to make sure that she and her staff are well prepared to help the community become healthier. The major event of this initiative is the Mayor’s 107 mile Challenge which was a success last year and will be even bigger this year adding a 5K.
Beyond her job, Shellie doesn’t stop giving back. She and her husband, Devo, host foreign college students in their home through the International Friendship Outreach. They have become a second family to kids from all over the world, spending weekends, breaks and holidays together.
Shellie is also a respite parent of a child from Soaring Wings Ranch and is constantly mentoring teenagers. At church, she leads choir and college ministry, also heading up the teen praise band.
Shellie always has a smile on her face and is a great encourager. She exemplifies an outstanding citizen.
Ty is a member of the Greenbrier City Council and has served for more than 30 years with the Greenbrier Volunteer Fire Department, where he has also helped maintain and rebuild department engines. He has volunteered with the Faulkner County Historical Society, as well as the Faulkner County Museum.
In recent years, Ty has helped head up the construction of bookcases for the "Bookcase for Every Child" program. He also has done extensive dozer/backhoe work for tornado damage in Vilonia, Mayflower and other areas in need. He is devoted to his church in Springhill, helping to maintain church properties, serving those in need and participating in any benevolent endeavor. Ty is very generous with his time and resources. He is even a great motivator, calling on others to assist in helping others too.
Ethan will attend the University of Arkansas this fall. According to his nomination, he is kind, sharp, honest and athletic. He has taken seven AP courses and has college hours through concurrent credit. He has a 4.25 GPA and ranks third in a class of 246. Ethan has an ACT composite of 31.
Ethan is very bright. He is outgoing and involved in many school, church and community organizations. He has been active in football, baseball, Quiz Bowl, Mathletes, National Honor Society, FFA, Beta Club, Student Council and FBLA. He has served in many officer and leadership roles. Ethan has been named All Conference for Quiz Bowl, All Conference and All State in Baseball. He was chosen to be a member of the 2014 501 Football Team by 501 LIFE.
Ethan gives freely of his time. He is active in church youth group, food pantry and nursing home programs. During Red Ribbon Week this year, Ethan, in collaboration with other EAST students, produced daily videos promoting being drug free.
