08 Jul 2024 PCSSD Volunteers record more than 10,000 hours

Posted at 5:56 PMh in News by

PULASKI COUNTY — Volunteers recorded more than 10,000 hours of service at schools within the Pulaski County Special School District in the 2023-2024 school year. Volunteers are asked to record their hours of service in order for the District to report total hours and award recognition for those hours served.

Our PALS, people assisting local schools, are an integral part of the PCSSD community that include parents, grandparents, retirees, business partners, and so much more. Volunteers help with a wide variety of tasks to keep the school functioning and assist in each student’s success. There are six total awards given out to the district volunteers distributed into three main categories for service at the elementary, middle and high school level. PCSSD also recognizes one volunteer as the “top volunteer of the year.” 

Retta Patrick Award: The Retta Patrick Award is given to the individual who has contributed the most volunteer hours at a PCSSD Elementary School. In addition to the individual with the most hours, a second Retta Patrick Award is given to the PCSSD Elementary School with the most volunteer hours per student.

  • Individual Elementary School Volunteer – Victoria Hemphill at Robinson Elementary with 927 total hours volunteered
  • Overall Elementary School –  Robinson Elementary with an average of 6.2 hours per student

Bob Reynolds Award: The Bob Reynolds Award is given to the individual who has contributed the most volunteer hours at a PCSSD Middle School. In addition to the individual with the most hours, a second Bob Reynolds Award is given to the PCSSD Middle School with the most volunteer hours per student.

  • Individual Middle School Volunteer – Caitlyn Bowman from Sylvan Hills Middle hours volunteered 80 total hours
  • Overall Middle School – Robinson Middle with an average of 0.26 hours per student

Harold Measel Awards: The Harold Measel Award is given to the individual who has contributed the most volunteer hours at a PCSSD High School. In addition to the individual with the most hours, a second Harold Measel Award is given to the PCSSD High School with the most volunteer hours per student.

  • Individual High School Volunteer – Karen Fraser from Robinson High volunteered a total of 494 volunteer hours
  • Overall High School – Robinson High School with an average of 0.9 hours for per student

Susie Roberts Award: The Susie Roberts Award was created in honor of Susie Roberts who served as Administrator of Information and Special Services for 34 years. Established in 1999, this award recognizes and honors a nominated individual or group for their service of positive promotion of the Pulaski County Special School District.

  • This year’s award recipient is Oakbrooke Elementary for surpassing all other schools with volunteer participation. Throughout the school year, 215 volunteers assisted in some capacity at Oakbrooke Elementary.

PCSSD recognized volunteers at an informal awards ceremony on June 12 with their awards as well as an appreciation gift.