Congratulations to recipients of the Lt. Governor’s Volunteer Recognition Certificate in March of 2022. The contributions made by these volunteers make lasting impacts on communities across our state.
Bethany Anderson, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Bethany is single-handedly responsible for recruiting an army (20-30+ people each semester) of volunteer tutors to help support Aggies Elevated students in their college coursework! Aggies Elevated is unable to provide extensive support to students without volunteers, so this was a HUGE deal for us. Even more amazing was the fact that Bethany initiated tutoring efforts over zoom, so we now have tutors from all over Utah, other states, and even Japan! In addition to recruiting, Bethany has also volunteered her own time to provide academic support. By reaching out to USU students and utilizing social media, Bethany’s efforts have additionally helped increase inclusion on campus by helping others be aware of the presence of students with disabilities and their unique contribution to the campus community. Our students would not be succeeding and thriving without Bethany’s efforts!
Christen Aniel, Nominated by Y-Serve
Christen Aniel has served as a valued club member and program director for Brigham Young University’s Junior Nutrition Academy for more than two years. In these roles she has worked to provide fun and meaningful nutrition education to elementary school students in the Provo area in both elementary school and church settings. She has spent many hours meeting with the leadership team and preparing lessons on nutrition topics such as the sources and benefits of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, dairy, and water. She has also set up weekly volunteer opportunities at schools and churches, and found and educated club members on lesson material in order to provide the children with the best experiences. Her service has made an impact by helping the club to function, especially after recovering from the pause caused by the start of the pandemic in 2020. Her efforts allow hundreds of children in the area to learn valuable information on nutrition, encouraging them to live healthy lifestyles and to fuel their bodies, which is especially beneficial in the school setting. Her service has indefinitely made an impact and we look forward to seeing where else these efforts will take the community.
Benjamin Birchall, Nominated by Y-Serve
Benjamin Birchall is a strong force for good through service, functioning as Program Director for BYU Conexiones. With Conexiones, he leads student volunteers and devotes time and effort to tutor ‘English as a second language’ students in elementary and middle-school. Benjamin’s efforts have helped to increase the number of volunteers involved with Conexiones, expanding the organization’s reach into the Marriott School of Business. He has helped many learn of opportunities to serve, understand the benefits of service and act on the desire to volunteer. Benjamin has devoted hours to volunteering, leading volunteers, and building the BYU Conexiones group. He uplifts all with whom he comes into contact, inspiring those around him to grow together and lift the community. He speaks of good things and more importantly lives what he speaks. He is devoted to his commitment to not only help the ESL students in the 3rd grade class of Mrs. Mesenbrink at Provo Peaks Elementary with their school learning, but also to help them learn values of creating a good life. The kids love him and beg Mrs. Mesenbrink to let them spend time with “Mr. Benj.” Those who know Benjamin can feel of his genuine sincerity to uplift and strengthen the community.
Vanessa Birchell, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Vanessa’s love for community and helping with children stands out to me the most. She gives herself into her work and never has a bad day.
Derick Bunn, Nominated by Y-Serve
Derick Bunn has shown his commitment to service in the community through his involvement with Project Uplift, a BYU Y-Serve program focused on serving the veterans and active duty military in Utah County. Derick has spent many hours at the local Mervyn Bennion Sharp Central Utah Veterans Home, where he has formed many close relationships with elderly and rehabilitating veterans. At the Veterans Home, he has participated in service including gardening projects and weekly Bingo activities. Derick serves because he is passionate about improving quality of life and offering companionship for veterans who occasionally are forgotten or do not receive the attention they deserve. He hopes to enter into medical school and someday become a physician where he can continue to improve the quality of care our veterans receive. In addition to Derick’s involvement with Project Uplift, he has also spent much time serving with a local hospice group to offer patient companionship to those requiring end-of-life care. He has developed an ability to effectively listen, and show his care to those he has served through his volunteer hospice visits. His service in this area has certainly helped many of these patients in Utah County feel less lonely during the isolating circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, Derick’s commitment to serving the veterans and hospice patients in the community has had a positive impact on helping some of the lonelier or forgotten individuals in the community feel loved and appreciated.
Rachel Clark, Nominated by Y-Serve
Rachel Clark has greatly impacted the single adult community in Alpine, Utah. Following COVID many single adults felt isolated and alone. Through her diligent efforts, Rachel has helped countless single adults reconnect and reengage with the community. She has organized regular visits to these individuals giving many other single adults an opportunity to serve and find those who are struggling. She has also organized activities in which single adults have come together to socialize and meet new friends. She has personally reached out to hundreds of single adults throughout the year providing needed connection and support. Thanks to Rachel’s efforts in the Alpine, Utah community, many single adults have successfully come out of COVID isolation and are again connected and engaged in the community.
Dixie Clark, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
For years now, patrons of Cache County Senior Center have looked forward to getting together three mornings a week to slide, brush-step, and grapevine—all thanks to the dedication of Dixie Clark. Dixie has been volunteering with the Center as its line dancing instructor for 26 ½ years. Her continued service remains integral to the health and fitness offerings available to our older community members through the Senior Center. Line dancing not only boosts one’s mood and facilitates social connections, we also know based on research that older adults who dance regularly benefit from improved mobility and endurance, better cardio-respiratory function, and greater independence. Dixie has devoted 4000+ hours in her years of service to give others access to these physical and mental benefits. Her commitment to support the health and well-being of her peers is extraordinary and Dixie truly merits this recognition of her volunteerism.
Rachel Clark, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Rachel Clark has a passion for helping others which has increased over the years as she has discovered new needs and problems faced in our community. At the 2022 USU Volunteer Fair Ms. Clark met Michael Bingham, Director and Founder of Jump the Moon, and has been assisting at Jump the Moon ever since. She loves Jump the Moon’s mission of making art more accessible to people with disabilities because it is a need in our community and brings joy to the participants. While serving at Jump the Moon she has sat with and assisted students creating artwork. We are grateful for her reliability and the kindness.
Ms. Clark has been involved with various service projects. There are many refugees in Utah. Her family has been assigned a family at Christmas and provides for their needs (more than just presents). She has participated in a ‘refugee day’ in her neighborhood. Last Christmas, Ms. Clark volunteered at CCPC at their toy shopping event.
Ms. Clark volunteers because she finds joy in uplifting people in our community. Whether it is purchasing groceries at the store for a refugee, visiting people in an assisted living home, or assisting with classes at Jump the Moon, she continues to actively seek opportunities both big and small and hopes to do so for the rest of her life.
Ethan Conlee, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Ethan has played an essential role as a volunteer at Cache Refugee and Immigrant Connection (CRIC). He is very passionate about the mission and is willing to help further this mission in any way that he can. In CRIC’s recent efforts to resettle Afghan refugees, Ethan has been the go to volunteer. Not only is Ethan willing to help with whatever tasks are needed, he goes above and beyond to get those around him engaged in volunteer services as well. With Ethan’s help, CRIC has been able to provide service to Afghan refugees that aids in their ongoing efforts to support them as New Americans in Cache Valley.
Elisabeth Cupp, Nominated by Y-Serve
Over the last two years, Elisabeth Cupp has helped to organize hair drives for children with hair loss through Brigham Young University’s Y-Serve Program: Share Your Hair. As the current Executive Director of this program, she has collected over 730 hair donations. With donations all at least 8 inches long, the approximately 600 feet of hair gathered has helped those around her greatly. The hair donated and used for wigs was distributed to children who suffer from Cancer treatments, Alopecia, Trichotillomania, burns, etc. at no cost. Elisabeth saw the need to serve children in this pure cause to bring joy and comfort to those who were lacking. The hours upon hours spent organizing ongoing events, gathering donations, and helping to bring light to this service opportunity show the love Elisabeth has for those around her in the state of Utah.
Isaac Daybell, Nominated by Y-Serve
Isaac Daybell has volunteered with the Teens Act program within the Provo School District for the past two years. Teens Act is a non-profit organization that aims to empower at risk youth to take control of their future. As a means to accomplish this, students participate in a Student Development course as a part of their regular curriculum. The students selected for the class generally have GPAs below 2.0, participate in the free lunch program, or could be first generation college students. Isaac has served as a mentor in this class, providing tutoring and guidance on how to navigate graduation and college preparation. Most of his time has been spent working with students who struggle with STEM classes. Most often, Isaac would work one on one with students who needed help with Physics or Chemistry. Many students saw marked increases in their test scores and overall grades in these classes. Isaac would also spend time simply getting to know the students and their circumstances. The goal of a volunteer was not just to tutor, but also to befriend. He wanted to provide a trustworthy adult figure that the students could refer to with questions or concerns. This has been his favorite part of acting as a mentor for over 80 students in his time with Teens Act.
George Garcia, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
George has been working for the past year and a half to establish a mentoring program for Latino youth at Logan High School. By assisting all students at Logan High, George has taken his time to go beyond all expectations and create better success for Latino students and their families here in Logan. By helping Latino students, George gives them a better perspective of gaining greater educational opportunities while preparing for college. Many students and teachers view George as a best friend and educator, simply for his dedication he has shown to all of Logan High School. With the extra time he shares at Logan High School, George Garcia has reached out to students that struggle in and outside of the classroom. It’s George’s on own personal objective to create a safer environment for students, while teaching and assisting them through all hardships. For this, George is a role model to the Latino youth at Logan High School.
Candace Heki, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
The Family Place was having a hard time getting participants into the parents and strengthening the couples class. Candace helped create a kids class teaching a social skill while parents were able to attend their own class. Candace also helped teach our Kids Empowered (our abuse prevention program in the elementary schools) when we were in a pinch and needed help. Really any time there is a need, Candace is one of the first ones to step up and help.
Cameron Howe, Nominated by Y-Serve
Nestled in the corner of Provo and right next to the Shops at Riverwoods stands Scenic View Academy – a place dedicated to helping young adults on the autism spectrum learn valuable life-lessons and skills necessary to live independent and fulfilling lives. Ever since April 2021, Cameron Howe has dedicated 3-4 hours a week to volunteer at Scenic View. His service, along with the service of other volunteers, is invaluable to the success of Scenic View and helping these young adults excel in every aspect of their lives. Cameron currently serves as a Program Director and helps by organizing weekly activities, planning seasonal parties/dances, playing the piano at church on Sundays, and recruiting other volunteers to give these students the social interaction they deeply need and deserve. The organization does have a paid, full-time staff, but relies heavily on the support of volunteers like Cameron to attend the needs of 15-30 students each week. Each student has a unique story and therefore a unique circumstance that requires careful attention. For example, there is one student who regularly attends the activities but is very shy. This student is deeply invested in one of his hobbies, Magic the Gathering trading cards, something Cameron knows nothing about! Even so, he showed interest in this student’s hobby and even learned the rules to the game; they have since developed an admirable friendship. He has developed a sincere interest in each of these student’s lives which is critical to their individual success.
Sarah Jarrett, Nominated by Y-Serve
With the continuation of the pandemic, Sarah Jarrett has focused on trying to volunteer with vulnerable populations throughout Utah. She worked countless hours with Intermountain Homecare and Hospice by visiting elderly patients every week. This has been beneficial to these patients and their families because it has helped elderly patients have companionship during the pandemic as well as giving respite care to the families. She also has done hand molds for young children and adults who have tragically passed away as a way for families to remember their loved ones. Along with hospice, Sarah has been working with the Trevor Project which focuses on reducing suicide in LGBTQ+ youth in Utah as well as nationally. She has spent countless hours supporting youth who could be actively committing or contemplating suicide. This has allowed LGBTQ+ youth to feel empowered, safe, and heard which can be crucial during this mental health crisis in Utah. Sarah has also been a program director of BYU’s Y-serve Program called Anatomy Academy. This program focuses on teaching youth in the Utah Valley area about health and human anatomy. Sarah has helped to organize volunteers and supplies to teach students in the community. This was become even more important during the pandemic since young students weren’t able to participate in the healthy habits they had before like playing at recess. The pandemic has also shown a greater need of medical professionals. Teaching young students about health and anatomy could increase their desire to obtain higher education potentially in science.
Ashlyn Jensen, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Ashlyn has developed relationships with the students at, worked with GYC, and helped with the Giving Place food pantry.
Sandy Johnson, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Sandy was in the Navy for 4 years during the Vietnam War working on different electronics and communications. After her service she toured 48 of the 50 states. When she got to Utah she worked for different communication companies for 27 years. Once Sandy started volunteering with UATP she filled a much needed spot. She works every Tuesday and Thursday scheduling all the pick up, delivery and measurement settings for the Salt Lake lab. She makes sure everyone is contacted as needed and added to the schedule. Her bubble personality is always enjoyed by everyone who comes in contact with her. She is such a vital part of the program that she has recently Sandy was in the Navy for 4 years during the Vietnam War working on different electronics and communications. After her service she toured 48 of the 50 states. When she got to Utah she worked for different communication companies for 27 years. Once Sandy started volunteering with UATP she filled a much needed spot. She works every Tuesday and Thursday scheduling all the pick up, delivery and measurement settings for the Salt Lake lab. She makes sure everyone is contacted as needed and added to the schedule. Her bubble personality is always enjoyed by everyone who comes in contact with her. Sandy was in the Navy for 4 years during the Vietnam War working on different electronics and communications. After her service she toured 48 of the 50 states. When she got to Utah she worked for different communication companies for 27 years. Once Sandy started volunteering with UATP she filled a much needed spot. She works every Tuesday and Thursday scheduling all the pick up, delivery and measurement settings for the Salt Lake lab. She makes sure everyone is contacted as needed and added to the schedule. Her bubble personality is always enjoyed by everyone who comes in contact with her. She is such a vital member we have just recently made her a paid member of the team.
Isabel Juliana, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Isabel came to Cache High as part of a USU volunteer group and taught our students about healthy lifestyles. Isabel worked with a team to teach our students about mental health and how to keep yourself motivated and healthy. Isabel gave great insights to increasing exercise, healthy eating, and self care. Isabel addressed the social problem behind the stereotype of mental health. Isabel used great incentives to get students motivated and excited about advocating for yourself and one another. This was a great program that Isabel put together to inform students on how important healthy lifestyles are and how they impact your mental health.
Sailor Lane, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Sailor came to Cache High as part of a USU volunteer group and taught our students about healthy lifestyles. Sailor taught our students about mental health and how to keep yourself motivated and healthy. Sailor gave great insights to increasing exercise, healthy eating, and self care. Sailor addressed the social problem behind the stereotype of mental health. Sailor used great incentives to get students motivated and excited about advocating for yourself and one another. This was a great program that Sailor put together to inform students on how important healthy lifestyles are and how they impact your mental health.
Monte Larson, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Monte has taken several opportunities to serve at The Family Place. She works in the Kids Place with at risk children. She has served many hours in the shelter with children that have been removed from their home. She has taught our children’s portion of stepfamily class and is attending home visiting lessons. Monte isn’t just serving to get hours, she is serving to better her community and make a difference for the one she is working with. She genuinely cares about those that she works with and does what she can to make their transitions easier.
Noah Linford, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Noah has developed relationships with the students at, worked with GYC, and helped with the Giving Place food pantry.
Alex McAlpin, Nominated by Y-Serve
Alex McAlpin seeks to make this world a place in which all humans can recognize their inherent worth. After serving a mission in Denver, CO and being introduced to a program in which the local homeless population was ministered to by college-aged students who genuinely befriended them in addition to just feeding them, Alex returned to her studies at BYU and felt the pull to help her own community in an authentic way. Soul Food Provo was born. Over the past six months, Alex has dedicated her life to helping some of Utah’s most vulnerable and food-insecure population enter mutually beneficial friendships with students who care. Every Saturday, Alex brings an average of 20 students from BYU to parks, shelters, and the City Creek Mall to visit with and befriend the homeless population. Alex has witnessed a change in both herself and all who congregate together as they learn from each other. She has learned not to underestimate the wisdom that comes from those who experience life’s greatest difficulties. In some ways, she feels the greatest service has been to the students who’ve acquired a new lens through which to see others from different backgrounds. Now working with Y-Serve and the Food and Care Coalition in Provo, Alex has established permanent channels for current and future students to continue this work that benefits both students and the homeless population.
John Meade, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
John has been volunteering at Cache Makers 4H since January 2019. He is an expert when it comes to working in the woodshop and he has helped maintain and train youth on various tools. He’s most recent project has been working on our CNC router and he even taught a class where kids created their own LED nightlights out of wood. He’s knowledge and contributions have been invaluable to both the staff at Cache Makers and the youth. He’s helped sustain our program and mission by passing on his own passion and mastery to anyone who walks through our doors!
Nathan Miller, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Jump the Moon would like to nominate Nathan Miller for the National Service & Volunteer Recognition Day Certificate. Mr. Miller has been an unpaid volunteer at our organization since 2017 (when Jump the Moon was established in Logan, Utah). Jump the Moon is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to creatively using the arts to bring joy and empower individual ability, expression, and dignity, especially to those presumed to be limited. Mr. Miller embodies the mission of our organization. Nathan said, “creating art gives me another avenue of contribution and service to my community.” He has a Bachelor of Arts in Social work and utilizes his knowledge to help others as he assists with Jump the Moon programs. Through volunteering he brings joy to the under served individuals in our community, helps others express themselves through art, and increases their self-esteem.
Tori Miyasaki, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
During her volunteer time, Tori has remained punctual and always brings the right attitude with her. Tori has proven to be great with the children and youth volunteers and has continued to be a fast learner and has never been afraid to ask any questions. She has genuine love for the animals and their well-being, no matter how dirty or difficult the task at hand is. With an optimistic and cheerful attitude, Tori has proven to be a great volunteer at Zootah.
Sam Nielsen, Nominated by Y-Serve
Before the pandemic put the world on hold, Sam Nielsen volunteered with Medallion Manor, a group home for adults with disabilities. He planned activities and brought groups of BYU students along to make friends with Medallion Manor residents and give them something to look forward to every week. This caused Sam’s love for service to grow, and he gradually became more involved with Y-Serve, BYU’s student service organization. Eventually, he joined the Y-Serve Service Council and was assigned several programs to assist in their efforts to serve the disabled communities of Provo and Springville. However, this assignment was made in March 2020, and things looked much different than expected. Over the next year and half, Sam worked to help these programs run virtually as people needed to social distance. In the summer of 2021, BYU decided that Y-Serve was again allowed to serve people in person – not just remotely. Serving as the Vice President of the Service Council at the time, he led the council as Y-Serve grew from just a few service programs running virtually to over sixty programs running as they did before the pandemic. This required working with community service providers, recruiting and training new student program leaders, ensuring new safety protocols, and finding student volunteers to attend the service activities. Though it was a lot of work, Y-Serve again has opportunities for BYU students to serve in capacities that match their talents, and the Provo community is being served in many different capacities.
Courtney Nielson, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Courtney has developed relationships with the students at, worked with GYC, and helped with the Giving Place food pantry.
Teri Painter, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
She helps us run trips and does a lot of the prep work for them along with giving us suggestions for how to streamline our processes. She also helps with our ski program and keeps the Beaver mountain office organized. She has been doing these things for longer than any of the current staff members have been here and she is often teaching us information about Common Ground and our own jobs.
Anne Patton, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Anne came to Cache High as part of a USU volunteer group and taught our students about healthy lifestyles. Anne worked with a team to teach our students about mental health and how to keep yourself motivated and healthy. Anne gave great insights to increasing exercise, healthy eating, and self care. Anne addressed the social problem behind the stereotype of mental health. Anne used great incentives to get students motivated and excited about advocating for yourself and one another. This was a great program that Anne put together to inform students on how important healthy lifestyles are and how they impact your mental health.
Karstyn Peterson, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Karstyn has been volunteering at Green Canyon High School as part of her bachelor’s program. She works with our Guided PACK program which helps students who are failing classes. She was able to help all of her students pass their classes last trimester. These efforts will help get students on track to graduate and put them in a better position for opportunities down the road. She is always willing to help. As an intern, she gets a lot of grunge work but always does it with a smile. Her smile and overall positive outlook have lifted the spirits of the counseling office and the students.
Dorothy Jean Pugmire, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Dorothy Jean just passed away at the age of 98. She helped many non-profit organizations over her long life. Among the many things she did was to help the Whittier Center with their annual fundraising dinner. She organized people in the community to prepare one dish and serve it during the evening dinner. I did this for many years for her, and she was a wonderful individual to serve alongside.
She also helped the Cache Refugee Center for many years. Additionally, her obituary states that “Jean Pugmire held positions on the boards of the Parent and Child Guidance Programme, Cache County Mental Health Association, Cache County Migrant Council, Advisory Council of Bear River Community Mental Health Centre, Utah State Advisory council for Mental Health, and was appointed by the Governor to the Utah State Board of Mental Health.” She was also on the Sunshine Terrace Foundation board. She is certainly a well deserving person to receive this certificate.
Jeannette Rigby, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Jeannette volunteers wherever she can and is helpful and quick to act. She learns quickly and has observed and taught classes. She teaches adults how to have better communication, empathy and how to improve their couple relationships which helps improve families. She teaches children in Stepfamilies how to cope with the conflicting emotions, understanding their emotions, and how we can grow together as families.
Kate Strong, Nominated by Y-Serve
Kate Strong has been a part of many service organizations over the past year. One of her notable contributions to her community here in Utah is her work in Covid-19 vaccine clinics during the Covid-19 pandemic. Kate has volunteered in vaccine clinics in Provo and American Fork for 60+ hours assisting with scheduling, paperwork, patient education, and patient monitoring post-vaccine. She has been able to help the Utah County Health Department vaccinate more than 3500 people per day. Kate has also made a significant contribution to the South Franklin Community Center. As the program director of their reading club, she promotes a love of reading in the kids as well as assists in increasing their reading level through structured practice. Through this program, she is also able to assist in providing the kids in this underprivileged area with good mentors and equip them with skills to be successful later in life.
Dallin Swanson, Nominated by Y-Serve
Dallin Swanson began working with the Center for Service and Learning during his first semester. He was volunteering with the Refugee program and became a program director during the semester. With his contributions to the program and its large events, Dallin was encouraged and became the executive director for the program. With only one semester of college under his belt he began to lead one of the largest on-campus events, and it ran great with many volunteers and positive experiences from those there. In 2020, Covid-19 arrived in Utah and all Y-Serve programs were temporarily shut down. The Refugee program, with a large on-campus in-person event presence did not hold a wonderful outlook for its temporary future. Dallin worked with his directors to send in multiple new temporary online program proposals. After the sixth program proposal and eight months of reaching out to refugee organizations and other ideas, the program was approved. They were now mentoring face to face with refugees and reading books for women and children to learn English. This led to many great experiences from the volunteers and a unique service opportunity. Dallin has since served as a member of the Y-Serve Service Council helping to re-establish programs that were hindered during the pandemic. He has helped to run events, give trainings and visit directly and oversee some of the larger programs within Y-Serve. His service has been invaluable with the direct positive impact on the lives of many students and refugees in Utah.
Meg Takara, Nominated by Y-Serve
Within the last two years, Meg has made a significant impact on the greater Provo area community through her volunteer work in Anatomy Academy. Her freshman year, she found out about BYU’s Y-Serve, and became a volunteer mentor in Anatomy Academy, a club where BYU students travel to elementary schools in the Provo area once a week to mentor a group of elementary students on basic anatomy, physiology, and nutrition. She contributed over 75 hours over the course of a few semesters– preparing lessons, teaching kids, and working with fellow volunteers. Through this teaching opportunity, not only was she able to educate kids on their bodies, but she was able to be an example to them and encourage them to pursue higher education. Her work is significant because many of these students came from lower-income families–many with parents that had not graduated from college. This past fall of 2021, Meg became a Program Director for the organization, and since then has worked diligently to train mentors and coordinators on how to be effective and impactful teachers for these elementary school kids. She is currently working on further expanding the club so that more students in the Provo/Orem area can have the opportunity to have positive interactions with college students through Anatomy Academy.
Carly Taylor, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Carly came to Cache High as part of a USU volunteer group and taught our students about healthy lifestyles. Carly worked with a team to teach our students about mental health and how to keep yourself motivated and healthy. Carly gave great insights to increasing exercise, healthy eating, and self care. Carly addressed the social problem behind the stereotype of mental health. Carly used great incentives to get students motivated and excited about advocating for yourself and one another. This was a great program that Carly put together to inform students on how important healthy lifestyles are and how they impact your mental health.
Deserae Turner, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Deserae Turner is an amazing individual who has overcome many obstacles in her life. When Deserae was 14, she was shot in the back of the head by two classmates and left for dead. But Deserae is a survivor! And now, she is using her time and talents to make this world a more beautiful place. Deserae started up Harvest For Her- You Pick Flower Farm, where she has dedicated a large portion of her family property into flower fields. She makes beautiful bouquets and donates them to hospice care. People from all over come to pick flowers for any occasion for free. Deserae says she believes that where flowers bloom, so does hope.
Deserae is also a service missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and she also spends her time volunteering for the English Language Center and she helped out tremendously this past December with the Children’s Justice Center stuffed animal drive. Deserae advertised on her social media and helped bring awareness of the need for stuffed animals and helped collect over $2,000 worth of stuffed animals and comfort blankets to the CJC. Deserae is such a value to our community and on behalf of the Children’s Justice Center, we think she is very worthy of the UServeUtah Volunteer Award!
Emma Watts, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Emma Watts started her AmeriCorps position with the USU Student Sustainability Office in July, 2021 and will wrap up in May, 2022. During this time, Emma served as the Cache Community Gleaning Coordinator. She worked with tree owners all over Cache Valley to glean unwanted, surplus fruit for the USU SNAC food pantry, Cache Community Food Pantry, and local organizations such as CAPSA and Head Start. Last season, Emma and her volunteer team gleaned over 10,000 pounds of fruit for the local community. Thank you, Emma for your passion and commitment to addressing food waste and food security in our community! Emma Watts is an exceptional leader, facilitator, and innovator. She jumped into her role as the Sustainable Food Intern in the USU Student Sustainability Office in the summer of 2021. She led local produce gleaning efforts in Cache Valley to harvest over 11,000 lbs of produce with USU students and community members that would have otherwise gone to waste. With Emma’s skills, Cache Community Gleaning continued to build relationships with property owners, community, and student volunteers while reducing food waste and feeding people. Not only have her personality and character shown in her work, but she is also great with numbers and data. This spring, she spent countless hours condensing and organizing information from the 2021 gleaning season. We are so lucky to have her on our team and can’t wait to see what she does in her future.
Marilyn Wilson, Nominated by Public & School Partnership
Marilyn Wilson has spent countless hours putting together Little Lambs sunshine kits for schools in the cache county area. Our sunshine kits consist of feminine pads, tampons, and liners. The kits are readily available to any young girl who has an emergency and doesn’t have supplies or young girls who are experiencing period poverty. In some extreme cases, these girls who are experiencing period poverty would have to stay home from school due to lack of period products without the Sunshine Kits.