Congratulations to recipients of the Lt. Governor’s Volunteer Recognition Certificate in May of 2022. The contributions made by these volunteers make lasting impacts on communities across our state.
Daellyn Avila, Nominated by Kearns High School
Daellyn serves on our E2S Kearns Youth Council and as a tutor to elementary school students. She has served at other events in the community such as interpreting and the MS Walk.
Angel Balladares, Nominated by Kearns High School
Angel serves on the E2S Kearns Youth Council to plan events to prevent risk factors, Food Pantries, Utah Food Bank, Alzheimer’s Walk, Senior Center and several other activities
Chelsea Barrios, Nominated by Kearns High School
Chelsea served as a tutor for junior high ESL, elementary students. She has interpreted at PTCs and participated in numerous other service projects. She serves and help start on our E2S Youth Council and has helped plan numerous activities for youth in our community to prevent youth factors. He also serves at Mobile Food Pantries, Utah Food bank, Learning for Life camp.
Yareli Becerra-De los Reyes, Nominated by Kearns High School
Yareli has served as a tutor to elementary students to help them in math and has served at mobile food pantries, Utah food banks, UCA Headstart, Senior Center and other activities
Mariel Beristain, Nominated by Kearns High School
Mariel served as a tutor to 2nd graders and has served to promote the arts and theater in our community. She has also served at several other community cultural events and others that help prevent risk factors in our community.
Luz Bran, Nominated by Kearns High School
Luz served as a tutor for our Special Needs students at our school. She has also served at the Kearns Senior Center, Kearns Day of service, and other activities.
Emily Bronstein, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
Emily has been very involved with her Little Sister’s academics and being there emotionally for her Little Sister. Emily manages to come to every meeting and comes in with a positive attitude each program. These two have been matched for 2 years and 4 months.
Josh Carter, Nominated by Sageland Collaborative
A student of film, Josh created a rosy-finch video last winter and spent many hours this summer working on a video for our Boreal Toad Project. Over multiple days, he spent long hours hefting his camera through thick willows with our team looking for toads to film, which is not an easy feat. Thank you, Josh!
Antonella Comelatto Crisman, Nominated by Kearns High School
She has served as a tutor for high school students.
Alexia Concha, Nominated by Kearns High School
Alexia serves on our E2S Youth Council and has helped plan numerous activities for youth in our community to prevent youth factors. He also serves at Mobile Food Pantries, Utah Food bank, Learning for Life camp.
Zachary Craigmile, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
Nomination provided by the guardian of Zachary’s Little Brother: “When my son start this program it help his self confidence and he was so excited that he has a big brother he can go when he is in need. He enjoy the time he spend with Zack he like the activities they go because he like to try new and not only does Zack think of his little brother he think of our family always making sure we are good in our home.”
Kevin Cruz, Nominated Kearns High School
Kevin served as a tutor helping junior high students improve their reading skills. He also has served at several community events like the Alzheimer’s Walk and the Utah Food Bank.
Christian Dahenke, Nominated Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
Nomination provided by the guardian of Christian’s Little Brother: “He is always reaching out and always making my son feel confident to try new things.”
Mary DeHerrera, Nominated by The Road Home
I am nominating Mary DeHerrera for the Lieutenant Governor’s Volunteer Recognition Certificate, to acknowledge her continued dedicated service to The Road Home.
Ms. DeHerrera has been volunteering at least once per week at The Road Home’s Gail Miller Resource Center, helping to serve meals to individuals experiencing homelessness. Ms. DeHerrera has demonstrated the utmost level of compassion and diligence when interacting with shelter guests, and she has formed positive relationships with staff. Ms. DeHerrera checks our volunteer calendars and, if other volunteers cancel their shift, she will often immediately sign up to support our kitchen team. She never hesitates to help with any task given to her, and she is known to those around her for being reliable, kindhearted and hard-working.
Serving 100-150 guests per meal, three times a day, 365 days a year is a monumental undertaking that requires perfect coordination with staff, other local organizations, and volunteers. Without the help of such volunteers, particularly those like Ms. DeHerrera, it would be difficult to ensure that breakfast, lunch and dinner is prepared and served in an efficient and timely manner to our shelter guests. By providing meals for guests, we can help them focus more fully on securing housing. Ms. DeHerrera is one of our valuable volunteers who not only understands and works towards this, but has made it evident in her actions and words how committed she is to continuing our mission of helping people step out of homelessness and back into the community.
Heather Derum, Nominated by Kearns High School
Heather serves as an advisor to the E2S Kearns youth council the past 2 years. She helped create the council in the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic and has led the council to help address risk factors in the Kearns Community through events as fundraising for the VOA Homeless youth resource center, for local food pantries, motivational speaker, community game nights and more! She drives 1 hour 1 way to come support and advise the council!
Laurel Dias, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
Emanuel Estrada Rios, Nominated by Kearns High School
He served as a tutor to elementary school students, Alzheimers walk, senior center, Utah Mobile food Bank, and other activities.
Tatiana Figueroa, Nominated by Kearns High School
Tati served as a tutor for junior high students and at several other community events.
Will Fleming, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
This Big and Little pair was connected and then had to spend a lot of time on Zoom. During this time, they would talk, do 20 questions, and play games together online. BB and LB are always having fun. They play outside, talk, and laugh easily, sometimes with other matches and sometimes on their own.
Rosa Flores, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
Rosa is so kind, reliable and special in every way. She is patient and gives her Little Sister cultural experiences and is her biggest cheer leader. They love to window shop, get ice cream, talk, cook, go to movies and do Girl Scouts activities. Rosa is the perfect Big Sister! She has been such a blessing.
Sienna Flores, Nominated by Kearns High School
Sienna has served as a tutor at a local elementary school and helped students improve their reading. She has also served at several local mobile food pantries
Flor Flores, Nominated by Kearns High School
Flor serves on our E2S Youth Council and has helped plan numerous activities for youth in our community to prevent youth factors. She also served at the Kearns Drug Take Back day.
Leila Fowler, Nominated by Kearns High School
She served as a tutor to 2nd graders and has served to promote the arts and theater in our community. She has also served on our E2S youth council to plan and serve at several other community cultural events and others that help prevent risk factors in our community.
Ruth Garcia Verduzco, Nominated by Kearns High School
Ruth served as a tutor to elementary school students in math, at food banks, mobile food pantries, as an interpreter at Parent Teacher Conferences and other community cultural events.
Saul Gonzalez, Nominated by Kearns High School
Saul served as a tutor for junior high students to help them improve their reading. He has helped at several other events such as making blankets for Primary Children’s, and other events.
Heather Graham, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
Heather has been with her Little Sister (LS) since her 6th Grade and now she is a senior. She has been a very inspirational and down to earth human who has supported LS’s social, morally and intellectually. LS has been performing really good in school and home. She got into a pool of finalist for QuestBridge college scholarship and still considered for admission in regular decision to top ten universities in the US even though she didn’t qualify for early decision. All these credit goes to Heather for inspiring her.
Carmen Guillen, Nominated by Kearns High School
Carmen has served as a tutor to elementary students to help them in math and has served at mobile food pantries, Utah food banks, UCA Headstart, Senior Center and other activities.
Patricia Gutierrez, Nominated by Kearns High School
Patricia has served in many capacities, projects and activities. She has served as a tutor for elementary students and ESL students and helping them learn in their skills.
Rosy Gutierrez, Nominated by Kearns High School
Rosy has served as a tutor to elementary students and ESL students. She has also served in planning activities that address community risk factors.
Natasha Hadden, Nominated by Sageland Collaborative
Natasha is not only a volunteer on our Plants and Pollinators project, but also a partner that has worked hard to spread the project—and pollinator conservation efforts—to new regions of Utah.
Will Hahaj, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
Will has gone above and beyond to make his Little Brother (LB) feel important, He has made LB come out of his shell and feel more confident about his self. LB asks every weekend if Will is coming, he loves being around Will and Will enjoys being around LB. They are like brothers from another mother:) Will shows up to LB’s football games, LB always looks for Will when he knows he will be at the game, when he spots Will his face lights up with a huge grin. I couldn’t have asked for a better match for LB.
Brinly Harward, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
This mentor has really connected so well with her Little. They call and talk for hours, they text often, and they get together whenever they can. The LSM said that “they are two peas in a pod” and get along wonderfully. They have a really special bond. During COVID, they FaceTimed, texted, and talked on the phone regularly.
Daniela Hernandez, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
Big Sister (BS) Daniela met her Little Sister (LS) in the school-based program when LS was in 2nd grade. They were together in this program until BS graduated from High School, then BS stayed in Utah for college, so they rolled over to the community-based program 2 years ago. Ever since they started in the CB program, they have been meeting consistently, and improved their relationship even more by doing activities outside school. During covid, BS and LS stayed connected through Zoom meetings, and they also met outside LS’s home to go for walks.
Alexandro Hernandez, Nominated by Kearns High School
Alex serves on our E2S Youth Council and has helped plan numerous activities for youth in our community to prevent youth factors. He served as a tutor for Junior high students as well. He also serves at Mobile Food Pantries, Utah Food bank, Learning for Life camp.
Esmeralda Higuera, Nominated by Kearns High School
She was another founding member and still serves on our E2S Youth Council and has helped plan numerous activities for youth in our community to prevent youth factors. He also serves at Mobile Food Pantries, Utah Food bank, Learning for Life camp.
Noah Lebsack, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
Big Brother (BB) Noah has been on a consistent bi weekly schedule with his Little Brother (LB). They have maintained in person activities during this time. LB is an only child and doesn’t have much interaction with other adults other than family. BB has been a great friend/mentor to LB. BB has introduced LB to many activities that include life skills, social skills, comprehension/assessing and fun.
Axel Linares, Nominated by Kearns High School
Axel served as a tutor for elementary school students and at numerous Mobile Food Pantries and activities.
Edgar Linares, Nominated by Kearns High School
He served as a tutor to elementary school students, Alzheimers walk, senior center, Utah Mobile food Bank, and planned events to prevent risk factors and other activities.
Max Lopez, Nominated by Kearns High School
Max serves on our E2S Youth Council and has helped plan numerous activities for youth in our community to prevent youth factors. Max also serves at Mobile Food Pantries.
Crystal Mateos, Nominated by Kearns High School
Crystal serves on our E2S Kearns Youth Council and has helped plan events to prevent risk factors in our community. She also has served as a tutor for ESL junior high students, at mobile food pantry, and other activities in our school and community.
Jennifer and Danny Menlove, Nominated by Sageland Collaborative
Between the two of them, Jennifer and Danny uploaded and tagged approximately half of all the images in the Wildlife Insights program as part of our Wasatch Wildlife Watch project. They have also established their own camera site and helped with fieldwork for Snapshot USA.
Shara Meredith, Nominated by Kearns High School
Shara Meredith, from Deseret Book, has facilitated volunteers to come to present and teach one of our LIA classes about budgeting, career paths and different jobs, resumes, professionalism, communication, leadership and doing Mock Interviews with them. She has facilitated real life learning in our classroom!
Nancy Merrick, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
“I think Nancy’s biggest impact has been her steadiness. Since being matched with Mack, they have consistently built a friendship centered on their outings, which are usually one a week, every Sunday. They both enjoy doing things outside, and over the years, Nancy has helped Mack grow her love of the outdoors. They often go hiking in the nearby mountains, and Mack has told me that she feels good when she’s outside, moving around in nature. I know Mack’s mom, Maureen, has greatly appreciated having Nancy in her daughter’s life. She has told me on more than one occasion that Nancy is like family, which matters a lot as Maureen and Mack don’t have family close by, and Mack’s dad lives in central American, and she doesn’t see him often.
During the pandemic, this match has kept meeting. They slowed down a little in the very early pandemic, but kept meeting outside, masking, through getting vaccinated, and continue to meet nearly weekly.”
Christine Miller, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
Christine has taken her Little Sister (LS) on several hiking trips. She has been able to explore places that we are not able to take her to. Christine and LS share a common personality so they are able to connect well and she has become family-like to us.
Adrian Miranda, Nominated by Kearns High School
Adrian has served as a tutor to special needs students, as a member of the Kearns E2S youth council, food pantries, food bank and numerous other projects and activities.
Nicole Munoz, Nominated by Kearns High School
Nicole served as a tutor for elementary students, as an interpreter and in other community events.
Cynthia Navarro, Nominated by Kearns High School
Cynthia has served as a tutor and at numerous events such as the MS Walk, for Primary Children’s, Kearns day of service, and as an interpreter for Parent Teacher Conferences.
Holly Nichols, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
Holly has been a consistent steady presence since the beginning of their match in 2015. They loved doing virtual visits during the pandemic. Holly felt it gave her a lot of insight into her Little Sister’s (LS) life through their video chats.
Araceli Padilla Granados, Nominated by Kearns High School
Araceli has served as a tutor for students in reading, food bank, interpreting for Parent teacher conferences, and as a member of the KHS key Club.
Brock Pettyjohn, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sister of Utah
Big Brother (BB) and Little Brother (LB) have a great connection. BB consistently shows up for LB. BB has attended school performances and continually encourages LB in his interests.
Brian Pham, Nominated by Sageland Collaborative
Starting on our Stream & Riparian Restoration Project just this year, Brian has already left a big impression. His positivity brightens any long stream day, bringing our volunteers and team together with his passion.
Catherine Quevedo, Nominated by Kearns High School
She has served as a tutor for ESL Junior high students and elementary students.
Joel Raskin, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
Joel has been an incredible mentor to his Little Brother (LB). He has not only been a consistent person in his life, but also a caring one. Joel has introduced LB to several activities whom he never tried before. He has also helped LB to improve his social skills, and has been overall an outstanding role model for his Little.
During Covid they both followed their same schedule and they met in person, outside, and wore masks when necessary. They mostly do activities outdoors like golfing in the Summer, and cross country skiing during winter.
Cynthia Renova, Nominated by Kearns High School
She has served as a tutor to help students improve literacy.
Arleth Rodriguez, Nominated by Kearns High School
Arleth has served as a tutor for elementary school students in literacy. She has helped with UCA’s head start health fair, as an interpreter as Parent Teacher conferences, Utah Food Bank and mobile food pantries and several cultural awareness events in our community.
Giovanni Rojas, Nominated by Kearns High School
Gio serves on our E2S Youth Council and has helped plan numerous activities for youth in our community to prevent youth factors. He also serves at Mobile Food Pantries, Utah Food bank, Learning for Life camp and other projects and activities.
Emily Rojo Mendoza, Nominated by Kearns High School
Emily has served as President of our E2S Kearns Youth Council that has planned fundraisers for VOA Homeless resource center, our community local food pantries, community game nights and at Take back days and community events. She also served as a tutor at elementary school and as a cultural ambassador in our community.
Nicole Roush, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
Big Sister (BS) is pursuing a masters degree in Public Health. At the same time she works providing care services for a child that has a complicated medical condition. During the last year Little Sister (LS) moved from the south side of the valley to downtown increasing BS commute about 10 minutes to 30+ minutes depending on traffic each way. Nonetheless BS has tried to maintain a 2 activity per month schedule with LS. LSM does not speak much English so BS is diligent in sending LSM a text to confirm her approval of the dates/times/activity. BS has been careful during covid as she has family members/little girl that she cares for that have pre-existing conditions. BS encourages wearing mask on all of their activities. BS has introduced LS to a variety of activities including helping with school projects, baking, swimming, going to the park, arts and crafts, etc. During the holidays BS and her Mom provided gifts to the family.
Alyssa Sainsbury, Nominated by Kearns High School
Alyssa was one of the founding members of the E2S Kearns Youth Council in the midst of the pandemic and helped raise $1000s for local food pantries, VOA Homeless resource center and setting up game nights and other community events.
Britney Salcedo, Nominated by Kearns High School
Britney serves on our E2S Kearns Youth Council to plan events in our community to prevent hunger, support homelessness, as an interpreter at PTCs, food pantries, food bank, as a cultural ambassador and several other activities and projects!
Leslie Santos, Nominated by Kearns High School
She serves on our E2S Kearns Youth Council and as a tutor to elementary school students. She has served at other events in the community such as interpreting and the MS Walk.
Kristeen Schumacher, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
In addition to the talking through the challenges of being a teenage girl, Big Sister (BS) has helped Little Sister (LS) deal with racism at school. One of BS siblings was told he was overweight by a coach. LS became angry at this accusation and didn’t know how best to deal with it. After speaking with LS, BS also suggested that LS talk with her parents about so that she could get an additional perspective.
Austin Sims, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
Austin shares a history similar to his Little Brother (LB) so it was a great match from the beginning. He has become like a member of the family, not just a big brother. He talks to LB and helps him in was that we are not able to. His positive mentorship and attitude set him aside. He is a very special human.
Lynette Subirias, Nominated by Kearns High School
She served as a tutor to special needs students and as a health clinician at a clinic in our community.
Salvador Tellez, Nominated by Kearns High School
Salvador serves on our E2S Youth Council and has helped plan numerous activities for youth in our community to prevent youth factors. He also served as a tutor to elementary school kids and at the MS Walk among other events.
Caitlin Thayer, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
This mentor has really connected so well with her Little. They call and talk for hours, they text often, and they get together whenever they can. The Little Sister’s mother said that “they are two peas in a pod” and get along wonderfully. They have a really special bond. During COVID, they FaceTimed, texted, and talked on the phone regularly.
Joselyne Vazquez, Nominated by Kearns High School
Joselyne served as a tutor for elementary students and has served at the Utah Food Bank, several Mobile Food Pantries and other events in our community like the Learning for Life Camp.
Andy Vazquez, Nominated by Kearns High School
Andy served as a tutor for ESL students at the local junior high and has participated in numerous other events. He also serves on our E2S Youth Council and has helped plan numerous activities for youth in our community to prevent youth factors. He also serves at Mobile Food Pantries, and Utah Food bank.
William Warner, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
Big Brother (BB) has been a weekly consistent basis with his Little Brother (LB). Their first couple of activities were online; but most all have been in person since then. BB has made a great impact on LB by understanding the importance of building relationships/mentorships through collaboration. BB was able to establish goals with LB where they both worked together and heard one another’s thoughts.
Eric Wilmore, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
Big Brother (BB) has done a great job at staying in contact with his Little Brother (LB) despite LB going from mom to dads home without an exact schedule. BB has maintained great contact with both parents and has been very patient with scheduling. BB has made a big impact in LB life by being consistent. Encouraging, a great listening ear, positive and allowing LB to express himself; since LB is generally more quiet.
Organizations in Utah can recognize outstanding volunteers for their contributions by nominating them for the Lt. Governor’s Volunteer Recognition Certificate. Learn more here.