2016 Spirit of Volunteerism Award Winners Announced

More than 600 people, including local community leaders, non-profit agency representatives and business executives turned out for the 2016 Spirit of Volunteerism Awards. The Helpline Center hosted the luncheon at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. During the event, 124 nominees, honorees and award winners were recognized.

Winners of the Spirit of Volunteerism Awards in the Youth, Adult and Group Categories received $500 to be awarded to a non-profit or charitable organization of their choice. Citi also honored Citi Youth Leadership Award recipients at this event, and MetaBank recognized all Volunteer of the Month Award winners from the previous year.

The 2016 winners are:

• Youth Category: Sam Johnson, for volunteering at Avera Prince of Peace
• Adult Up and Coming Category: Eric Rippentrop, for his work with refugee students at LSS’s Center for New Americans
• Adult Shining Bright Category: Laurie Fluit, for her volunteer work with the South Dakota Region of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).
• Adult Lifetime Category: Diane Bauch, for her service to children as a Court Appointed Special Advocate
• Group Category: A Home for Austin Committee Members for leading this home-building project in Tea, SD
• Corporate Humanitarian (under 100 employees) Category: Paws ‘n Claws Grooming Salon, for owner Lori Pliska’s free grooming services to the clients served by AniMeals on Wheels
• Corporate Humanitarian (over 100 employees) Category: Sioux Falls School District Counseling Staff, who serve as site coordinators for LSS’s Mentoring Services programs

Citi also presented the Citi Youth Leadership Awards at the event.  Six high school students received $1,000 scholarships in recognition for their community involvement:

• Zachariah Gors, Tea Area High School
• Autumn Hurd, Bridgewater-Emery High School
• Autumn Klaudt, Lincoln High School
• Stephanie Neumeister, Washington High School
• Molly Sittig, Baltic High School
• Nicole Thomes, Brandon Valley High School

The following MetaBank Volunteers of the Month were also recognized:

• June 2015, Marie Roff, nominated by Senior Companions of South Dakota
• July 2015, Ryne Redding, nominated by The Outdoor Campus
• August 2015, LorrainneChewning, nominated by Sertoma Butterfly House & Marine Cove
• September 2015, David Bacon, nominated by The Community Outreach
• October 2015, Pat Roser, nominated by Active Generations
• November 2015, Justin Broveak, nominated by Sanford Medical Center
• December 2015, Warren Shoberg, nominated by Washington Pavilion of Arts & Science
• January 2016, Teresa Reynolds, nominated by LifeScape
• February 2016, Christy Huggett, nominated by Avera At Home Hospice
• March 2016, Tammy Kuehn, nominated by Girl Scouts-Dakota Horizons
• April 2016, Dee Lundeen, nominated by Active Generations
• May 2016, Carol Ekse, nominated by Family Visitation Center

(Source: Helpline Center)