2021 Volunteer of the Year - Mark Walker
The annual Springfield Southeast Rotary Club's Volunteer of the Year Award is our Club’s highest honor. It recognizes community service rendered outside Rotary activities. Mark Walker received the 2021 award at our weekly meeting on April 22. Tammy Mast (above right), chair of the Rotary Volunteers Committee, presented the award on April 22.
"One of the greatest moments is after we have selected the recipient and we just reflect on the impact that person has had in our community," Tammy said.
Comments that were made about this year’s recipient are:
'I just want to be like him.'
'He always has the right thing to say for that exact moment.'
'He is smart, caring, humble.'
'He steps up and will do anything that needs to be done and he does it with no fanfare.'
'He naturally creates a giving culture for all of those around him and you just want to be a part of that.'
'He is a natural mentor. Sometimes you don’t even know you are being mentored, but you just want to absorb all of the knowledge you can.'
Mark has served on numerous boards at local, state and national levels, advocating for social justice, education and professional development. He has brought key stakeholders together to address opportunity gaps and the needs of some of the most underserved to create sustainable change. He has provided a visionary perspective to create strategic shifts for nonprofit organizations at a time they needed it most.
He has served or is currently on the boards of directors for the national CASA organization, Care to Learn, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Missouri Trucking Association and several organizations in Silicon Valley. He also is on the Drury University Board of Trustees.
Mark is a visionary, a leader, and a mentor. Yet, when asked about his most rewarding volunteer experience, it was time spent in a Mark Twain Elementary School classroom.
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Nominations for this annual award are submitted by our club members and community organizations, with the final selection being made by the Rotary volunteer committee. Tammy Mast is the committee chair and presented the award.
The award has been presented since 1999. Previous recipients are:
2019 Mark McNay
2018 Charlie O'Reilly
2017 Angela Smith
2016 Irwin Cohen
2015 Doug Nickell
2014 Steve Rice
2013 Gordon Elliott
2012 Kirk Elmquist
2011 Dennis Whaley
2010 Gerry Lee
2009 Rick Hughlett
2008 Gary Deaver
2007 Bob Hammerschmidt
2006 Doug Pitt
2005 Anne Brown
2004 Todd Parnell
2003 Joy Lamberson Klock
2002 Steve Scott
2001 Barbara Lucks
2000 Mac McCartney
1999 Bill Reser
"One of the greatest moments is after we have selected the recipient and we just reflect on the impact that person has had in our community," Tammy said.
Comments that were made about this year’s recipient are:
'I just want to be like him.'
'He always has the right thing to say for that exact moment.'
'He is smart, caring, humble.'
'He steps up and will do anything that needs to be done and he does it with no fanfare.'
'He naturally creates a giving culture for all of those around him and you just want to be a part of that.'
'He is a natural mentor. Sometimes you don’t even know you are being mentored, but you just want to absorb all of the knowledge you can.'
Mark has served on numerous boards at local, state and national levels, advocating for social justice, education and professional development. He has brought key stakeholders together to address opportunity gaps and the needs of some of the most underserved to create sustainable change. He has provided a visionary perspective to create strategic shifts for nonprofit organizations at a time they needed it most.
He has served or is currently on the boards of directors for the national CASA organization, Care to Learn, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Missouri Trucking Association and several organizations in Silicon Valley. He also is on the Drury University Board of Trustees.
Mark is a visionary, a leader, and a mentor. Yet, when asked about his most rewarding volunteer experience, it was time spent in a Mark Twain Elementary School classroom.
----
Nominations for this annual award are submitted by our club members and community organizations, with the final selection being made by the Rotary volunteer committee. Tammy Mast is the committee chair and presented the award.
The award has been presented since 1999. Previous recipients are:
2019 Mark McNay
2018 Charlie O'Reilly
2017 Angela Smith
2016 Irwin Cohen
2015 Doug Nickell
2014 Steve Rice
2013 Gordon Elliott
2012 Kirk Elmquist
2011 Dennis Whaley
2010 Gerry Lee
2009 Rick Hughlett
2008 Gary Deaver
2007 Bob Hammerschmidt
2006 Doug Pitt
2005 Anne Brown
2004 Todd Parnell
2003 Joy Lamberson Klock
2002 Steve Scott
2001 Barbara Lucks
2000 Mac McCartney
1999 Bill Reser
