Two Sul Ross State University students and one staff member will receive the Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) at the Student Organization Awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 29, at 6 p.m. at the Morgan University Center.
The PVSA is the nation’s premier volunteer award program, encouraging U.S. citizens or lawfully admitted permanent residents to live a life of service through presidential recognition. Recipients complete various hours of “unpaid acts of volunteer service benefitting others.”
The award offers three levels of annual recognition and a lifetime award. Each level has a designated number of hours required appropriate to the age of the individual volunteer.
Shelby Green will graduate May 9 with a Bachelor of Science in Range and Wildlife Management.
A two-time Gold Medal recipient of the award, she completed 270 community service hours last year and has completed 357 hours this year. Green is active both on and off campus. She gives back to the community through service opportunities with the Sul Ross Range and Wildlife Club, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Alpine Volunteer Fire Department and as the President of the Student Government Association. “I enjoy volunteering because I am able to help those in need, promote conservation, and spend time with other liked-minded individuals,” she said.
Courtney Cavallin will graduate May 9 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Human Performance.
She completed 201 hours of community service and will receive the Silver Medal. She earned the majority of her hours this past summer with her church community serving with at ECLA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. “I love to serve because it reminds me that even the smallest efforts can bring real help and hope to someone who is struggling,” she said. “I’ve learned how deeply people can be affected by things outside of their control and how important it is to show up and help however you can.” She is also active in student organizations including the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, Student Government Association, Kinesiology Club and is a Student Athletic Trainer.
Manuel Martinez is an alumni and Tech Support Specialist for the Office of Information Technology. He is a three-time recipient of the PVSA. As a student, Martinez received the Gold Medal in December 2022, and he has continued his community service in Alpine ever since. This year, he completed 267 hours and is being awarded the Gold Medal. The majority of his service hours are collected through the Knights of Columbus and the Big Bend Youth Soccer Association. “I like to serve because volunteering is what is going to persuade the world to truly make a difference for all of its inhabitants,” he said.
SRSU became a certifying organization to verify service hours and award the Presidential Volunteer Service Award in Fall 2022. This is the first time Sul Ross has participated in the Presidential Volunteer Service Award program.
More information can be found at presidentialserviceawards.gov.
Email katy.williams@sulross.edu or find out more about Sul Ross State University at www.sulross.edu.