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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 20, 2023
Contact: Kim Wells, Public Relations and Marketing Specialist, 804-217-1077, kim.wells@dcr.virginia.gov

Winners announced for 2022 Volunteer of the Year awards

(Editors: Follow this link to download an image. Photo caption: Friends of High Bridge State Park)

Virginia State Parks has announced the winners of its 2022 Volunteer of the Year awards in five categories and three subcategories.

Dedicated and hardworking volunteers donated 210,693 hours of time and talent at 41 state parks across the Commonwealth in 2022.

Winners were awarded as follows:

1a. Individual – Exceptional Service

First Place (tie): Randy Bagby (Occoneechee State Park) and Jack and Theresa Rayburn (Westmoreland State Park)

Runners-up: Mike Brostek (Seven Bends and Leesylvania State Parks) and Suzanne Sparrow (Sky Meadows State Park)

1b. Individual – Significant Achievement

First Place: Joan Chapman (Seven Bends State Park)

Runner-up: Don Viles (Hungry Mother State Park)

1c. Individual – Interpretation

First Place: Tracy Rollins (Wilderness Road State Park)

Runner-up: April Allen (Staunton River Battlefield State Park)

2. Campground Host

First Place: Tammie Haller (Powhatan State Park)

Runners-up: The Flora family (Chippokes State Park) and Tom Black & Becky Fela (Hungry Mother State Park)

3. Group

First Place: Lambda Iota Mu of Virginia Tech (Hungry Mother State Park)

4. Friends Group

First Place (tie): Friends of High Bridge Trail State Park and Friends of Seven Bends State Park

Runner-up: Friends of Hungry Mother State Park

5. Lifetime Achievement Award

Owen Waltman (Pocahontas State Park)

Randy Smith (Hungry Mother State Park)

Kim Kenny (multiple parks)

Margaret Kenny (multiple parks)

James Keith Johnson (multiple parks)

With projects ranging from beekeeping to repairing bikes, these volunteers really went above and beyond their duties to enhance the guests visit to the park. Individuals, groups, couples and even families worked to create new hiking trails, sponsor events, help with environmental education, plant and maintain gardens as well as handle various repairs. These are just a few of their accomplishments. Check out the Volunteer of the Year awards blog to learn more about what these extraordinary volunteers accomplished.

“We are really grateful for all of our state park volunteers,” said Virginia State Park Director Dr. Melissa Baker. “The amount of time and aptitude that our volunteers donate are so vital to the daily operations of each park location and we appreciate every minute of their time. We love our volunteers and truly thank them for the amazing things they accomplished last year.”

If you are interested in volunteering at a Virginia State Park, visit our website for more details.

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