Thursday, February 12, 2009

The Paragon Partnership received 60 nominations for the 2009 Paragon Awards.

Members of the Partnership and a community selection committee are now reviewing the nominations. Decisions will be made by the end of February with an announcement of this year's recipients in early March.

The awards will be presented at a reception April 16, 2009 at the Courtyard Marriott in Hadley.

Marking its fifth anniversary, the Paragon Partnership is a community collaboration to recognize and promote volunteerism within County. It consists of the The Daily Hampshire Gazette, Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross and the United Way of Hampshire County, in collaboration with ACT Community Service Center.

The Paragon Awards were started in 2004. The Paragon Partnership each year recognizes four individuals who make exemplary volunteer contributions within the communities of Hampshire County.

The awards program also serves as an opportunity to recognize the generous contributions of thousands of volunteers in our community.

The Paragon Awards

The Kimball W. Howes Award is given to a person in who has demonstrated a commitment to volunteer leadership and initiative over a lifetime. The award is for an individual who life exemplifies the spirit of community service as a way of life.

The Calvin and Grace Coolidge Award is given to someone who has provided outstanding public service as a volunteer, or in a paid professional position, has served the public in an extraordinary way, above and beyond the requirements of their usual professional duties.

The Community Enrichment Award is given to a person or a group who have committed a significant time and resources to improve the quality of life and expand offerings and opportunities in one or more of the following areas: the arts, social, cultural or historic appreciation, the environment and safeguarding of natural resources.

The Outstanding Youth Award recognizes a youth 18 years or younger for exemplary leadership, commitment and initiative through service in their school or community.

Nominating Instructions

Nominations may be made by anyone

The service of nominees must be performed in Hampshire County.

Service may not include hours served through a part of an internship requirement

Nominees must not have received monetary compensation for their service roles.

A person can be nominated for only one award category.

Suggested Criteria for Paragon Awards

Nominee must meet the following basic criteria in order to be considered.

# Nominations may be made by anyone.

# Nominees must be from Hampshire County and the service for which they are nominated must have been performed in Hampshire County

# In the case of multiple nominations, the content of all nominations will be taken into account, but the number of nominations will not impact the final decision.

# Service may not include hours served as part of an internship requirement.

# Nominee's service through an organization must serve members of a community.

For the Kimball W. Howes Award

# Nominee has made volunteerism and community service a way of life.

# Nominee has, through their involvement in service, set a consistent example of volunteer leadership and initiative over a lifetime

# Nominee must not have received monetary compensation for their service role(s).

For the Calvin and Grace Coolidge Award

# Nominee has provided outstanding public service as a volunteer, or if in a paid position, has served the public in an extraordinary way, above and beyond the requirements of their usual job duties.

For the Community Enrichment Award

# Nominee can be an individual or group#

# Nominee committed significant time and resources toward completion of programs or projects that expand offerings and opportunities in one or more of the following areas: the arts, social, cultural or historic appreciation, promotion of environmental awareness, safeguarding of natural resources

# Nominee must not have received monetary compensation for their service role(s).

For the Outstanding Youth Award

# Nominee must be 18 years old or under.

# Nominee must no have received monetary compensation for their service role(s).

# Nominee must have served in a way that demonstrates leadership and initiative, providing service that meets a need within their school or community.

Other criteria that may be helpful in determining which of many qualified nominees should get the award:

# Does the nominee build capacity by engaging others or finding resources to sustain their work over the long-term?

# Does the nominee use innovative, unique or creative solutions to community needs?

# Does the nominee show dedication or perseverance in the face of obstacles?

# Does the nominee act as a role model for others or inspire other to serve?

# Does the nominee improve the lives of others through their service work?

# Does the nominee demonstrate a sense of social responsibility?

# Does the nominee demonstrate leadership and initiative?

2009 Selection Committee

#Representing the Paragon Partnership: John Ebbets, CEO, United Way of Hampshire County; Jim Foudy, Editor, Daily Hamsphire Gazette; Lisa Bertoli, chair of the ACT Community Service board.

#Also: Jim Butcher, Red Cross; Chris Collins, WHMP; Amanda Doster, ACT Community Service Center; Ralph Levy, past Paragon Award recipient; Judi Marksbury, Director of Community Relations, Smith College; Natalia Munoz, journalist and editor of La Prensa of Western Massachusetts; Steve Strimer, past Paragon Award recipient; John Vassallo, vice president Easthampton Savings Bank

Paragon Award 2009 Nominees

Howes Lifetime Achievement Award

Marge Barstow

David Bourbeau

Marsha Dube

Carl Erickson

Joan Finn

Stephanie Flinker

Kris Furkey

George Goodwin

Lyn Heady

Lori Ingrham

Rosemary Kofler

Alice Luce

Arky Markham

Jean O'Dea

Gloria Tuperkeisis

John Vassallo

Ruth Wade

Dan Yacuzzo

Coolidge Public Service Award

Robin Bialecki

Jim Brassord

Russell Carrier

Andy Crystal

Charles Dazelle

Jennifer Dieringer

Marsha Dube (4)

Nancy Duseau

Barbara Eddings

Cami Elbow

Carl Erickson

Elise Feeley

Daniel Finn

Luz Eneida Garcia

Barbara Johnson

Robert Lord Keyes

Sherry McGuire

Rosie McMahan

Michelle Morris

Susan McIntosh

Carol McMurrich

Tony Patillo

Donald Pipczynski

Catherine Robinson

Jean Rogers

Catherine Sanderson

Robert Saalfrank

Elizabeth Thayer

Lucille Temple

Community Enrichment

Jeff Brown

Kris Furkey

Joel Russell

Priscilla Ross

Keith Wilbur

Bill Venman

Veterans Education Project / Rob Wilson and Susan Leary

Outstanding Youth

Leah Alper

Molly Bialecki

Robert W. Jeffway

Lauren Katz

Katherine Lesko

Emily Norman

Graham Spencer-Orrell

Past Award Recipients

Lifetime of volunteer activity

Yvonne Freccero, Florence

Doris Holden, Amherst

Kay Sheehan, Florence

Ralph Levy Jr., Northampton

Public Service

Eleanor Jones, Northamton

Robert Mahar, Florence

Stasia Charron, Easthampton

Kathleen Anderson, Amherst

Community enrichment

Steve Strimer, Northampton

Martin Wohl, Northampton

Bob Cilman, Northampton

Steve J. Stoia, Belchertown

Outstanding youth

Shirin Hakim, Amherst

Abbe Hamilton, South Hadley

Robert Reynolds, Southampton

Kurtis Mckemmie, Hadley