Hill volunteers get recognition at VEA breakfast

  • Published
  • By Mary Lou Gorny
  • Hilltop Times editor
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  This year's Volunteer Recognition Breakfast, held April 14 at Club Hill provided the setting for recognizing three times as many nominees for the Volunteer Excellence Award (VEA) than in 2010.

"At last year's recognition breakfast we had six nominees for the VEA. This year we have 18!" said Colette Geiss of the Airman and Family Readiness Center and installation volunteer coordinator.

As host for the event, she introduced the nominees and announced the winner, all of whom were recognized and presented a certificate by Col Patrick Higby, 75th Air Base Wing Commander. This year's winner, Jennifer Walsh, Key Spouse, 421st Fighter Squadron, said afterward that she was surprised to receive the honor.

"(Key Spouse) is such an important program," Walsh said. "I think it's important to see when someone is hurting and having trouble and (it's important) to seize the opportunity to help them - that you don't let it pass you by."

She said that volunteers in the program work independently and then come together and build on each other's efforts.

Stefani Schulze, 421st FS Key Spouse Lead said after the event, "I'm thrilled Jen has been recognized for all the time and effort she puts into the people of the 421st Fighter Squadron and Hill Air Force Base."

Schulze, the wife of Lt. Col. Paul Schulze, commander of the 421st FS, went on to say, "She is truly concerned about the well-being of everyone in the squadron; a trait that makes her a perfect Key Spouse. Team Hill is fortunate to have someone as dedicated as Jen on our side."

A large crowd of volunteers attended the breakfast, with representatives from base leadership, nominees, coworkers, and family members.

Geiss said after the ceremony that there is a huge need for volunteers at Hill, and that the volunteers who serve range from teens helping out at the Youth Center to retirees, some in their 80s and 90s, working at the Pharmacy, Retiree Activities Center, Thrift Shop and Museum.

Present at the breakfast ceremony were Lela Gibson, 93, and her daughter-in-law, Linda Gibson, who introduced the septuagenarian. "She works (at the Thrift Shop), getting clothes hung and working on consignments as needed," Linda said.

Lela raised two good boys, she said, to serve her country. "Both her boys were in the Army," said Linda.

"I can't sit still," Lela said. "I like to get out and associate with others."

She still mows her own lawn, loves to quilt and does most of her own housework, said Linda. Both work in the Thrift Shop.

Another volunteer seated nearby expressed his love for working on a B-5 trainer at the Hill Aerospace Museum. Rudy Horak, 75th Air Base Wing Communications Directorate, described it as a chance to put some of his previous flight line work to good use. As a former munitions loader in the 4th Fighter Squadron, he said he loves aviation.

"It's given me a chance to meet some great people in aviation from past and present," he said as he described removing numerous bolts in the windows, replacing them and using some of the woodworking skills necessary for the wood frame surrounding the trainer.

Among those nominated and their affiliations were the following:
  • Edna Berg, Hill Tax Center volunteer, Ogden Air Logistics Center
  • Kevin Bongiovanni, software engineer, Defense Information Services Agency, Ogden
  • James Cahill, equipment specialist, 415th Supply Chain Management Squadron
  • Tamra Chance, F-16 program manager, Ogden Air Logistics Center
  • Kevin Christensen, electronics engineer, 520th Software Maintenance Squadron
  • William Dewey, Outdoor Adventure Program volunteer, 75th Force Support Squadron
  • Mark Helleksen, supervisory management services specialist, 309th Missile Maintenance Group
  • Dennis Henry, change management specialist, 748th Supply Chain Management Group
  • Michael Jolley, supervisory logistics management specialist, Ogden Air Logistics Center
  • Linda Larsen, instructor, Ogden Air Logistics Center
  • Vernon May, Lockheed Martin engineering services, Ogden Air Logistics Center
  • Lester Stone, deputy director, 526th Electronics Maintenance Squadron
  • Kevin Tams, equipment specialist, 748th Supply Chain Management Group
  • Tonya Ulmer, spouse volunteer, 388th Fighter Wing
  • Jennifer Walsh, Key Spouse, 421st Fighter Squadron
  • Bruce Young, funds control specialist, 75th Comptroller Squadron
  • Deborah Dodge, Key Spouse, 388th Component Maintenance Squadron
  • Don Medine, management analyst, 309th Electronics Maintenance Group