Andrew Richards - Serve Virginia

Andrew Richards

RICKETTSFRAN10131--C-CAP Director Fran Ricketts 10/24/2013 MATT ARMSTRONG PHOTO

Andrew Richards

May 3, 2023

Andrew Richards, Virginia Service and Conservation Corps National Service Alum of the Year Andrew Richards served from 2017-18 as a Resource Crew Leader with the Virginia Service and Conservation Corps AmeriCorps program at Hungry Mother State Park in Marion. He and his team served by battling invasive species conducting prescribed burns, applying herbicides/pesticides, and maintaining trails. Andrew also participated in various restoration projects throughout the region, including helping to restore native species habitat and completing a new trail for the Virginia State Parks system. He led his crew by adopting modern technology and introducing new methods of data tracking and reporting to the program. Andrew made the most of his service experience and fell in love with the town and the people in the region. Now that his service term has ended, he continues to live in Marion and is an employee with Virginia State Parks. Read more Volunteer Stories! Submit a Story!

Aniyah Hubert

Story of Service: Aniyah Hubert

Congratulations to Aniya Hubert - winner of the 2020 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Young Adult Volunteer! Aniyah, a senior at Averett University, began volunteering at a young age and continued throughout her high school and college career. She has served organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Bacon Street Counseling Center, Thrive Peninsula Food Pantry, Sister4Sister on campus service group supporting young girls, and online as a crisis textile to aide individuals experiencing trauma. A double major in Marketing and Psychology, Aniyah was just inducted in the National Society of Leadership of Success because of her high...

Sixth Grader Honors Dr. King

Story of Service: Sixth Grader Honors Dr. King

Serious Clydarius Pinchback, a sixth-grader at OT Bonner Danville Middle school, has a dream. He dreams of a world where we “will live in peace and harmony and respect each other” and we “will not have to feel the pain and anguish of war.” Showing wisdom and compassion beyond his 11 years, Serious was awarded the top prize for his submission to a MLK Day Essay Contest as part of a MLK Day Event, January 18, in Danville, presented by the Dan River Year AmeriCorps program. Serious’ essay made a strong argument of how wars could be avoided by working...

Evelyn Freeman

Story of Service: Evelyn Freeman

Evelyn Freeman, Peninsula Foster Grandparent Program Senior Corps – Foster Grandparent of the Year - Foster Grandparents are role models, mentors, and friends to children with exceptional needs. At 91 years of age, Ms. Freeman has been serving for 14 years as a Foster Grandparent volunteer at the Discovery STEM Academy. Over the years of service with the program, she has watched many of her elementary students go on to graduate from high school and earn college degrees. Her positivity fills her students with hope and she’s always encouraging them that they can accomplish anything with commitment and hard work. Read...

Kathy Rohacek

Story of Service: Kathy Rohacek

Kathy Rohacek is a member of the Spinners & Weavers Guild at the Northern Neck Heritage Arts Center, located inside the nonprofit historic landmark known as Rice's Hotel / Hughlett's Tavern in Heathsville. The guild's wares are sold in the gift shoppe and all proceeds benefit the upkeep of the 300-year-old Tavern building. When Kathy first moved to the Northern Neck, she joined the guild as a volunteer because of her love of weaving. But Kathy does so much more. "When I see a need, and no one has stepped forward, I think... well, I could do that," she explains....

Newport News Shipbuilding

Story of Service: Newport News Shipbuilding

2024 Governor's Volunteerism & Community Service Award honoree Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a division of HII, is a major employer in Hampton Roads with more than 26,000 shipbuilders. NNS gives back to the community by preparing underserved students for college and the workforce as part of a strategic effort to meet its critical hiring needs and strengthen the local economy. Through initiatives like STEM mentoring, career awareness programs, teacher internships, and experiential learning, NNS helps students build the foundational skills needed for careers in the maritime industry. These programs introduce students to the opportunities available and help them envision themselves...

Walter Hussey

Story of Service: Walter Hussey

John Muir once said “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.” Thanks to Walter Hussey, winner of the 2016 Governor's Award for Outstanding Adult Volunteer, there is one more beautiful place in Virginia to do just that. Walter’s passion and excitement for nature led him to plan, map out and implement the 70-acre Meadow Management Program space at Pleasant Grove Park in Fluvanna County. He was instrumental in developing partnerships with six state agencies and a long list of other organizations...

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