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Governor’s Volunteer Service Award

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2026 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award Recipients

March 30, 2026

MARCH 30TH, 2026 – PRESS RELEASE ANNOUNCING GREENE COUNTY’S
2026 GOVERNOR’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS

(Snow Hill, NC) – The North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service has presented the 2026 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award to Samantha Gay, Virginia Thomas, Dorothy Harrison, Chester Harrison, and Greene Central FFA. The Governor’s Volunteer Service Award honors people who have shown concern and compassion for their neighbors by making a significant contribution to their community through volunteer service.  The award was created in the Office of the Governor in 1979 to honor outstanding volunteers throughout the State.  Recipients will be honored at the Greene County Commissioners Meeting on Monday, April 20th, 2026 at 5pm.  Commissioner’s Meetings are held at the Greene County Communications Center, 312 SE Second Street, Snow Hill, NC.

Award recipients and a description of their volunteer service: 

Samantha Gay:  A STATE MEDALLION RECIPIENT, Samantha was nominated by Derek Burress, Teresa Burress, and Jessica Anderson in the following service areas:  Individual, Youth Service, Environment, and Lifetime Achievement for her nonprofit, Fishers of Kids Anglers Academy, established in 2016 to provide free fishing education, outdoor experiences, and life-skills mentoring to at-risk and underserved youth across eastern North Carolina. What began as a personal passion for bass fishing has grown, through thousands of unpaid volunteer hours, into one of the region’s most effective youth-development programs.  Samantha was selected to receive the Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service, implemented in 2006 to recognize the top 20-25 volunteers in the state.  She will receive her Medallion at the special ceremony in May, at the State Capitol.

Virginia Thomas:  Virginia was nominated by Anna Moore & Michaela Manning, staff from the Greene County Senior Center, in the following service areas:  Individual, Seniors, Cultural, & Health & Human Services for her volunteerism at the Greene County Senior Center which includes delivering meals on wheels, teaching Evidenced Based Health Programs at the Senior Center, Senior Games Volunteer, and the planning committee for Black History Month Programs.

Chester & Dorothy Harrison:  This retired Navy Captain and wife was nominated by Anna Moore & Michaela Manning, staff from the Greene County Senior Center, in the following service areas:  Group, Veteran/Military, Seniors, Health & Human Services, & Lifetime Achievement for their years of service as Meals on Wheels Volunteers, volunteering at their local church-Calvary Memorial Methodist, assisting with activities at the Senior Center, and encouraging local Veteran’s.

Greene Central FFA:  This group was nominated by Paul Young, Jr., Bianca Dominguez, Patrick Greene, & Meredith Wilkes in the following service areas: Group, Animals, & Environment for their work at the Greene County Animal Shelter.  This group of FFA members is being recognized for their outstanding volunteer service at the local animal shelter during the past year. The students dedicated their time to cleaning and sanitizing animal pens, washing animals, and providing much-needed companionship to animals awaiting adoption. Their efforts directly supported shelter staff and improved the health, comfort, and overall well-being of the animals.  Member of the Greene Central FFA are Lilyanna Martin, Avril Castillo, Miriam Torres, Julian Mata-Rodrigues, Yareli Morales, Garciela De la Cruz, Brianna Vargas, Jesus Garcia, Mathew Aguilar, Anabelle Cano, and Alejandra Cano. 

Congratulations to all these wonderful Greene County Volunteers!  Thanks for all you do!

Submitted by Sharon T. Harrison-Greene County Award Coordinator
Governor’s Volunteer Service Award Program

How do I nominate a volunteer?

2023 Nomination Form Information:
Deadline to submit online, paper, or emailed forms – TBA

-The 2023 Nomination Form can be found on the NC Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service website at www.volunteernc.org under the “Volunteer Awards” tab.

– The ONLINE FORM, which is on volunteernc.org, is simple and easy to use. Nominators can fill out the form online and then the Commission will send the forms to the Award Coordinator for their respective county.

– To request a paper copy of the nomination form, call or email the contact information below. Please note that Nomination Forms MUST BE TYPED. Handwritten forms will not be accepted. If you use the ONLINE FORM, you will NOT Need to submit a paper application.

– The application has information on eligibility, submission requirements, and award selection. Read these sections carefully. Tips for Writing an Effective Award Nomination are found on the website along with the online form, and will be made available to individuals requesting a paper copy of the form.

For more information contact: Sharon Harrison, Greene County Senior Center
104 Greenridge Road Snow Hill, NC 28580 252-747-5436
Email: sharon.harrison@greenecountync.gov

Learn more

About the Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards:

Serving additional people with fewer and fewer resources is something most nonprofits do every day. Without volunteers, many of these organizations would not be able to provide important services. Volunteers are some of our community’s greatest assets, working every day to better fulfill the challenge of our missions. The greatest volunteers bring renewed energy, different and better ideas for getting the work done, and leverage new resources and contacts on behalf of the organizations they serve. While many organizations acknowledge these unique and talented individuals in their own way, recognizing the best of the best and sharing their stories on a bigger stage inspires others to service and helps to recruit even more volunteers to the cause.

What is the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award?

North Carolinians have always shown their concern and compassion for their neighbors by volunteering in local communities across the state. This proud tradition of volunteerism and community service was first recognized by the Office of the Governor in 1979 through the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award. This award honors the true spirit of volunteerism by recognizing individuals, groups, businesses and a paid director of volunteers that make a significant contribution to their community through volunteer service.

What is the Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service?

In 2006, the NC Commission implemented the Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service. This award recognizes the “top 20” volunteers in the state. Medallion recipients are nominated at the county level then evaluated by a panel of community service leaders from across the state. Medallion Award recipients are honored at an annual recognition ceremony, where they receive a medallion signifying their accomplishments and service to the community.

Who can be nominated for this award?

Any person, group, or business from the public, non-profit or private sector serving Greene County may be nominated for the award. If you know of someone or a group of people who have given substantial amounts of their time and talent to help others in the community, nominate them using the nomination form. Nominees can be nominated for more than one category and nominators are encouraged to check all categories that apply to their nominees. However, please nominate only one individual and/or one company/group/team/family.

Greene County

229 Kingold Blvd
Snow Hill, NC 28580

Phone: 252-747-3446

Hours of Operation

Monday – Friday
8am – 5pm

 

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