2024 Black Hills Spirit of Volunteerism Nominees - Helpline Center

2024 Black Hills

Spirit of Volunteerism Nominees

Youth Nominees

Mhycho Baraya: Central NHS & JROTC

Mhycho Baraya: Central NHS & JROTC

Kanin Booth: RCAS JROTC, FBLA, Student Voice Forum, Rapid City Youth City Council, Youth Taskforce of the Homeless Coalition

Kanin Booth: RCAS JROTC, FBLA, Student Voice Forum, Rapid City Youth City Council, Youth Taskforce of the Homeless Coalition

Lily Knopp: Love Inc., RCAS Student Voice Forum, Central Environmental Club

Lily Knopp: Love Inc., RCAS Student Voice Forum, Central Environmental Club

Ariley Ortiz: Rapid City Arts Council

Ariley Ortiz: Rapid City Arts Council

Kiya is an outstanding volunteer who selflessly assists others with kindness, compassion, empathy, and a positive attitude. She is devoted to making special education students feel included and valued at school while teaching them the importance of advocating for their rights. Her generosity and dedication extend beyond helping her mom events and to several other nonprofits and assisted displaced elderly individuals during the Spearfish floods. As Kiya prepares for college, we will miss her giving spirit and dedication.

Kiya Pavlicek: WAVI, Club for Boys, Front Porch Coalition, YFS

Daniel Borland: The Salvation Army

Daniel Borland: The Salvation Army

Sierra and Daniel Borland volunteered for The Salvation Army during Christmas at the Angel Tree toy shop. They are outstanding young volunteers. They were only scheduled for one day but ended up skipping out on a family fun day to come and volunteer for the second day of distribution. They brought many smiles to the families they helped.

Sierra Borland: The Salvation Army

Hunter has stepped up to being a manager of the RCAS Food Pantry. With out even being asked he found a way to give back and quickly took the initiative to lead. Hunter shows amazing leadership and compassion to all when volunteering, and he has been exploring other ways to be involved in our community.

Hunter Johnson: RCAS Food Pantry

Lila participated in the positive post-its project in partnership with Journey On, helped fold pink t-shirts for the Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign, and also placed scarves on the Presidential Statues in the past year.

Most recently, Lila has led the efforts of the community Teen Art Auction. Lila coordinated the sponsorship support and coordinated most of the marketing of the event.

Because of her efforts, over 80 young artists shared their talents, 10-15 Stevens Jazz Band members performed, and hundreds of community members attended the event. $2500 was raised for the Fed & Ready to Learn campaign.

Lila Tate Win Crosswhite: Rapid City Youth City Council

Roman has engaged in a variety of Youth City Council activities during the past year. He helped to coordinate parking lot pickups at both Central and Stevens. His advocacy about a walkability study created additional opportunities for young people to share their voice and provide insight for community planning.

Roman created a coding bootcamp. He worked with the YFS and the Club for Boys in recruiting 10-20 students to participate in the project. He created a website, flyers, and registration materials to market the project. Through Roman's dedication and leadership a full day of learning and inspiration was created.

Roman Slack: YFS, Rapid City Youth Council and Club for Boys

Miriam comes to the library every day to volunteer, she has organized the library LS room which is used by the entire school. Miriam has devoted daily hours since August 2023 to organize books and make it accessible for all. Without her time and effort, this room was not easy to use.

Miriam is devoted, innovative, and assists in any way possible. She is a role model for all that use the library and has even recruited her younger sister to help out in the library too. She has the most positive attitude and very caring.

Miriam Ostler: RCAS Stevens Library

Ashlynn has invested her time at Feeding South Dakota filling boxes and backpacks for those needing a helping hand. In 4H she has placed wreaths at the BH National Cemetery for those that have passed after fighting for our country. In FBLA she put together a trunk for local kids to treat for Halloween. In Youth City Council she has cleaned up in high school parking lots after hours, supported the homeless coalition, and help plan and pull off senior citizen prom in may.

She is proud of helping out her community and fellow students.

Ashlynn Wellman: Feeding South Dakota, 4-H, FBLA, Rapid City Youth City Council

Euana is a fun and active member of NHS and does not hesitate to get involved. It is clear from the fun photos she's submitted during her Youth City Council activities that she is a leader and very involved student.

Just since January, she has logged 26 hours of time helping others as part of YCC. I know that she is also a busy, successful student as well as a kind and supportive friend to her peers. She is a great example to so many students around her.

Euana Matute: RCAS National Honor Society, Rapid City Youth City Council

Jagur has logged many hours all year, and over 23 hours just since January. He is a great role model to younger students and takes the time to get involved without hesitation. He speaks at NHS meetings and encourages others to get involved in service organizations, especially Youth City Council. He is busy and active and maintains a rigorous class load as well. In the hallways, I see that he is kind and friendly to all and makes any environment a more positive place.

Jagur Parks: RCAS National Honor Society, Rapid City Youth City Council

Alexa assisted in coordinating the Black Hills Cleanup this year and have organized monthly trash pickup opportunities for NHS students to make the environment in Rapid City nicer. She communicates well with all students volunteers of the group. It's great for building community among NHS kids and is such a gift to wherever they choose to do the clean-up. Alexa has led the group, and been a positive and fun organizer. Not only did she DO work, she organized it which is impressive for a student! Alexa also volunteers in other places, like with Special Olympics Basketball.

Alexa Morin-Baxter: RCAS National Honor Society, Rapid City Community Black Hills Clean Up

Amelie founded The Rocke Grace Foundation for Music and Medicine nonprofit 501(c)3. She raised $15,000 and has donated $11,000 to Monument Health for the research in autoimmune disease.

Amelie Wilcox: The Rocke Grace Foundation

Corporate / Business Volunteers

Haircuts are an easily overlooked budget item for those struggling in poverty. The Man Salon of Rapid City has donated free haircuts to Love INC participants through our Life INC classes in 2023 and for many years as helpful incentive to those attending and participating in the class. Their total value of donated haircuts in 2023 was over $3000.

The Man Salon: Love INC of the Black Hills

West River Electric: Meals on Wheels Western South Dakota

West River Electric: Meals on Wheels Western South Dakota

Black Hills Works volunteered over 70 hours for The Salvation Army during the holidays. They raised a total of $3,270.56 during the Christmas campaign volunteering to ring bells at multiple locations. 100% of funds raised will go into helping local families in need. Thank you, Black Hills Works, for making a difference in our community and helping us "Do the Most Good".

Black Hills Works: The Salvation Army

Department of Revenue: Black Hills Works

Department of Revenue: Black Hills Works

Black Hills Works: Fork Real Cafe

Black Hills Works: Fork Real Cafe

Group Volunteers

Brittaney Rawlings: & Delilah Anderson: Girl Scouts of Rapid City

Brittaney Rawlings: & Delilah Anderson: Girl Scouts of Rapid City

Carol Bailey & Joan Struble: Black Hills Works

Carol Bailey & Joan Struble: Black Hills Works

Caan Family: Fork Real Community Cafe

Caan Family: Fork Real Community Cafe

Dave & Ginger Thorsgaard: Meals on Wheels

Dave & Ginger Thorsgaard: Meals on Wheels

Freedom Church Youth Group: Cornerstone Apartments

Freedom Church Youth Group: Cornerstone Apartments

Rapid City BMX Board

Rapid City BMX Board

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: The Salvation Army

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: The Salvation Army

Youth Action Board: Family Connections Center, Inc., Wambli Ska, Journey On Steps, Lutheran Social Services and more

Youth Action Board: Family Connections Center, Inc., Wambli Ska, Journey On Steps, Lutheran Social Services and more

Life INC Van Drivers: Love INC of the Black Hills

Life INC Van Drivers: Love INC of the Black Hills

Up & Coming Volunteers

Charles Beatty: Love INC of the Black Hills

Charles Beatty: Love INC of the Black Hills

Colby Johnson: SHIFT Garage

Colby Johnson: SHIFT Garage

Brittaney Rawlings: Rapid City Girl Scouts

Brittaney Rawlings: Rapid City Girl Scouts

Haley Derr: Sergeant Colton Levi Derr Foundation

Haley Derr: Sergeant Colton Levi Derr Foundation

Josephine Dirksen: Sergeant Colton Levi Derr Foundation

Josephine Dirksen: Sergeant Colton Levi Derr Foundation

Cyrissa Thompson: Meals on Wheels of Western South Dakota

Cyrissa Thompson: Meals on Wheels of Western South Dakota

Tyler Highland: Black Hills Works

Tyler Highland: Black Hills Works

Taylee Dupree: Fork Real Community Cafe

Taylee Dupree: Fork Real Community Cafe

Shining Bright Volunteers

Sue Anderson: Purse Project for Cornerstone Shelter Women's Program, Chamber Events, HC Arts Council, HC Quilt Guild, HC Ambulance, HC Senior Citizens, the Railroad Museum and many more.

Sue Anderson: Purse Project for Cornerstone Shelter Women's Program, Chamber Events, HC Arts Council, HC Quilt Guild, HC Ambulance, HC Senior Citizens, the Railroad Museum and many more.

Marilyn Bates: Black Hills Works

Marilyn Bates: Black Hills Works

Pat Bilek: Fork Real Community Cafe

Pat Bilek: Fork Real Community Cafe

Jim Books: Love INC. of the Black Hills

Jim Books: Love INC. of the Black Hills

Darlayne Buchli: Monument Health Hospice

Darlayne Buchli: Monument Health Hospice

Victor Burckhard: Community Connect events

Victor Burckhard: Community Connect events

Patrick Butler: Literacy Council of the Black Hills

Patrick Butler: Literacy Council of the Black Hills

Cathy Connor: Rapid City Area Right to Life

Cathy Connor: Rapid City Area Right to Life

Deb Daly: Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board

Deb Daly: Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board

Bobbie Jo Donovan: Junior Achievement of South Dakota

Bobbie Jo Donovan: Junior Achievement of South Dakota

Karin Eagle: Great Plains Tribal Leader's Health Board

Karin Eagle: Great Plains Tribal Leader's Health Board

Raymond Ehnert: Box Elder Volunteer Fire Department

Raymond Ehnert: Box Elder Volunteer Fire Department

Debra Friedrichsen: OneHeart

Debra Friedrichsen: OneHeart

Jennifer Heidepriem: TeamMates Mentoring Program

Jennifer Heidepriem: TeamMates Mentoring Program

Coach Holt: Stevens High School Girls Soccer/Activities

Coach Holt: Stevens High School Girls Soccer/Activities

John Kor: Voluntold by associating with his wife

John Kor: Voluntold by associating with his wife

Dodey Manley: The Humane Society of the Black Hills

Dodey Manley: The Humane Society of the Black Hills

Teresa McDevitt: TeamMates Mentoring Program

Teresa McDevitt: TeamMates Mentoring Program

Dr. Rich Meyer: TeamMates Mentoring Program

Dr. Rich Meyer: TeamMates Mentoring Program

Lambert Miller: Family Connections Center Inc.

Lambert Miller: Family Connections Center Inc.

Karla Mitzel: WAVI

Karla Mitzel: WAVI

Joan Myers Nomination: TeamMates Mentoring Program

Joan Myers Nomination: TeamMates Mentoring Program

Shannon Paikos: The Club for Boys

Shannon Paikos: The Club for Boys

Linda Rabe: Fork Real Community Cafe

Linda Rabe: Fork Real Community Cafe

Kevin Schoepf: The Salvation Army

Kevin Schoepf: The Salvation Army

Melissa Schweiss: Feeding South Dakota

Melissa Schweiss: Feeding South Dakota

Alan Snorteland: Monument Health Hospice

Alan Snorteland: Monument Health Hospice

Joan Struble: & Crunchy Monument Health Hospice

Joan Struble: & Crunchy Monument Health Hospice

Jim Trankle: Meals on Wheels Western South Dakota

Jim Trankle: Meals on Wheels Western South Dakota

Kelly Wrede: Feeding South Dakota

Kelly Wrede: Feeding South Dakota