Medical center honors teen volunteers

GAINESVILLE - A volunteer at Northeast Georgia Medical Center since 2001 is this year's recipient of the Andrew J. Dockery Teen Volunteer of the Year Award.

Amy Salas has given 636 hours as a hospital volunteer and , as volunteer of the year, received a $500 scholarship from the auxiliary. Salas is a home school graduate and will attend Gainesville College in August.

All in all, the auxiliary honored 103 teen volunteers at an appreciation dinner at the Gainesville Civic Center earlier this week.

"This year's teen volunteers gave over 5300 service hours which is equal to 11 full-time employees," said Nancy Colston, executive director of The Medical Center Foundation.
Speaking to the volunteers, Colston continued, "The assistance you have given this summer has made a tremendous difference to patients, families, long-term care residents and the staff. You have brightened lives and lifted souls."

Ruth Faulkner, president of The Medical Center Auxiliary, presented two $500 Teen Scholarship Awards to Leslie Brooks and Connie Francia. Brooks has been a teen volunteer since 2000 and has given a total of 1000 hours of volunteer time to the Medical Center. She is a graduate of North Hall High School and will be attending Brenau University this month. Francia has given 450 hours since beginning her volunteer work in 2000. She graduated from West Hall High School and will pursue a degree in biology as a freshman this fall at Gainesville College.

Julia Kannapell, a second year volunteer, submitted the teen volunteer winning T-shirt design, based on this year's theme "Catch the Wave." Kannapell was presented with a framed copy of her design, and at the conclusion of the ceremony, the Auxiliary presented all of the teens and Kannapell's parents with T-shirts printed with the winning design.

Winning the first place prize of $100 for her essay, "Catch the Wave," was Rebecca Niedfeldt. This was Niedfeldt's first year as a teen volunteer. Josh Pass, also a first year volunteer, won second prize for his essay, a poem entitled "What Volunteering Means to Me," and third prize was awarded to Amanda White, for her essay "My Summer Extravaganza."

Fifty-six volunteers received awards for completing 50 or more hours of service including Amy Salas who has given over 600 hours, Leslie Brooks and Marlon Perez who have donated over 1000 hours each and Max Gunn who has given over 1500 hours.
April Sanderson, Volunteer Services Assistant, serves as the Teen Program Coordinator.