AWARDS  |  VOLUNTEERS  | NOMINATE

Congratulations to all of the winners of Read To Succeed's 2012 Volunteer Awards.

Karen Claud Literacy Award: J. Paul Vaughan
Tutor of the Year: Dianne Bartley
Learner of the Year: Alfred Minor
Family Literacy Volunteer of the Year: Beverly Boulware
Board/Council Member of the Year: John Hood
Community Volunteer of the Year: Laura Beth Payne
Murfreesboro City School of the Year: Black Fox Elementary
Rutherford County School of the Year: Buchanan Elementary
Corporate Sponsor of the Year: Dollar General
Community Partner of the Year: Greenhouse Ministries
Shining Star of the Year: Kory Wells

Each spring, Read To Succeed honors all of our amazing volunteers and community members who have dedicated their time to celebrating literacy and raising literacy awareness at our volunteer luncheon.

Read To Succeed gives out several awards each year, including the Karen Claud Read To Succeed Literacy Award. This award is given annually to an outstanding person or entity of the Rutherford County community whose untiring efforts have increased opportunities for citizens to enjoy the written word. This award recognizes commitment to building a coalition of like-minded individuals and groups and commitment to the belief that literacy is the cornerstone
of our enduring freedom.

Nominations will be reviewed by Read To Succeed's Executive Director through the months of December and January, and the recipient will be named in February.

This award was created by the Read To Succeed Council in December 2006 to honor Karen Claud. Ms. Claud worked as Administrative Assistant for Read To Succeed from September 2003 through the fall of 2004. She then created and directed the Read To Succeed Adult Literacy Program, managing a large community Council and recruiting and training volunteers to teach adult learners. In December 2006, Ms. Claud was called upon, without notice, to assume the responsibilities of Executive Director for Read To Succeed. She assumed the new responsibilities with no hesitation and with full commitment to the initiative. With minimal regard for her own needs, Ms. Claud worked tirelessly and professionally at all times to administer two large literacy councils, manage numerous events and programs, and even begin new projects. Her eye was always on creating literacy opportunities in the community.
If she saw something that needed to happen, she made it happen.

In establishing this award, it is the desire of the Read To Succeed community to create a lasting memorial to Ms. Claud for her efforts. She is a model to be emulated throughout Rutherford County. We are certain that her success in the years to come will inspire others to accomplish their
goals and to support the common good.

Past winners include: John Key, Dr. Linda Gilbert, Mr. Cliff Sharp, and Dr. Mary Tom Berry. For the second year, this award will come with a $500 stipend
due to the generosity of an anonymous donor.

In the past, Read To Succeed has also honored the Learner of the Year, Council Member of the Year, Family Literacy Volunteer of the Year, Community Volunteer of the Year, Murfreesboro City School of the Year, Rutherford County School of the Year, Corporate Sponsor of the Year, and Community
Partner of the Year at our annual luncheon.

Please nominate someone for an award here.

Each month, Read To Succeed honors a volunteer who has gone above and beyond in his or her efforts to celebrate and promote literacy with our Shining Star Volunteer award. Nominate someone for the award in the form above.

Jackie Drake was born and raised in East Tennessee and moved to Rutherford County in 1982.  She was the school secretary at Thurman Francis from 1985-1998, when she moved to the Rutherford County Board of Education Instruction Department as an administrative assistant.  She is married to Terry Drake and has two daughters.  She enjoys reading, loves the mountains,  and enjoys spending time with her grandchildren.Read To Succeed would like to thank Jackie for her support of Read To Succeed including her immense help with Reading In The Schools Day and Read To Bee. Thank you to Rutherford County Schools and Jackie for all their help to make literacy matter to Rutherford County!

Past Shining Star Volunteers
Beverly Boulware - April 2011
Susan Elkins - March 2011
John Hood - February 2011
Sarah Dennis - January 2011
St. Luke's ESL - December 2010
Sandra Pineault - November 2010
Ayne Cantrell - October 2010
Patty Metcalf - September 2010
Glenda Kelly - August 2010
Christine Mason - July 2010
Karen Duvall - June 2010
Leslie Walker - May 2010
Hank Williams - April 2010
Aaron Shapiro - March 2010
Heather Krug - February 2010
Rebecca Upton - January 2010
Penny Meyers - December 2009
Amy Maynard - November 2009
The L.E.A.R.N. Group - March 2009
Carolyn Peebles - January 2009
Jean Bettencourt - December 2008
Laura Beth Jackson and Ruth Ventrice - November 2008
Bob and Tracy Priddy - October 2008
Carlene Hurst - August/September 2008
Rachel Nelson - April/May 2008