Dec. 6 Olivia Simmons was announced as the 2018 Foster Grandparent Volunteer of the Year at the annual Foster Grandparent Program Recognition Banquet in Russellville.

Simmons has been a volunteer for 10 years at Sheffield Head Start. Barbara Burgess and Evelyn Jones are the teachers who nominated her for the award.

“Mrs. Simmons is the angel of Classroom H. She is our angel and deserves all the recognition you can give her,” Burgess said.

Jacqueline Parker received the Rookie Service Award. She has been a volunteer since July at West Elementary School and was nominated by Libby Scruggs.

“She has such a pleasant and positive way about her that the students absolutely adore her,” Scruggs said. “She has become a valuable asset to our classroom. I don’t know what we would do without her.”

Mary Dyer was the recipient of the Inspiration Award. She has been a volunteer at Red Bay Elementary School for three years with Leslie Thorne.

“Ms. Mary’s positive attitude and willingness to help anyone have been a definite positive in our test scores and, most importantly, in the enthusiasm of our students,” Thorne said.

The program also awarded several Volunteer Rose Awards, including to Katrinia Usher, Alicia Young, Regina Eastland, Sharon Fincher, Delois Downton, Kausanna Nunery, Alphasean Gunn, Glenda Warren, Patricia Whitson, Corinne White, Brenda Goodloe and Judy Martin.

The first-place Fundraising Award went to Eastland, and the second-place award went to JoAnn Dillard.

Constance Hooks received the Most Service Hours Award for her 1,823 hours at Touch of Love Daycare.

This year’s banquet theme was “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”