The Buckingham Chamber of Commerce, in 2003, began honoring county residents who have unselfishly contributed their time and talents to the greater community.
At the annual Chamber dinner each January, two awards are presented, the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Volunteer of the Year awards.
If you know of someone deserving of either of the awards below, please send your letter to the Buckingham Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 951, Dillwyn VA 23936
NOMINATION LETTER OF WILBERT DEAN FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
by Hank Hagenau
I am nominating Mr. Wilbert M. Dean for the Lifetime Achievement Award, for bringing Buckingham Training School back from a vague, distant memory to a new reality. Ellis Acres Memorial Park is more than just a place for fun and recreation. It is also a valued asset to the community and unique piece of history.
Ellis Acres Memorial Park was once the site of the Buckingham Training School, a place on the edge of town most people in Dillwyn or Buckingham County had no knowledge of until just recently. It was just a trash dump, but this trash dump was once the site of the Buckingham Training School and later the Stephen J. Ellis Elementary School. Now is has been brought back to life again to serve future generations as it did before.
Mr. Dean did not do this by himself. It has taken many people from Dillwyn, Buckingham County and even from across Virginia. Young and old alike have worked hard to accomplish this dream. But without Mr. Wilbert Dean’s vision, drive and energy, I believe that Ellis Acres Memorial Park would not have happened. Whatever else Mr. Dean has accomplished in his lifetime, I believe this achievement, Ellis Acres Memorial Park, should stand at the top of that list of accomplishments.
Julius Rosenwald and Stephen J. Ellis are names important to the history of the Buckingham Training School. Wilbert M. Dean’s name should be added to that list. Therefore, I take great pride in nominating Mr. Wilbert M. Dean for the Buckingham Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award.
NOMINATION LETTER FOR MARY STEARRETT AS VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
by Sue Miles
If you attended Buckingham County High School anytime in the past 33 years, then you, like thousands (I estimate over 16,000) have been impacted by the dedication of Mary Stearrett. Her long time involvement as sponsor of the school’s Student Council Association (SCA) and the activities put on by its student members has impacted generations of people while creating future leaders of our society.
Over the past 33 years, as sponsor of the SCA, Mary has trained and influenced over 2300 students who served as the organization’s members. She has worked to teach future leaders of our county, state, and country by being the adult sponsor of 660 students who, over the years, served on the school’s SCA Executive Board. Many of those board members have also served at the state level of SCA and some, the national level. The principles of SCA develop students
into leaders. These students learn about the democratic system while assisting in the running of the school. Mary’s sponsorship of this important school organization and her influence on the members has produced lawyers, doctors, engineers, teachers, soldiers and public service workers who now run our county, state, and country.
Mary’s leadership has taught students to understand the value of giving to others as she teaches SCA members to consider those in need. She has been instrumental in canned food drives, stews, sports tournaments, motorcycle runs, and other fundraising projects for individuals and families in need. Her famous December penny roll project has resulted in over $25,000.00 being raised during her tenure; money that has bought much needed food, clothing, and toys for needy family in the county. Her insistence that her SCA members participate in community service has resulted in teenagers learning the value of giving to others. Those teens have become adults who continue that practice of giving. Mary has taken her future leaders on 30 regional conferences, 33 state conferences, and 10 national. That in itself is a sacrifice; think about chaperoning a group of teenagers requiring a one or two night overnight stay in a hotel. That takes dedication, belief in young people, patience, and whole lot of duct tape to put on the doors. Because of this dedication to the youth who become our future leaders, Mary has been recognized as Virginia SCA Advisor of the Year for two years, and a Region 3 national SCA Advisor of the Year.
Now, let’s talk about football and basketball games, homecoming ceremonies and homecoming dances. For many, some of their best memories of high school are attending such events. For over 33 years, Mary Stearrett has been the person, with her SCA students, who has made the dances and ceremonies a part of our high school memories. If you were ever hungry and wanted a hot dog or some hot chocolate at a game, Mary and her SCA students were running the concession stand. If you or your grandchild were part of the homecoming program, Mary and her SCA students were responsible for organizing the homecoming court ceremonies and setting up those wonderful homecoming dances. Personally, I believe that we, all of us, take for granted that all of these events and services will just take place; we rarely think about who is in the background making it happen. Mary is. And over the past 33 years everything that has been mentioned above has provided thousands of people wonderful memories of a special time in school.
But, Mary doesn’t stop with school activities. She has coached in the youth league, served as secretary of of the Buckingham County Youth League for years, and is a member of the Dillwyn Ladies Auxiliary. She is also a member of the First Baptist Church where she is a choir member and a member of their Helping Hands Committee. She serves as treasurer of Delta Kappa Gamma, serves on the Virginia Council of teachers of Mathematics, has been math department chair for 30 years, serves on the school’s scholarship committee, and has been n the Virginia SCA Advisory Committee for 31 years. This lady does not know how to say no.
What needs to be noted about this incredible lady and the strength and courage she has is a personal issue that impacted her life last year. Mary’s daughter, Krissy, who teaches at the high school, learned that she had Non Hotchkins Burkitts Lymphoma the summer of 2010. For 12 months, Krissy went through many medical procedures, including a long and very difficult series of chemotherapy. It was a very emotional and trying time for Mary and for anyone who loves Krissy and her family. Throughout this difficult time, Mary continued to teach and lead the SCA members in their service to the school, while she served in her best role-as a caring mother to a daughter who needed her very badly. The story has ended well as Krissy is cancer-free and Mary continues to do what she does best; serve the children and citizens of Buckingham County. She is an amazing woman who just gives and gives and gives. She, indeed, represents the best that Buckingham has to offer. She is a true Volunteer of the Year.
If time and logistics (allow), I feel certain I could produce literally hundreds of letters of support for the nomination of Mary Stearrett. She is loved and respected by many. I ask that you accept the four attached letters of support for this nomination. As former principal, Claude Morris, so aptly said, Mary Stearrett has had “a positive influence on many individuals that are now the backbone of our community.”
She is indeed an exceptional lady and worthy of recognition!