18-year-old Bibb honored for her volunteer work

High school senior rewarded for her contributions to Warren Central High School Youth Service Center

Wednesday, April 21, 2004

When 18-year-old Mariah Bibb was introduced to the crowd gathered at the Volunteers in Action Awards Reception Tuesday night, she was described as an example of our future and with individuals like her, we definitely have a bright future ahead of us. Later, Bibbs future became a little brighter as she accepted the award for 2004 Volunteer of the Year. Of 22 people nominated by various organizations in the community, Bibb a senior at Warren Central High School was the youngest. Shes such an exceptional young lady, said Nancy Booth, a coordinator at Warren Centrals Youth Services Center who nominated Bibb for the award. The nominees were each honored individually for their contributions to the Bowling Green community. Each was nominated by the organization they serve. Bibb has received several honors for her academic work, including Whos Who Among American Teens, National Honor Roll, School Honor Roll, a Governors Scholar nomination and others. Academically, she is ranked seventh of 231 students in her senior class. She also participates in several clubs, including the African-American History Club, Family Career Community Leaders of America, Natural Helpers, Educational Talent Search, varsity girls basketball and the Youth Service Center. She also serves as the senior class secretary/treasurer. Bibb said she was shocked to be named Volunteer of the Year. I was so surprised, she said. I had no idea I would win an individual award. Bibb said her mind just went blank when her name was announced as the winner, adding that the award will inspire her to do more volunteer work. Shes graduating this year, and we will just miss her so much, Booth said. Shes always right there. Anything we ask of her, she always agrees and not only does it, but does an excellent job at it. Shes an exceptional student as well. At Warren Centrals Youth Service Center, Bibb works with several programs, including one promoting teen abstinence, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Natural Helpers, in which she acts as a listener for her troubled peers. Wed like to keep her for one more year, at least, said Stephanie Walker, a program assistant with the Youth Services Center. During the lighthearted program, guest speaker Steve Thurmond of Citizens First Bank in Franklin spoke of why volunteers do what they do. We cant do everything to make the world perfect, but we can do our part, Thurmond said. I thank God we have volunteers like you. … Someday we may not have a Columbine because a kid has a mentor just like you. Thurmond pointed out that no one was really a winner for the evening all the volunteers were deserving of the award. Think youre not important? he asked. Think again. I salute you youre all winners. After Bibb was named Volunteer of the Year, Volunteers in Action had one more award to present the Presidents Award, given by volunteers President Doug Eberhart. The award went to two people Felicia Bland of Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana and Anne Grubbs of Community Education. Other nominees for Volunteer of the Year included Neresa B. Minatrea of The ALIVE Center; Karl Miller of the Barren River Imaginative Museum of Science; Gloria Peach of Barren River Long Term Care Ombudsman; Kevin Willis of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of South Central Kentucky; Kendra Farley of Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce; Meg Crittenden of Bowling Green/Warren County Community Education; Julie Allen of Bowling Green Junior Womans Club; Vivian Foe of Bowling Green Womans Club; Karen Rohrer of Capitol Arts Alliance; Joseph Ferry of Community Action of Southern Kentucky, Foster Grandparents; Amy Bingham of the Family Enrichment Center; Lynn Phillips of Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana; Rhonda Hemming of Henry F. Moss Middle School; Sarah Slaughter of Hope Harbor; Denise Cole of Junior Achievement of Southern Kentucky; Ann Adams Bernot of The Medical Center of Bowling Green; Shirley Holland of William H. Natcher Elementary School; Carole Smock of Preceptor Alpha Epsilon Sorority, Beta Sigma Phi International; Cora Jane Spiller of The Salvation Army; Brad Howard of United Way of Southern Kentucky; Jesse Alexander of Warren Central High School Youth Services Center, Language and Literacy Center; and B.J. Davis of Warren East Middle School. Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700