The first-ever Robert E. Wone Award for Exemplary Service was awarded Oct. 18 to Cheryl Jennings of Hampton. Ms. Jennings is a returning AmeriCorps member who has served with the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) - AmeriCorp and America Reads program since September 2006. As a single mother of three, she has continued to work full time for the last five years while attending college to obtain a bachelor's degree in social work. As an AmeriCorps member, she has completed more than 1,700 hours of service and was selected as "Team Leader of the Year 2006-2007" for providing a high level of service to her community as a team leader, reading coach, and student mentor at Richmond's Woodville Elementary School. Despite a serious ongoing physical condition, Ms. Jennings led five team members to successfully complete their service terms and earn education awards. She led her team to help increase state literacy test scores while also serving to plan events and recruit new members. The Robert E. Wone Award for Exemplary Service has been established in honor of Robert Wone, a member of the Governor's Commission on Community and National Service from 2002-2006. Wone was a tireless activist and volunteer who actively advanced the interests of many charitable organizations and provided many hours of pro bono legal services to help others. R

Excerpt from Volunteer Virginia Newsletter