The Fourteenth Annual Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards honored volunteers from 66 counties (including Cannon County) on February 13th at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin, TN. The awards celebrate the efforts of 115 volunteers statewide, who have strived to improve their communities through service.
One youth and one adult volunteer were selected from participating counties to receive this prestigious award. Nominees were judged based on the community’s need of the volunteer service performed, initiative taken to perform the service, creativity used to solve a community problem and impact of the volunteer service on the community. The individual awards are sponsored by Tracy Van de Vate and Betty White.
Wade McMackins – Cannon County Adult Honoree – Wade McMackins is a former Art Instructor at Middle Tennessee State University. Since June 2021, he has volunteered his time teaching art classes every Tuesday and Thursday at the Cannon County Senior Center. Wade also volunteers as a Cannon County Board of Education School Board Member; is a broadcast sports announcer for the Cannon County High School football team; and developed and coached the Cannon County Middle School and High School Trap Teams. He is a board member of the Cannon County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. Following the death of his son to a drug overdose, Wade passionately educates the community about addiction and strives for a drug free society.
Alyssa Calamia – Cannon County Youth Honoree – Alyssa Calamia has served with her county 4-H program, Future Farmers of America chapter, and Beta Club for over 4 years. Alyssa is highly involved with the 4-H Health Rocks! mentoring program for at-risk youth at Auburn Elementary School, leading them through activities that focus on good decision making, planning for their futures, and healthy ways to cope with stress. She also helped facilitate a cheer camp for West Side Elementary students, put together care packages for nursing homes, made gift bags for teacher appreciation, and helped set up the stage for pageants at the Good Ole Days festival.
The Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards also includes business and non-profit categories. One business and one non-profit were selected from each of Tennessee’s three Grand Regions for their outstanding community involvement and service. The business honorees include, Be Caffeinated, East Tennessee Business Honoree; Abney CPA, Middle Tennessee Business Honoree; and Dannuhcakes Sweet Shop, West Tennessee Business Honoree. The business awards are sponsored by Advance Financial 24/7. The non-profit honorees include, Appalachia Service Project, East Tennessee Non-Profit Honoree; Habitat for Humanity Williamson and Maury Counties, Middle Tennessee Non-Profit Honoree; and The Junior League of Memphis, West Tennessee Non-Profit Honoree. The non-profit awards are sponsored by Friends of Volunteer Tennessee.
“Each year, 1.6 million Tennessee volunteers give more than 137 million hours of service, contributing the equivalent of $3.3 billion to Tennessee’s economy. By giving of their time and talents to fulfill needs that would otherwise go unmet, they embody the spirit of giving,” said Volunteer Tennessee Executive Director, Jim Snell.
Volunteer Tennessee coordinates the Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards at the state level. Volunteer Tennessee is the 25 member, bipartisan citizen board appointed by the Governor to oversee AmeriCorps and service-learning programs and to advance volunteerism and citizen service to solve community problems in the Volunteer State.