Wilson’s top volunteers honored

A committee representing the Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards honored those giving their all in Wilson County on Tuesday night.

Nine individuals and one event made up the list of honorees with each receiving a plaque for volunteer commitments ranging from creating a free youth basketball league to providing water to people in Honduras.

A committee was formed to process the nominations to choose the top five adult and the top five youth nominees. The committee, Ken Sweeney, the county mayor's coordinator of special projects Carol Knight, United Way President John McMillin and Lisa Dickson with Wilson County schools, made their selections in December.

Once the field was narrowed, the group chose one adult and one youth to represent Wilson County at the state level.

The panel contacted all six county high schools , and from the nominees the group chose Jessica Fults, a senior at Wilson Central High School as the youth nominee. The adult nominee, which could also be an event, was Sherry’s Run.

Recipients of the volunteer awards will be honored at the Governor’s Volunteer Stars ceremony in Nashville in March.

On Tuesday, however, Wilson County’s top volunteers came together to be honored at the Veteran’s Center at the Wilson County Fairgrounds. Each was brought on stage and panel members took turns reading their accolades. Wilson Mayor Randall Hutto then presented each with a plaque in honor of their community service.

“We wanted to thank the people who help others,” Hutto said.

Erica Layne with Volunteer Tennessee – a group that started the awards program five years ago – explained the awards and thanked volunteers.

“We know volunteers always don’t get recognized for what they do,” Layne said. “Even though you may not be saving a life, what you do makes an impact in the communities where you serve.”

In addition to a group who started Sherry’s Run and Fults, volunteers honored Tuesday included Austin Gober, Bob Black, Brian Fountain, Dalton Teel, Greg Armstrong, Hannah Weeks, Jackie Payne, Jessica Fults and Wanda Jo Briddelle.

“These are volunteers,” Sweeney said. “They are selfless people.”