Many volunteers honored for work

• By DARLENE DENSTORFF
• Ascension section editor
• Published: May 8, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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GONZALES — Volunteer Ascension Executive Board President Jobie Templet was impressed with the nominees vying for the group’s Volunteer of the Year awards.

Templet and Executive Director Audrey Boudreaux said the judges had a hard time selecting winners from the 28 nominations submitted in four categories: Youth Individual or Group, Education or Community Group, Education and Youth Services and Community Services.

The banquet, held April 28 at the Gonzales Holiday Inn, was the tenth time the nonprofit agency honored volunteer for “changing lives in our community,” Boudreaux said. Each year, the group honors volunteer during National Volunteer Week, celebrated this year April 27 through May 3.

The competition was so close, there was a tie in the Youth Individual and Group category.

Donaldsonville High School Air Force Junior cadets and Kate Frederic tied in the Youth Individual and Group division.

Frederic, a junior at St. Amant High School, has volunteered 40 hours a month for the past four years. Much of Frederic’s volunteer work has been as a youth leader and altar server at Holy Rosary Catholic Church.

She also is an active 4-H member, volunteer demonstrator at a local dance studio and helps with the Special Olympics each year. Frederic is also a mentor to the youth in the community through counseling children with asthma and spiritual needs.

The Donaldsonville High School Junior ROTC cadets took part in more than 58 community service projects and activities throughout the year. The group, which includes 75 cadets, contributed 6,174 services hours. The cadets took part in community parades, performed color guard duties at various events and raised money for several charitable organizations.

Cub Scout Pack 469 was also nominated in the Youth Individual and Group category.

The Education and Community Services Group Volunteer of the Year award went to the  Home Improvement Group at Household of Faith Church.

 The Home Improvement Group began six years ago as an outreach ministry from House-hold of Faith Church. Volunteering more than 500 hours, group members took part in building wheelchair ramps; performed minor home repairs; cleaned houses and yards; assisted elderly residents with home and yard projects; and took them to appointments.

They also assisted with sorting, repairing, and distributing school uniforms and school supplies to students in need.

Also nominated in the Education and Community Group category were the Ascension Jaguars AAU coaching staff, Cajun Cookers, Catholic Daughters of America, Community Led Action Within Schools from Dutchtown High School, Windows Ministry from Healing Place Church St. Amant Campus, Charles and Edith Powers and St. Theresa Home and School Association.