St. Andrew's Team Receives Outstanding Tutor Award

A team of tutors from St. Andrew's United Methodist Church in Brandon took home the SERVE Outstanding Tutor Award at the annual volunteer awards banquet May 10.

SERVE and the Hillsborough County Public Schools Parent/Family Involvement 2012 Volunteer Awards celebrated the work of individuals and groups that have made a difference in the Hillsborough County public schools. 

The event was held at the TPepin’s Hospitality Centre, and Superintendent MaryEllen Elia was there to greet guests with Dan Valdez, deputy superintendent, addressing the audience. Ginger Gadsden, morning anchor of WTSP, emceed the event. 

The team from St. Andrew's, 3315 Bryan Rd., Brandon, walked away with the SERVE Outstanding Tutor Award for its work at Dover Elementary School. Members of the church visit the school weekly to tutor students in need of extra help.

Also honored was which received the Parent Involvement Award for its annual Safety Fair.

Other award winners were:

• Fred T. Rogers Memorial Award for Outstanding Volunteer--Amal Forbes of Benito Middle School
• Sister Anna Mackey Speaker Award--Alan and Ann Thompson
• SERVE Coordinator of the Year (elementary)--Annette Rawls-Gibson of Robles Elementary School
• SERVE Coordinator of the Year (secondary)--David Faysash of Benito Middle School
• SERVE Shining Star--Jan O'Leary of the Leto High Leadership Team
• Department of Education Outstanding Volunteer of the Year (Hillsborough)--adult, Andy Gerovac of Westchase Elementary School
• Department of Education Outstanding Volunteer of the Year (Hillsborough)--senior, Eville Tharpe of Heritage Elementary School
• Department of Education Outstanding Volunteer of the Year (Hillsborough)--youth, Cary Anne Bame of Steinbrenner High School
• Parent Involvement Award--Parenting Partners Workshop, West Tampa Elementary School
• Parent Involvement Award--Woodbridge Walking Trail, Woodbridge Elementary School
• Parent Involvement Award--Family & Community Garden Club and Partnership, Muller Elementary School
• Parent Involvement Award--Town Meeting, Chamberlain High School
• Parent Involvement Award--Safety Fair, Bevis Elementary School
• Parent Involvement Award--Team Nights, Cork Elementary School
• Parent Involvement Award--Achieve Celebration, Colson Elementary School
• Parent Involvement Award--Watch D.O.G.S., Summerfield Crossing Elementary School
• District Individual Winner--Michael Nicotra, Dunbar Elementary School
• Parent Involvement Program Winner--Connect Mentoring, Plant High School
• Parent Involvement Program Winner--Mid-Summer Knight's Read, Knights Elementary School
• Parent Involvement Shining Star Award--Relevant Church at B.T. Washington Elementary School and Idlewild Baptist Church at Just Elementary School.

The 2012 SERVE 2012 Annual Awards Ceremony was presented by the Suncoast for Kids Foundation made possible by Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union. Additional support is provided by Everest University, Pepsi Bottling Co., Prestige Portraits and the Tampa Bay Times.

SERVE – Volunteers in Education is the official nonprofit volunteer arm of the Hillsborough County Public Schools and the largest of its kind in Florida. SERVE increases student achievement and enhances the educational experience by providing community volunteers that support Hillsborough County educators. More than 51,000 SERVE volunteers contributed 1.4 million hours in the 2010-11 school year in Hillsborough County Public Schools, worth more than $30.9 million dollars. 

The Hillsborough County Public Schools Parent/Family Involvement Consortium is a committee created to set strategies and oversee parent involvement for the entire school district.