CISRC names top volunteers

ARCHDALE June 27, 2008 01:00 pm

— Batman and Robin. Lone Ranger and Tonto. Green Hornet and Kato. Add another entry in your list of heroic pairs: Jerry Boyd and Larry Ellison, Volunteers of the Year for Communities In Schools of Randolph County.
Robin Cox, coordinator for the Eastern Randolph area of CISRC, recommended the pair for the award based on their work at Ramseur, Coleridge and Franklinville elementary schools, saying that they epitomize the characteristics of “superheroes” – unprecedented prowess dedicated to acts of doing good in the public interest – to the students with whom they work.
For the past two years, every Monday and Tuesday during the school year, Boyd and Ellison have begun their morning spending 30 to 45 minutes each day reading and spending one-on-one time with their special students.
Boyd spends 30 minutes with each of three students and Ellison spends 45 minutes each with two. But their good deeds are not done for the day, as they travel seven miles south to Coleridge to spread the same good will.
In 2007, a teacher at Franklinville Elementary begged their help with fifth-graders. In superhero fashion, this duo did not turn her down: They added a Wednesday visit to Franklinville, arriving at 8 a.m. and working with individual students until 11 a.m.
For the 2007-2008 school year, the two logged an unprecedented total of 375.1 volunteer hours at their three schools. They are also active in other ways in their community. Boyd is an adult member of the Boy Scouts of America and has served on their council for many years. Ellison has devoted over 25 years as statistician for the Eastern Randolph High School football team.
Tim Meredith, vice chairman of the CISRC board, presented the awards to Boyd and Ellison on June 19.
“Larry and Jerry have presented themselves to CISRC, the students with whom they work, and all the students and faculty who see them as shining examples of what Communities In Schools ultimately represents: relentless assistance for deserving children, and gently pushing and nudging children to excel,” Meredith said.
Communities In Schools of Randolph County is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help young people stay in school, successfully learn, and prepare for life. On the national level, Communities In Schools is one of the few groups developing effective drop-out prevention programs.
Local activities and events include one-on-one mentoring, “Fill the Bus” school supply drive, “Adopt A School” pairing schools with churches, “Transitions” activities to keep middle school students involved and interested, “Kool 2 B Kind” anti-bullying program, and health fairs for elementary schoolers.

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