Each year the Puyallup School District invites nominations for and selects a Volunteer of the Year at the elementary level, as well as in grades seven through 12, for exceptional service to children.

Of the thousands of registered district volunteers this year, the district has selected the following as the 2014 Volunteers of the Year:

• Elementary: Jackie Ward, a longtime volunteer at Woodland Elementary School.
• Junior high and high school: Paul Kempff and BettyAnn Dorsey, active members and officers with the Puyallup High School Band Parent Association. 

This year’s honorees learned of their selection last month during surprise presentations at their schools.

Superintendent Tim Yeomans announced Ward’s selection at an impromptu staff meeting before a roomful of teachers and support staff who applauded and cheered the news.

Yeomans introduced the two Puyallup High volunteers at the start of a March 24 band concert before hundreds of people gathered for the performance in the school auditorium. The audience members rose to their feet and applauded as the news was announced.

The Puyallup School Board  recognized this year’s School Volunteers of the Year on April 7. Each of the honorees received an engraved plaque. Their names will also be engraved on a plaque in the lobby at the Education Service Center.

The board also approved a proclamation designating April 21-25 as Public School Volunteer Week in the Puyallup School District.

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