Bruce Draper was a dedicated volunteer and served with the RSVP program in Cache Valley. Bruce recently passed away, but he was honored by UServeUtah's Power of Service Award for his lifelong service commitment. His wife Kayelene accepted the award on his behalf at the State Capitol building in Salt Lake City. Below is the UServeUtah's press release announcing Bruce Draper's Power of Service Award:

For immediate release May 25, 2016

Lt. Governor Honors Cache Valley Volunteer with Power of Service Award

SALT LAKE CITY—Mark Thomas of the Lieutenant Governor’s office and UServeUtah presented the Power of Service award to Bruce Draper on May 19, 2016, at the Utah State Capitol.

For the past 10 years, Bruce Draper served as a dedicated volunteer to numerous organizations across Cache County, including Community Nursing Services, Bridgerland Literacy, Cache County Jail, the English Language Center, and American West Center. During his years of service, he helped inmates learn math and job application skills, refugees learn to read and write English, and hospice patients to feel comfort and companionship.

Organizations where he volunteered were always impressed with Draper's ability to stay focused on helping others. Those who witnessed his service said he was not showy and simply tried to help each organization achieve their mission in the community.

As a hospice volunteer, he was extremely reliable and dependable, willing to visit anyone regardless of the circumstance. A staff member at Community Nursing Services said he would visit hospice patients who didn’t have visitors to talk with them or even simply sit in silence, if they preferred it.

Draper passed away on February 7, 2016, leaving behind a legacy of citizens and refugees, who can now do basic math, read and write English at an 8th Grade level, and acclimate to American society. He is survived by his wife Kayelene, who continues to volunteer at organizations he supported and accepted this award on his behalf.

​One volunteer is chosen three times a year to receive the Power of Service Award. This award is given to a volunteer that shows significant commitment to their community and demonstrates the power of volunteer service through their activities. Power of Service Awardees are selected from the pool of Lt. Governor’s Volunteer Recognition Certificate recipients. If you know someone who has shown outstanding commitment to serving their community, please visit UServe.Utah.gov to learn how to nominate them for a Lt. Governor’s Volunteer Recognition Certificate. Josh Loftin, 801.245.7205 Communications Director, Dept. of Heritage and Arts Katie Barlow, 801-245-7281 Outreach Coordinator, UServeUtah

Congratulations to PSP VISTA Gracie Botello for being awarded the 2016 Youthlinc Young Humanitarian Award for her work with her My Young Mother program! Gracie was placed in the top five which means that she will receive the award PLUS a $1,000 college scholarship! She also was also recognized and gave a speech at the Youthlinc banquet and fundraiser last weekend, where over 360 people attended to show their support of the awardees and Youthlinc.
​Gracie's My Young Mother Program awards one young mother in Cache Valley with a college scholarship to Bridgerland Applied Technical College (BATC) to pursue post-secondary education in the field of her choice. The scholarship recipient also receives an award package containing diapers, formula, clothing, and other baby-care items. Gracie has dedicated countless hours to developing and securing support for this program, and she and her team have recently announced their first My Young Mother scholarship recipient! Congrats Gracie - we are so proud to be a part of your journey!

The Public & School Partnership's RSVP team is excited to announce that it will kick off its Senior Corps RSVP program with an Ice Cream Social at Merlin Olsen park at 1:30pm on Thursday, May 19! All current RSVP volunteers and their families and friends are invited as well as anyone interested in serving as an RSVP volunteer or hosting RSVP at their school or community organization.

Please contact Krista Gurko or Rod Pack at rsvpcacherich@gmail.com or 435-797-5720 to let them know you are coming or just join us at Merlin Olsen at 1:30pm on Thursday!

Want to learn more about the Senior Corps RSVP program? Click here!

Here is our May issue of the PSP Jotter. Congrats to PSP VISTA Jenni Allred for her Above & Beyond Award!

Click here to nominate a PSP VISTA for our June round of awards - anyone wanting to nominate a PSP VISTA Member is welcome to submit a nomination (deadline is June 1).