Governor’s Service Awards
2021 GOVERNOR’S SERVICE AWARDS
The Governor’s Service Awards honor outstanding national service members, volunteers, and programs that have helped to address serious social needs in their communities. Those honored by these awards will have made significant contributions to Wisconsin through their service efforts, with their generous service impacting the lives of countless Wisconsinites. The 2021 Governor’s Service Awards ceremony took place on August 4, 2021 at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison.
The 2021 Governor's Service Awards honored nine individuals and five organizations from throughout the state for their outstanding volunteerism and service to the people of Wisconsin. The honorees' volunteerism and service addressed critical issues impacting Wisconsin communities throughout the last year, including COVID-19 response, food insecurity and nutrition, health care access, and academic and social support gaps for students. In addition, we recognized 221 AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who have volunteered to help our fellow Wisconsinites for 20 years or more. This recognition was added to the annual ceremony this year and will become a yearly tradition.
VIDEO - 2021 GOVERNor’s service awardS
2021 Honorees
AmeriCorps Member of the Year - Tre’ Wafford – College Possible Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI)
AmeriCorps Program of the Year - The Department of Public Instruction AmeriCorps Farm to School Program (statewide)
AmeriCorps VISTA Member of the Year - Colin Mackey – Habitat for Humanity of Wisconsin (Baraboo, WI)
AmeriCorps VISTA Program of the Year - Wisconsin Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (statewide)
AmeriCorps Alumni of the Year - Katherine Matisse – originally served with Teach For America Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI)
AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteer of the Year - Mildred “Dolly” McGeshick - Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council - Senior Companions Program (Crandon, WI)
AmeriCorps Seniors Program of the Year - Copper Lake/Lincoln Hills Foster Grandparent Program (Irma, WI)
AmeriCorps Seniors Lifetime Impact Volunteer - Betty Elsner – RSVP of Dane County, Inc. (Stoughton, WI)
AmeriCorps Seniors Lifetime Impact Volunteer - Sally Vyvyan – Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program – Foster Grandparent Program (Westby, WI)
Volunteer Coordinator of the Year - Maryssa Paulsen – MCHS Volunteer Wisconsin at New Leaf Foods, Inc. (Green Bay, WI)
COVID-19 Response Service Award - Lisa Penterman – Be Well Fox Valley AmeriCorps Program (Appleton, WI)
COVID-19 Response Service Award - Don Strube – RSVP Program of Portage County (Stevens Point, WI)
COVID-19 Response Service Award - Marshfield Clinic Health System AmeriCorps Volunteer Wisconsin (statewide)
COVID-19 Response Service Award - Silver Threads – RSVP Program of Portage County (Stevens Point, WI)
