Richland One Coordinator Among Governor's Volunteer Awards Winners

Katy Watkins, Richland School District One’s volunteer and mentoring programs coordinator, has been recognized at the state level for her efforts to promote volunteerism.

Gov. Nikki Haley and representatives of the S.C. Association for Volunteer Administration (SCAVA) honored the winners of the 2013 Governor’s Volunteer Awards during a May 16 ceremony at the State House and at a reception held afterward at the Lace House on the Governor’s Mansion Complex.

Awards were presented in nine categories. Watkins received the 2013 Robin Burns Volunteer Administrator Award, which is named for SCAVA’s first president and is presented to a staff person with a private or public agency/organization who has advanced volunteerism through demonstrated skills in the management and administration of a successful volunteer program.

In Richland One, Watkins works with more than 80 school volunteer liaisons and helps the district facilitate community partnerships with more than 3,000 businesses. She assists in coordinating various service programs including classroom volunteers, school supporters, mentors, Lunch Buddies, tutors, educational representatives and business partnerships.

Under her leadership, Richland One’s 3,500 volunteers have donated more than 70,000 hours of service to district schools in the past year, time valued at $1.5 million. This is the fourth consecutive year that district volunteers collectively gave time worth more than $1 million.

Watkins also led and coordinated the district’s recent March for Babies fund-raiser for the March of Dimes, which generated more than $19,000 in donations to support initiatives to prevent birth defects, premature births and infant mortality.

Watkins has served as Richland One’s volunteer and mentoring programs coordinator since 2005.  In addition to her duties in the district, she is a member of the SCAVA Board and she has served as the organization’s president, treasurer and in many other capacities over the past six years. Her contributions to SCAVA have helped to support and strengthen volunteer efforts throughout South Carolina. 

From Richland School District One