Friday, April 24, 1998

Volunteers help make education work at its best

Teachers will all agree: They can't do it alone.

Educating a city of students is an overwhelming task, and committed volunteers are a vital part of the mix for making it work.

Fortunately, Abilene is blessed with a large number of women and men who put their hearts and hard work into classroom involvement with students, many of them long after their own children have left the school system.

They were honored Tuesday night at the annual Partners in Education banquet. The top two honorees are excellent examples:

-- Carolyn Moore gave more than 1,300 hours to support the Abilene High School Eagle Band, among many other things helping make it to Ireland for the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Her hard work, good nature and tireless organization truly made dreams come true.

-- Patti Holloway accomplishes goals for which all parents (and everyone else) can be especially grateful: She goes into schools and talks about manners. Her kindness, warm spirit and her own gracious manner turn the subject into something students want to learn about, and to practice.

Typically, both women denied deserving such praise, and their reasons serve as inspiration to all volunteers. They do it because it's fun, important and rewarding; they do it because they love it.