Diana Neste '22 Earns President's Gold Volunteer Service Award

Diana Neste '22 recently earned the President’s Gold Volunteer Service Award (PVSA).

"Earning the President's Gold Volunteer Service Award was an amazing recognition of my dedication and commitment throughout the past few months, said Diana. “I volunteered at Whitehouse Preparatory School for over 135 hours from May to August, which enabled me to gain valuable knowledge and experience while improving the lives of others."

“It was very meaningful to be able to volunteer in the same place where I attended kindergarten,” continued Diana. I went there for three hours most weekdays, helping with all aspects of the camp program. I prepared lesson materials, made bulletin board displays, and played with the children. I also created and implemented several computer science themed activities to introduce general coding concepts at a young age. It was great to see them enjoying the activities as if they were games, while simultaneously having to think and decipher the proper solutions."

In a letter from President Joseph Biden, which accompanying Diana’s award, stated, “By sharing your time and passion, you are helping discover and deliver solutions to the challenges we face -- solutions that we need now more than ever. We are living in a moment that calls for hope and light and love. Hope for our futures, light to see our way forward, and love for one another. Through your service, you are providing all three.”

According to the website, https://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the PVSA in 2003 “to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action too.”

The PVSA has continued under each Presidential administration, “honoring the volunteers who are using their time and talents to solve some of the toughest challenges facing our nation.”

The program is led by the AmeriCorps and managed in partnership with Points of Light.