Donna Mathias Service Award goes to three student volunteers

Fairview Lakes Medical Center in June recognized the contributions of three outstanding student volunteers with the Donna Mathias Student Service Award. Each year the Fairview Lakes Auxiliary funds the award in amounts of $500 or $1,000. To receive this award, student volunteers must be graduating seniors who have volunteered at Fairview Lakes Medical Center for a minimum of 200 hours and have a record of dependability, good customer service skills, teamwork and initiative in assisting patients and families in their volunteer role. “Because this award recognizes the value and spirit of volunteerism, students do not need to be pursuing a health career to be eligible for the award, although many do,” says Jane Denovchek, Fairview Lakes Medical Center, manager of volunteer services. “The three students receiving the awards this year have volunteered a total of 950 hours and represent over seven years of combined service.” Donna Mathias, former manager of volunteer services at Fairview Lakes Medical Center and District Memorial Hospital in Forest Lake, presented the awards, which are named in her honor. Recipients are: Rachel Dupree, Forest Lake High School Class of 2012, received a $1,000 award. She will attend Drake University in Iowa majoring in international relations and minors in Spanish and Latin culture. Rachel has volunteered in the gift shop, The Birthplace and diagnostic imaging and has almost three years and over 500 hours of service. Rachel is the daughter of Joni and David Dupree of Wyoming. Krista Kirchner, Forest Lake High School Class of 2012, received a $500 award.

She will attend the University of Minnesota –Twin Cities Campus and plans to obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Krista has volunteered at Fairview Lakes throughout her high school career, beginning in the Birthplace and continuing at the triage desk in the Emergency Department. Krista is the daughter of Paul and Renee Kirchner of Forest Lake. Megan Pignato, North Branch Class of 2012, also received a $500 award. She completed her high school career through the Post-Secondary Education Options program at Concordia College in Moorhead and will continue at Moorhead this fall with a chemistry major and biology minor. Her ultimate goal is medical school. Megan has been an active volunteer since 2009, serving in The Birthpl0ace and the gift shop. She is the daughter of Paul and Pam Pignato, of Stacy. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, call 651-982-7774.