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SCS Volunteer Section 2023 Final

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We thank our lucky stars for our volunteers! s! eer olunt our v The community of volunteers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium are some of the most dedicated, knowledgeable, and generous people you will ever meet. They come from an array of backgrounds, locations, and span across generations. Since 1984, this fantastic group of people has given over 4.6 million hours to inspire conservation of the ocean. They've scrubbed exhibits, raised baby animals, stuffed envelopes, given tours, groomed rescued sea otter pups, moderated online chats, shared the wonder of the ocean with guests, and created a culture of giving within the Aquarium and beyond its walls. Thank you, volunteers, for all you do! The community of vol- unteers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium are some of the most dedicated, knowledgeable, and gen- erous people you will ever meet. They come from an array of backgrounds, locations, and span across generations. The Aquar- ium is a better place because of our volunteers. Since 1984, this fantastic group of people has given over 4.6 million hours to inspire conservation of the ocean. They've scrubbed exhibits, raised baby an- imals, stuffed envelopes, given tours, groomed rescued sea otter pups, moderated online chats, shared the wonder of the ocean with guests, and created a culture of giving within the Aquarium and beyond its walls. In our Aquarium com- munity we provide a range of opportunities for people with a diversity of talents to contribute. This is clearly demonstrated by this year's recipients of the Lucile S. Packard Memorial Award. Each year we give the Lucile S. Packard Memorial Award and Youth Award for outstanding volunteer service at the Aquarium. The award recognizes volunteers whose dedica- tion and selfless service exemplify Mrs. Packard's lifelong commitment to volunteerism – something she encouraged as an essential component of the Aquarium at its founding. "My mother was an ac- tive community volunteer all her life. She knew how important a volunteer program would be for the Aquarium," says Execu- tive Director Julie Pack- ard. "I can't thank our volunteers enough for the way they've supported us throughout our history." Many of these volunteers can be found giving their time to other organiza- tions and causes. Whether they are coordinating beach cleanups, commu- nicating conservation, or creating connections with their peers, the culture of giving within this group has an incredibly power- ful impact. The five honorees this year demonstrate how our volunteers affect our com- munity and communities beyond our walls: Over the last 16 years, Jane Sullivan has been facilitating guest expe- riences during her 4,000 hours of service. In her many volunteer roles, her spirit and compassion have made her a pillar of the volunteer community Community and connection and has inspired countless guests who've had the chance to interact with her. During the pandemic, Jane maintained strong connections with her shiftmates. She was one of the first volunteers to return in 2021 as part of the guide pilot program, and was instrumental in welcoming guests back to the Aquarium upon reopening. Don Battles has volun- teered at the Monterey Bay Aquarium for a decade. In his roles as Aviculture volunteer and volunteer guide, he has contributed over 3,800 hours to support the mis- sion of the Aquarium. He has a wealth of knowl- edge and is a repository of stories about our birds and other animals. Don is a mentor, and his friendly personality is welcoming to new volunteers and staff. Whether he's on the floor as a volunteer guide or behind the scenes with the Aviculture team, he always enriches the lives of those he meets. With almost 2,500 hours, Kim Kaplan has been vol- unteering for 14 years as a guide and with the Aquar- ium's animal care team. She's reliable, hardwork- ing, and has mastered a wide variety of skills that go above and beyond the expectations for her volunteer role. Kim can frequently be found at one of our touch pools, edu- cating guests and sharing stories about our animals and local wildlife. Kim's volunteering expands be- yond the Aquarium, as she also shares her knowledge and warmth with the Point Lobos Foundation as a docent and interpreter. During her time at the Aquarium, Alivia "Liv" Dapar has shown ex- emplary leadership and has become an inspiring role model for volunteer guides and her fellow Teen Conservation Lead- ers (TCL). Outside the Aquarium, Liv is active in her school and com- munity. She is secretary and founding member of the Aptos Community Youth Outreach Program. The accomplishments of the program include design and creation of an on-campus lounge where junior high school students can connect in a safe and inclusive space, ongoing beach clean- ups, and even a podcast focused on issues facing youth today. Every com- munity Liv is connected to has benefited from her presence. Maya Manildi is a dedi- cated volunteer, a natural leader, and was one of the students responsible for launching the Aquarium's "Fashion Without the Footprint" event for the Coastal Environmental Learning Centers (CELC) Youth Summit. This "for teens, by teens" event focused on the impacts the fashion industry has on ocean health. Without Maya's consistent vision and leadership, "Fashion Without the Footprint" would never have taken place. Instead, it attracted hundreds of young people on Earth Day 2022. The Aquarium volun- teers are themselves a community of caring people and this month we give thanks for the connections they've made and all that they've given. Monterey Bay Aquarium volunteers Sarah Mosakowski and Auston Rutledge help children engage with touch pool exhibits. -Provided photo Volunteer guide Yeye Wang talking with visitors Terence McGillora and Gevanne Luke in the Aviary and Slough Exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. -Provided Photo

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