Airman wins Volunteer Parent of the Year

by Airman 1st Class Ashlin Federick
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

6/10/2013 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Military personnel have always made community involvement and volunteering a priority and a Dover NCO was recently recognized for his efforts.

Staff Sgt. Jon Meyers, 9th Airlift Squadron flight engineer, received the Capital School District Parent Volunteer of the Year award in a ceremony May 29, 2013, at Dover High School in Dover, Del.

Meyers, who volunteered and coached cross country and track at Central Middle School, is married with two children. His wife Tricia is a certified dental assistant in the 436th Dental Squadron.

The Volunteer Parent of the Year award is an award given by the office of the Delaware governor and lieutenant governor to the parent in the Capital School District community that excels in volunteering and has great achievements.

Dianne Bogle, Capital School District parent engagement and mentoring coordinator, said they give out the parent volunteer awards because the parents put in a lot of time and are not paid for what they do. Research shows when parents are involved the children do better in school.

"It is just our way of saying thank you and showing that we appreciate the hard work that parents put in," said Bogle.

Meyers won the award for coaching the CMS cross country and track teams the past two years and leading them to second and third place finishes at the state-wide invitational tournaments. In the last two years he has contributed more than 500 volunteer hours.

Meyers said coaching is like mentoring because you have to set a positive example for the young athletes.

"A lot of parents I know, I guess like my coaching style because I was very up front and in their face," said Meyers, the native from Hershey, Pa. "I didn't lie to the kids. I told them exactly what they needed to hear whether it was what they wanted to hear or not."

Bogle said Meyers was chosen because he was always there. He attended every practice and every meet.

"A lot of times you have someone who volunteers and they may not be consistent, but he is always there," said Bogle. "If someone were looking from the outside they wouldn't be able to notice a difference between Jon Meyers and the hired coaches that the school has."

Meyers said there are always volunteer opportunities for Airmen on base, but it is important for people to be directly involved in the community because he feels they don't get enough support. He said it may be because the community doesn't have the same email communication support as the base.

"I feel it is important that we Dover Air Force members get out in the community and do great things out there just to give something back to them, because they give so much to us and I think sometimes we forget about that," said Meyers. "I think it is important to show the community that we are here and will help them."