Seventeen volunteers have contributed more than 2,000 hours of their time to Surry County Schools this year.

Those 17 volunteers are part of a corps of roughly 450 volunteers system wide who are responsible for doing everything from tutoring to assisting with field trips or special activity days to helping with school Parent Teacher Organizations and booster clubs. They have judged senior graduation projects, served on school improvement teams and worked in the front office and cafeteria at schools.

“These are groups of people who I’ll say are irreplaceable,” said Earlie Coe, board chairman. “I just wanted to say thank you for all you do, all the lives you’ve touched.”

Each school in the system was asked to choose one volunteer to represent their school. Each of those volunteers was honored at a reception Thursday afternoon in Meadowview Middle School’s courtyard. Out of those 17, one person was singled out as the Surry County Schools volunteer of the year.

This year’s winner serves Meadowview Middle School in the life skills room, the art room or any other area in which she is needed. Marie Poole participates in everything from the student of the month luncheon to the career club to tutoring to repairing and removing stains from athletic uniforms.

“Students are regularly given the opportunity to achieve a greater degree of success thanks to her efforts. She is confident and fair-minded, adding stability and enriching classes,” said Brian Gates of Poole.

She is also an active volunteer in her church and 4-H programs. She is a member of the Beulah Surry County Extension and Community Association and is the chair of Building Strong Families in our Community.

Board of education members and central office staff were on-hand at the event to recognize the work of volunteers throughout the school system.

“It’s tough in the school system. We have to make cuts we don’t always like. It’s very important we have volunteers to help out in the classroom,” said Gates.

The theme for this year’s volunteer of the year reception was “Sow good services; sweet remembrances will grow from them.” The courtyard at Meadowview Middle was decorated like a garden with the help of Lowes Hardware, Something Different and Mayberry Trading Post. Each of the schools’ art departments were also given a bird house to decorate for their volunteer.

“We truly treasure our volunteers,” said Sonia Dickerson, teacher quality coordinator and organizer of the event.

The school system is putting together a Web site to pay tribute to all of the individual volunteers and business partners who serve the school system. The site will be available on the school system’s Web site under the recognitions heading.

The other volunteers recognized at the event are:

n Renee Westmoreland from Cedar Ridge Elementary

n Donald Joyner from Central Middle

n Regina Key from Copeland Elementary

n Melissa White from Dobson Elementary

n Debbie Garris from East Surry High

n Jennifer Freeman from Flat Rock Elementary

n Velvet Tucker from Franklin Elementary

n Susan Holder from Gentry Middle

n Robin Norman from Mountain Park Elementary

n Jodi Hamlin from North Surry High

n Sue Marion from Pilot Mountain Middle

n Sandy Beck from Shoals Elementary

n Ronnie McLamb from Surry Central High

n Donna Keck from Surry Early College High School of Design

n Melissa Culler from Westfield Elementary

n Teresa Gwyn from White Plains Elementary

Contact Morgan Wall at mwall@mtairynews.com or 719-1929.