PERRYVILLE WOMAN WINS AWARD FOR VOLUNTEERISM

PERRYVILLE -- Nancy Dougherty of Perryville is a busy community volunteer who gets things done.

Her commitment to volunteerism and community spirit garnered her the Lincoln University Administrator's Award Sept. 16 in Columbia. The award is given annually to a volunteer who has made an extraordinary contribution to University Extension.

Mary Gosche, University Extension human development specialist, nominated Dougherty.

As a trainer in the Lap Reading and Beyond Lap Reading programs, Dougherty has written about the importance of oral reading to literacy and children's school success. She has met with clubs to share the program, organized volunteers to read to children in and out of schools, shared how-to ideas and materials with parents and read to children in local schools.

Her volunteerism extends to many parts of the community. She assisted a group of young adults in fund raising to build a recreational facility. She developed materials to help parents prepare their children for school and conducted preschool screenings for an elementary school.

She helped plan, promote and set up a local health fair. As a Red Cross Blood mobile volunteer, she checks in donors, assembles and labels collection bags.

As a University Extension volunteer, she served the county extension council on key committees, including building and equipment and family life. She coordinated Missouri Extension Homemakers Association, 4-H and county extension council efforts in a fund-raising auction.

She serves as MEHA president and guides the program planning for the year. She is a 4-H project leader. Earlier this year she received the local Extension Leaders Honor Roll award.

University Extension is the statewide educational outreach of the University of Missouri System and Lincoln University. Extension specialists on the campus and in Missouri's counties provide educational programs to help citizens apply university research knowledge to solve individual and community problems.