CAMBRIDGE — Dorchester County Public Schools recognized school system volunteers on May 13, with the DCPS Starfish Awards. Presentation of the awards, to volunteers from community leaders to concerned parents, and volunteers already employed by DCPS, took place at the Dorchester County Technology Center. The name of the award might seem odd. Dorchester County Supervisor of Student Services James Bell tells the story: “One day, there was a little girl on a beach. On that beach, there were a number of starfish that had washed onshore. A crowd had gathered and watched this little girl one by one take a starfish and throw that starfish back into the ocean. Of course the crowd began to grow and watched what the little girl was doing. A few of them got nerve enough to go up to the little girl and said, ‘why are you throwing those starfish back into the water? It is not going to make a difference, there are hundreds of them on the beach.’ The little girl became discouraged, but then she mustered her courage to reach back down, pick up another starfish and throw it in the ocean. Then she said, ‘It makes a difference to that one.’” Imagine each of the starfish in the above story is a student at Dorchester County Public Schools, and if a volunteer can engage a student, make subjects more understandable, help that student connect — it makes a tremendous difference in that student’s life. “What you all are doing is making a difference one student at a time,” Mr. Bell said, speaking of the efforts of the volunteers in the audience. One of the first actions of Dr. Henry V. Wagner Jr., Dorchester County Public Schools Superintendent, was to form an advisory council of community and business leaders in an effort to bring people together to give Dorchester County youth another step up in their education efforts. Dr. Wagner believes in a set of “power verbs” that the district has chosen to live by — Teach, Tutor, Confer, Mentor and Recognize. In recognition of the many volunteers, the Starfish program paints a picture of the success of its efforts. Though it is difficult to keep accurate track of volunteer hours, by the end of April, over 6,400 documented hours had been donated to schools this year, by almost 500 individuals. The Superintendent’s Business Advisory Committee works in conjunction with the Office of Student Services to recognize individuals making a difference in the school system. A “Starfish” recipient exemplifies their dedication by helping our schools and students be successful, engaging, and principled. Special Recognition on Friday was offered to Charles “Buzz” Follmer, retiring Guidance Counselor from Warwick Elementary for his exceptional support of the Character Counts program in the schools; and to Judge Steve Rideout, former member of Superintendent’s Advisory Council, former volunteer in the schools, and ‘grandfather’ of the Book Buddy reading program. Award winners present on Friday included: DCPS employees: Erin Fitzgerald, Alfredia Stanley, Arneda Hopkins, Felicia Ellis, Melody Adkins, Donna Brake, Bill Fleming, Charlotte Hanson, Donna Greenleaf, Patricia Whitney, Anne Manganaro, Renee Hesson, and Andre Beulah. Superintendent’s Advisory Council: Susan Banks, Dorchester County Economic Development Cyndi Slacum, Eastern Shore Area Health Education Council Dean Goodwin, RPS Jayme Hayes, Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore Gale Collins, Collins Consulting Roger Harrell, Dorchester County Health Department Laura Layton, Dorchester Retired Educators Susan Luby, Character Counts Mid-Shore Volunteers of the Month, 2015-16 school year: Dianna Travers, Sandy Hill Elementary Eileen Biava, Cambridge South Dorchester High School Elaine Cephas, Hurlock Elementary Jeff Webb, Vienna Elementary Gwen Handy, North Dorchester High School Ginger and John Durkin, Maple Elementary Brandy Knopp, Choptank Elementary Parent Involvement Matters Award semi-finalist: Kimberly Young-Conner Hometown Hero Award: Bessie Griep Special Recognition Charles “Buzz” Follmer, retiring Guidance Counselor from Warwick Elementary and exceptional supporter of Character Counts program in the schools. Steve Rideout, former member of Superintendent’s Advisory Council, former volunteer in the schools, and ‘grandfather’ of the Book Buddy reading program. Recognition to volunteers with 50+ hours of service 2015-16 school year 200+ hours: Eileen Biava, Cambridge South Dorchester High School Bessie Griep, Maple Elementary Paulette Meekins, Maple Elementary 100+ hours: Julia Barker, Sandy Hill Elementary Jack Diehl, Maple Elementary Mary Beth Fitzhugh, Maple Elementary Gwen Handy, North Dorchester High School Anne Nehring, Warwick Elementary Christina Robbins, South Dorchester K-8 Dianna Travers, Sandy Hill Elementary Jeff Webb, Vienna Elementary 50+ hours: Doris Brashier, Maple Elementary Elaine Cephas, Hurlock Elementary Ginger Durkin, Maple Elementary John Durkin, Maple Elementary Lori Parker, Maple Elementary Volunteer recognition: Kathi Bambrick, Maple Elementary Brandy Knopp, Choptank Elementary Kawana Webb, Maces Lane Middle Kim Donohoe, Maple Elementary Donnie Webb, Maces Lane Middle Elaine Cephas, Hurlock Elementary Michael Nordstrom, Maple Elementary Marco Harris, Sandy Hill Elementary Tina Weber, Maple Elementary Tom Corbett, Vienna Elementary Jennifer Burton, Warwick Elementary Page Gray, Sandy Hill Elementary Dianna Travers, Sandy Hill Elementary Sandra Hare, Hurlock Elementary Diane Marquette, Sandy Hill Elementary LeVonte Edmonds, Sandy Hill Elementary Ella Stanley, Maple Elementary Gwen Handy, North Dorchester High School Connie Wilson, Hurlock Elementary Robin Stanley, Maces Lane Middle Charniqua Neal, Choptank Elementary Renee Copper, Maple Elementary Donna Weems, Sandy Hill Elementary Bessie Griep, Maple Elementary Chareka Harris, Maces Lane Middle Lori Parker, Maple Elementary Jeff Webb, Vienna Elementary Lenny Pfeffer, Warwick Elementary Julia Barker, Sandy Hill Elementary Dianne McClarren, Sandy Hill Elementary Sarah Jensen, North Dorchester Middle Frances Strohmer, Sandy Hill Elementary George Ames, Sandy Hill Elementary Beebe Winterbottom, Sandy Hill Elementary Invited but unable to attend: Julia Bond, Maple Elementary Jennifer Daniels, Sandy Hill Elementary Ham Brake, Maple Elementary Jessica Webster, North Dorchester Middle Addie Eckardt, Sandy Hill Elementary Frank Wilson, Hurlock Elementary Ginger Durkin, Maple Elementary John Durkin, Maple Elementary Emily Collins, North Dorchester Middle Lois Elliott, Maple Elementary Charniqua Neal, Choptank Elementary Debbie White, Maple Elementary Brandie Robinson, Sandy Hill Elementary Tina Ryan, Sandy Hill Elementary Paulette Meekins, Maple Elementary Susan Matthews, Sandy Hill Elementary Jeff Phillips, North Dorchester Middle Jerry Jones, North Dorchester Middle Debra Lantz, Maple Elementary Anne Whaples, Sandy Hill Elementary Denise Dvorak, Maple and Sandy Hill Elementary Mary Beth Fitzhugh, Maple Elementary Stephanie Alexander, Sandy Hill Elementary Michael Rickwood, North Dorchester Middle David Talley, North Dorchester Middle Bob Sellers, Sandy Hill Elementary Samantha McDonald, North Dorchester Middle Candace Tobin, Sandy Hill Elementary Emily Stone, Hurlock Elementary Dawn Turner, Maces Lane Middle Jodi Jews, Maces Lane Middle Linda Landrum, South Dorchester K-8 Armah Dashiell, Maces Lane Middle Emily Corbman, Sandy Hill Elementary Abby Tyner, North Dorchester Middle Christina Robbins, South Dorchester K-8 Chelsea Phillips, Choptank Elementary Tom Whewell, Hurlock Elementary Consuelo Coffman, Hurlock Elementary Damien Ransome, Maces Lane Middle Vatice Walker, Vienna Elementary Jodie Condon, Vienna Elementary Jeff Grafton, Sandy Hill Elementary Brittany Smith, Vienna Elementary Rhonsha Duncan, Maces Lane Middle Tennille Reid, Vienna Elementary Kelly Schwarz, South Dorchester K-8 Aubrey Albright, Vienna Elementary Ann Abey, Warwick Elementary Jim Marquette, Sandy Hill Elementary Amy Betts, Warwick Elementary Kelli Short, Vienna Elementary Amy Werner, South Dorchester K-8 Crystal Henningsen, Vienna Elementary Christi Hall, Sandy Hill Elementary Rich Ledger, Warwick Elementary Ron James, Warwick Elementary Suzanne Swann, Vienna Elementary Jeff Alexander, Sandy Hill Elementary Shelli Blake, Warwick Elementary Rodney Knox, Sandy Hill Elementary Amy Warfield, Warwick Elementary Faye Dodson, Vienna Elementary Christina Zayas, Warwick Elementary Melissa Radcliffe, Sandy Hill Elementary Anne Nehring, Warwick Elementary Brittany Smith, Vienna Elementary Robin Dukes, Warwick Elementary LaKeshia Elliott, Sandy Hill Elementary Kim Young-Conner, North Dorchester High Camelia Wahl, Sandy Hill Elementary Sydney Milligan, Sandy Hill Elementary There are twice as many volunteers recognized who were not able to attend the presentation, and the school system offered a heartfelt thank you to them as well. To volunteer, contact the school district at 410-228-4747 or at www.dcps.k12.md.us.