(Photo submitted) Beth Schulke, donated more than 100 hours, most of which were spent as a volunteer swimming teacher at the Spencer Family YMCA qualifying her to receive the President's Volunteer Service Award from Julie Elsbecker, Student Service Program Coordinator and AmeriCorps member.

Spencer Middle School students who participated in the RSVP Student Service Project were recently recognized for their volunteer contributions to the community.

Forty seventh and eighth graders contributed over 500 hours to non-profit organizations and public agencies during out-of-school time over the past school year.

One student, Beth Schulke, donated more than 100 hours, most of which were spent as a volunteer swimming teacher at the Spencer Family YMCA. This qualified her to receive the President's Volunteer Service Award. Julie Elsbecker, Student Service Program Coordinator and AmeriCorps member, presented Beth with the award, a pin and a letter signed by President Bush Wednesday at Spencer Middle School. Beth is the daughter of Roger and Bobbi Schulke of Spencer.

Student volunteers who had more than 30 hours include: Meghan Elsbecker, Deb Hoffman, Maggie Doyle, Courtney Upah, and Hannah Zinn.

In additional to volunteering at local agencies, students also volunteered with one-time projects, including serving at the Birthright Banquet, assisting with Bingo at a local nursing home, assisting with the AmeriCorps Service Day, the Sacred Heart Carnival and other events.

Many of the student volunteers also helped with the Foster Care Drive in April. Clothing, toys, books and toiletries were collected and put in 36 overnight bags to be used in emergency situations by children who are removed from their homes and who are unable to take personal belongings with them. The Foster Care Project was funded, in part, through a City of Spencer Renaissance Grant and an Iowa's Promise Youth Grant from the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service.

RSVP is a program which recruits people to volunteer in their communities. It is sponsored in Northwest Iowa by Iowa Lakes Community College.

* For more information, please call RSVP Director Mary Steele or Clay County Coordinator, Susan Howe, at 262-8858.