Virginia Beach Honors Youth Volunteers

During National Volunteer Week, April 20-26, the Virginia Beach Office of Volunteer Resources is honoring all volunteers, as well as recognizing outstanding youth volunteers who embody the characteristics of Debra L. Elam, a young volunteer who worked with children with disabilities and mental health programs. Congratulations to these individual and group winners of the Debra L. Elam Award for Outstanding Youth Volunteer for 2025. 

Teen Advisory Group (TAG) at the Central Library 

Originated in 2005 to provide feedback and suggestions for teen services, TAG members provide suggestions on teen space displays and programming and assist library staff in preparing programs for the public. They give back to the community while supporting the library's mission to bring the community together to promote creative activities, lifelong learning and reading. 

“This is a group of teens I feel I can ask tough questions and get thoughtful feedback,” wrote Tracy Van, volunteer resource manager and TAG coordinator, in the award nomination. 

Impacted by the COVID pandemic, many of the TAG members joined the group in 2023 to improve their people skills through customer service and volunteering. They offered simple make-and-take crafts for elementary children and helped set goals for the Library’s summer reading challenge.  A few of the teen volunteers proposed new programs, such as a teen chess club, teen Dungeons and Dragons, a crochet club, origami and card making, and a teen knitting club.  During these TAG-sponsored programs, the volunteer takes the lead as the presenter with staff available for support. The TAG members proposing these specialized programs invited other volunteers to learn about these topics as well.  

“They help provide a positive environment for teens to be themselves,” Van wrote. 

As they reach their senior year, these TAG volunteers (pictured above) have matured as individuals, taken charge, stepped up to volunteer on a regular basis, shared thoughtful feedback, and set a strong example to their younger fellow volunteers.   

Volunteer today with Virginia Beach Public Library.

Jack Conway 

Jack Conway has volunteered as a junior assistant softball coach for Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation for seven seasons, serving more than 300 hours. He spent his first season with Creeds Athletic Association, and he has coached the Great Neck Gators ages 12-15 with the Great Neck Athletic Association since.  

In addition to completing the necessary concussion and bullying training programs before the start of every season, he has stepped in when coaches were not all available to lead drills, serve as a base coach, keep score and motivate the players.   

Jack has demonstrated integrity in a variety of situations, proving himself to be trustworthy and accountable to his team, remaining calm in tense situations and reacting with respect and maturity.  

“In the more than 60 games that Jack has helped coach, there have been numerous times when an umpire’s call is questioned by another coach, a parent or a player, and tensions run high,” wrote Sherry Hawkins, volunteer resource manager with Parks & Recreation, in the award nomination. “Jack has displayed a positive example to his players by being calm, deferring to the game officials and reacting with respect and maturity.” 

Jack handles these volunteer duties while juggling his own rigorous academic workload and other extracurricular commitments as a 16-year-old junior at Kellam High School.  

Find your own volunteer opportunities with Parks & Recreation. 

Ready to serve your community? Learn more and find your own volunteer opportunity at VirginiaBeach.gov/Volunteer.  

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