DuPage County Master Gardeners surpass 10,000 hours of service in 2016
University of Illinois Extension of DuPage County recognized its Master Gardeners with the 25th Annual Master Gardener Celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 2 in Naperville. The volunteer group has already completed 10,133 hours of service for 2016.
At the annual event, it was announced that the volunteer group reached its goal of surpassing 10,000 volunteer hours for the year. In addition, the group directly reached 10,713 people, breaking another record. The Master Gardeners also harvested 5,100 pounds of produce donated to area food pantries.
"We truly appreciate everything our amazing volunteers do to serve our DuPage County communities year after year," said Sarah Navrotski, Master Gardener Program Coordinator with University of Illinois Extension. "More than 120 local Master Gardeners share their own time and talents through the Master Gardener Help Desk, service projects, community gardens, youth programs, horticulture therapy, heritage work and more."
The DuPage Master Gardener program partners with care facilities like the Ronald McDonald House and the DuPage Convalescent Center, with food pantries such as Loaves and Fishes, and with various park districts, schools and libraries.
University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners have served DuPage County communities for more than 40 years, making the group one of the first volunteer corps of its kind in Illinois.
On Nov. 2, those volunteers who reached milestone years with the program received commemorative pins to mark the achievement. Marking 20 years of service were Mary Ellen Boledovich of Naperville and Nanette Kalscheur of Wheaton.
Six volunteers reached the decade mark, earning the maple leaf pin: Lin Drogos of Roselle; Jan Hanson and Mary Jo Oakes, both of Bartlett; Sally Mabbitt of Glendale Heights; Janice Miller of Hinsdale; and June Vandervest of Downers Grove. The ladybug five-year pin went to Bruce Adamec of Hinsdale; Gail Blessing and Cricket Cressman, both of Naperville; Chris Bosacki of Woodridge; Maureen Bulwan of Glen Ellyn; Sue Farley and Heidi Sila of Downers Grove, Ellen Finegan of Lisle; Jack King and Kathleen Madej, both of Lombard; Cheryl McGarrity of Warrenville; Jeff Schoder of Roselle; and Sarah Tucker of Wheaton.
"We have a strong Master Gardener program in DuPage County, and our seasoned Master Gardeners set an amazing example for incoming volunteers," Navrotski said. "They are as dependable, eager and passionate as any new recruit, and they have the extended knowledge and experience to complement their drive."
Ten Master Gardener interns were elevated to the official rank of Certified Master Gardener, including Mary Aylward, Patricia Carmichael and Paula Loret de Mola, all of Naperville; Barbara Bozek of Willowbrook; Nancy D'Aversa and Clark Hudmon, both of West Chicago; Dawn Halter of Wheaton; Maria Kallis of Hinsdale; Sharon Rakowski of Lombard, and Tim Sweeney of Villa Park. Each receives a certificate and name tag to mark the achievement.
"Master Gardener interns are required to complete 70 hours of training. In addition, they must accomplish at least 60 volunteer hours, and many surpassed that number," Navrotski said. "Our newly inducted Master Gardeners showed true dedication to DuPage County communities and enthusiasm for this historic program."
Both new and experienced volunteers, 35 in all, earned recognition for putting in more than 100 hours of service this year. Seven surpassed the 200-hour mark, including:
· 200-plus service hours: Linda Dickerson of Roselle, Jerry Dungan of Aurora, Pat Kosmach of Addison, and Fritz Porter of Glen Ellyn.
· 300-plus service hours: Jan Gricus of Naperville, Linda Kunesh of Carol Stream, Karen Pachyn of Elmhurst and Gail Sanders of Carol Stream.
· 400-plus service hours: Jan Hanson.
Navrotski also recognized Pachyn's State Outstanding Master Gardener award for her work with "We Grow Dreams" and the Anne M. Jeans School Garden volunteer team for its State Teamwork Award. Both honors were presented in Champaign earlier this fall. Master Gardeners part of the teamwork award include team leader Elaine Weil and Chris Bosacki, Yola Chrusciel and Judi Davenport, all of Downers Grove, and Ellen Finegan of Lisle, Mary Ann Kwiatkowski of Lemont, Patricia Menzenberger of Glen Ellyn, Larry States of Naperville, Marti Travelli of Hinsdale, and Roy Yang of Clarendon Hills.
"This sensational volunteer crew achieved momentous year for our program," Navrotski said. "We look forward to more challenges and celebrations in 2017."
The Master Gardener Help Desk will be open for calls again in the spring of 2016. For more information on the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener program in DuPage County, contact Navrotski at sarahnav@illinois.edu or visit web.extension.illinois.edu/dkk/.
University of Illinois Extension provides educational programs and research-based information to help Illinois residents improve their quality of life, develop skills and solve problems.