O’Brien earns U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award
Posted: August 30, 2010
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Andrea O’Brien, M.S., associate director of admissions at A.T. Still University, has earned the prestigious 2010 United States President’s Volunteer Service Award. The award recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain number of hours of service over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime.
“I am moved by the sentiment of someone thinking that what I have done is worthy of this type of award,” said O’Brien. “I have always just wanted to make a positive difference to those around me in whatever I have done, even if only by trying to be a positive role model — but always to leave things or people better than I first found them.”
O’Brien’s passion is working with older youth, college students, and young professionals, helping them develop in areas that set them apart in a positive way. “This award validates the amount of time I have spent helping others,” said O’Brien.
O’Brien’s recognition is a result of her countless hours of community service performed each year. As a member of the Kirksville Noon Rotary Club, O’Brien currently chairs the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Academy (RYLA) Club Committee, works with high school youth to develop the Interact Rotary Club, and assists with community service projects for various youth and charity projects. She also chaired the Youth Recognition Leadership Awards Banquet and has been a member of several Rotary sub-committees serving youths.
Her dedication to serving others is exemplified in her current and past participation with numerous other organizations such as the First United Methodist Church, Chariton Valley Handicapped Association, Kirksville R-III Schools, National Perinatal Association & National Association of Neonatal Nurses, St. Luke’s NICU Foundation, March of Dimes, Missouri Cancer Pain Initiative, American Association for Premature Infants, and more.
Attributing her value of service above self to her family, her upbringing, and her own personal experiences, O’Brien thrives on helping others achieve and succeed. “The feeling of thankfulness that they ‘made it’ cannot be described in words. My heart just swells with pride for them,” she said. “Everybody needs to be shown unconditional love and support by somebody, and I am honored that when our paths cross I might help them in ways others can’t.”
Many groups and individuals have benefited from O’Brien’s commitment to helping those in need. By donating initial seed money that inspired more people to give, St. Luke’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Kansas City was able to open a room for parents of premature babies. An impoverished Kentucky family received extensive improvements to their home when O’Brien helped lead a week-long youth mission trip with First United Methodist Church. She led another week-long youth mission trip in Texas to rebuild a home destroyed by Hurricane Rita. Since 2006, O’Brien and her husband have hosted four international high school students, teaching them about America and helping her own sons and their friends learn about the cultures and customs of Germany, Denmark, and Belgium.
“Andrea is a terrific individual. She brought a level-headed, calming influence to the project we were working on together. She donated her time, travel, and energy to our project without asking for a single thing in return,” said Valerie Anderson, executive director of RYLA, who nominated O’Brien for the award. “That to me is what our organizational tagline for Rotary International ‘Service Above Self’ is all about.”
The President’s Volunteer Service Award is presented by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation in conjunction with the Corporation for National & Community Service. The Council was established in 2003 to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers make in communities and to inspire and encourage more volunteer service.