McNamara named Michigan 4-H Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer
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EmailSt. Joseph County 4-H volunteer Michelle (Anders) McNamara has been honored with a prestigious Michigan 4-H Salute to Excellence Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award.
St. Joseph County 4-H volunteer Michelle (Anders) McNamara has been honored with a prestigious Michigan 4-H Salute to Excellence Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award. McNamara was recognized on Sept. 30 during the Michigan 4-H Legacy Awards Celebration hosted by Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan 4-H Foundation in East Lansing.
The annual 4-H Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award is given to a 4-H volunteer with more than 10 years of service. Winners are selected through a statewide nomination and review process.
The award highlights the important work of 4-H volunteers across the state who share their time, energy and commitment to 4-H every day to improve the lives of Michigan young people. Through the 4-H Salute to Excellence Awards program, MSU Extension’s 4-H Youth Development program honors outstanding volunteers for their unwavering dedication to 4-H and Michigan young people.
McNamara has been involved with 4-H for most of her life: first as a 4-H member, then as a teen leader and 4-H camp counselor, and for the past 19 years as a 4-H volunteer. For nearly two decades, McNamara has been the volunteer leader of the Rolling Clovers 4-H Club and raised her own family in 4-H. But her commitment to St. Joseph County 4-H goes much farther than her club.
“4-H is not just where I spend my time, it is literally a part of WHO I am,” said McNamara. “I believe so strongly in giving back to your community and 4-H is the vehicle that I get to use to accomplish this. I was very lucky in my own 4-H career to be mentored by caring and passionate leaders and I can only hope that my time, efforts, and love for 4-H will have that same impact on the members with whom I work!”
For many years, McNamara has been a 4-H Exploration Days volunteer, chaperoning for her county delegation and leading a session that helps participants learn to connect with one another and make sure others feel included. In fact, helping others to feel included is one of McNamara’s many talents; young people and adults in her county feel comfortable with her and she goes out of her way to make sure everyone feels welcome. In addition, McNamara is known for helping to create positive learning environments that help young people improve their self-concept, personal agency, resilience, and community connections. McNamara has a deep interest in the young people she works with and is truly passionate about 4-H.
The Michigan 4-H Legacy Awards Celebration was hosted and emceed by MSU Extension Associate Director Matt Shane, a Kent County 4-H alumnus and 2014 4-H Emerald Clover Society inductee. Kim Wright also received a 4-H Salute to Excellence Award at the event for 2023 4-H Volunteer of the Year. For more information about the 4-H Salute to Excellence Awards and past honorees, visit https://mi4hfdtn.org/4-h-emerald-awards/michigan-4-h-salute-to-excellence-awards/.
The Michigan 4-H Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that supports Michigan 4-H Youth Development. For more information about the Michigan 4-H Foundation, visit www.mi4hfdtn.org. Michigan 4-H Youth Development is the youth-serving program of MSU Extension. Nearly 100,000 youth are involved in 4-H with the support of 9,000 adult volunteers. For more information about Michigan 4-H, visit www.4h.msue.msu.edu.
