The Volunteer Excellence Award was presented April 16 to Holly Cope at the Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast at The Landing.

Cope, a Key Spouse assigned to the 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, is the key lead spouse for a squadron of more than 500 Airmen and their family members for command staff and the 421st Aircraft Maintenance Unit. She has served in several support instances of family emergencies, and has been sought out by other bases for her system of tracking squadron spouses as a benchmark. In addition to volunteering as a Key Spouse, she has also served teens and people in need through the Base Chapel and teaches a religious education class. She has worked hard to become an expert mediator in relationships and has put those skills to use as a Key Spouse.

Col. Sarah Zabel, 75th Air Base Wing commander, thanked the award winner and nominees and all the volunteers in attendance, saying that the base could not get all its vital work done without its volunteers.

More than 175 volunteers were present at the breakfast. Colette Geiss, Installation Volunteer coordinator, noted the wide range of volunteers present including the Hill Aerospace Museum, The Base Consignment and Thrift Shop, the pharmacy, the Airman's Attic and the Retiree Activities Office, among many other organizations on and off base.

Geiss said, "This is the only opportunity for recognition that many of our volunteers receive."

She said the sight of a room packed full of volunteers signifies just how much service the base gets through volunteer assistance.

Volunteers throughout the base who give their service at off-base agencies are also eligible for this annual award.

The other nominees for this year's award included:

Virgil Carter, retired, serves as a volunteer at the Hill Aerospace Museum

Robert Wynn, 573rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, who volunteers with the Honeyville Fire Department

Ivonne Dooner, 573rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, who volunteers through diversified opportunities including the Hill Chapel, Davis County Justice Center, Habitat for Humanity and for other community and base events

Tiffany Hopkins, 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, who served as a Key Spouse and gave service through her religious organization

Enos Cummings, 516th Software Maintenance Squadron, who served as a longtime Boy Scouts of America leader and through his religious organization

Barbara McFarland, 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group who served as a longtime Boy Scouts of America leader, as a Sexual Assault Victim Advocate and as a community volunteer and through her religious organization

Kim Owen, 516th Software Maintenance Squadron, who as a HAM operator participates in several emergency response and disaster exercises, supports its use through training and testing for amateur radio licenses, participates in several charity bike races, and serves through his religious organization.