2008 Awards

Past Awards

Volunteer Appreciation Social January 25, 2009

Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center volunteers are the heart and muscle of our program and we literally cannot function without them.  More than a hundred help each week by preparing the horses for our riders and then keeping our riders safe and secure during therapeutic riding and hippotherapy.  In addition, our volunteers clean stalls, maintain our computer equipment and website, and repair the facilities.  If we had to pay for this precious commodity, we’d have to add at least another $150,000 a year to our budget.  And that is a low estimate.

To show our appreciation, we hold an annual social highlighting some of the extraordinary efforts of our volunteers.  Thanks to the generosity of several venders throughout Colorado (and Georgia), award winners went home with a nice gift.  Below are the award recipients. 

Volunteer of the Year:  Kimberly Webster

Kimberly is a “can do anything” volunteer who dedicated several days a week to classes.  The riders, instructors, therapists and volunteers admire her for her sweet disposition.  Kimberly also recruited new volunteers to the program and was always willing to help in any area needed.  Kimberly will be deeply missed and we wish her best of luck in Atlanta.  She’ll be volunteering at a local therapeutic riding center there, and we all know how lucky they will be to have her.

Rookie of the Year:  Bill Reed

We are proud to honor Bill Reed as PPTRC’s Rookie of the Year.  Though it feels as though Bill has been around PPTRC for years, he actually only began volunteering in 2008.  He is so reliable, patient, calm, and helpful to instructors, therapists and other volunteers.  Bill’s experience as a Physical Therapist Assistant has made him one of the best volunteers at relating to patients and understanding their needs.  He is a pleasure to work with and brightens everyone’s days.

Top Hand:  Joya Migliaccio

Joya was an intern who gave many, many hours to PPTRC.  She was a dedicated hard worker, at mucking, cleaning, leading, side walking and had a “can and will do anything” attitude.  Although Joya could not be at the event, as she has accepted a position on a horse ranch in Kansas, we want to recognize her dedication to PPTRC.  We will miss her.

Barn Angel Award:  Becky Hutton

Becky is the backbone of the Tuesday morning hippotherapy.  She keeps the barn and horses running smoothly in and out of those back to back classes.  Becky makes everyone’s job easier.

Family Participants:   Here at PPTRC we are fortunate to have many family units volunteering their time together.  We’d like to thank:

Richard & Carol Jeffery, Rodney & Barbara Foxx, Steve, Missy, Dylan & Shelbi Hrkach, Barbara, Dan & Michael Clark, Michelle & Jameson Courville, Barrington & Andrea Jennings, Becky, Craig & Morgan Jackson, Elise & Michelle Brouillette, Regan & Daniel Salamander, Art & Joyce Aldridge, Catherine Buckley & Don Wayne, Monique & Tonya Kauffman, Zahrah & Sheherzada Sipilovic, Linda, Caleb & Mimi Rolsma, Jihan & Annabelle Bok, Ann & Rebecca Feigenbaum, Ken & Dee Starkey, Michelle Freeburger & Myrno Coffey, Daryle & Carol England, Clay & Lisa Anderson, Carol & Ryan Frost, Dena & Kaley Olson, Kelly & Brittany Robison, Andrea & Isabel Reidner, Ann & Haley Booth, Denette Dixon & Bill Folker, Bob & Teddi Vollaire, Pier & Claire Abbott, Diane, Colin & Kyle Staub, DeAnn & Kristina Queen, The Whitcomb Family, Elizabeth Hightower & Amber Smith, LuDel & Erika Walter, The McAlpine Family, Emma & Larissa Murray, Laura & Sarah Hess,  Lynn & Tiffany Phillips, Mona Hughes & Collette Kroesing, Rhonda & Nathan Huston, Ann & Robin Costner

Family Members of Riders Who Volunteer:  We would also like to thank our family members of our riders who have also dedicated their time to volunteer at PPTRC:

Diane Eshelman, Lisa Tornabene, Danielle Cichon, Robin Meier, Brian Cullen, Karolyn Bryant, Joy Graham, Irene Lucas, Becky Shute, Andrea Reeves, Denette Folker, Kim Hunter

Family of the Year:  Elise & Michelle Brouillette

Michelle and Elise are “Rising Stars”.  These fine young ladies have become indispensable on Tuesdays, volunteering in the hippotherapy classes in the a.m. and the therapeutic riding classes in the p.m.   They are wonderful with the horses, work hard and are fun to be around.  Both have volunteered to substitute on a consistent basis and always help us fill our gaps.

Exceptional Youth Award:  Justin Hunter

Justin was originally a rider on Thursday mornings and when his riding was finished he continued to come out to the barn as a volunteer.  He works well wherever needed and is great with the kids.  It is fun to have Justin around the barn.

Exceptional Youth Award:  Ryan Frost

Ryan really didn’t know a lot about horses when he came to PPTRC, but he soon became a great help.  He quickly learned all the equipment and is a side walker with a balanced-challenged rider on Saturdays.  Ryan spent his entire Saturday in the barn helping wherever needed, in addition to volunteering during the week.

Top Mucker Award:  Lexi Melnick

Lexi was a wonderful asset during the summer and fall sessions.  She come for hours on end to muck stalls, clean the dry lot, turn out the horses, bring them in and prepare them for class.  Lexi said “mucking’s my thing” and would sometimes loose track of time when cleaning the small turnout.  She also has a way with the horses; they seem to melt in her hands.

Top Recruiter Award:  Violet Olivo

Violet began volunteering with us and soon after began recruiting new volunteers through work, friends and family.  During our Fall Session we had some riders who required strong men to assist with support and Violet saved the day by recruiting some Peterson Air Force Base Airmen to come out and substitute for the last few weeks of class and see us through.  Additionally, Violet recruited her unit at Peterson to complete our Combined Federal Campaign volunteer requirements to fill information packets on base.

Super Sub Award:  Cyndi Pride & Lisa Sullivan

Cindy and Lisa are volunteers who step in wherever needed.  They make the classes run smoothly for the instructors and are very dependable.  Not to mention they are great with the riders.  Many times they heard a class other than theirs was short on volunteers and they would quickly volunteer to stay for additional classes or even come back later in the week to cover shortages.

Sponge Awards:  Nancy Gass, Louise McQuary

Both Nancy and Louise have been wonderful volunteers, eager to learn and quick to “absorb” it all.

Above and Beyond Award:  Greg DiCenzo

Greg spent many an hour in the barn prepping, priming and painting our stalls, replacing hardware, mowing the turn-out paths and around the fencing.  In addition, Greg was a wonderful substitute, always stepping in when needed.

Above and Beyond Award:  Don Wayne & Catherine Buckley

Don and Catherine were our “Winter Faithfuls”.  They quickly stepped in and volunteered countless hours and service to our heard during the barn manager’s recovery early in 2008.  Sometimes they would come two times a day to feed the herd and take them in and out from pasture.  They also volunteered in class during the same time.  Both Don and Catherine are the backbone of the Miracles in Motion Gala Silent Auction check out.  Without them as our “File Managers” we’d be lost.  They’ve got the auction check-out process down to a science and keep things going smoothly.

Above and Beyond Award:  Richard & Carol Jeffery

Richard and Carol are always willing to help at anything you ask of them.  They are dedicated volunteers who cover many classes each week, during each session.  In addition, they are always willing to jump in and substitute at the last minute.  They are great with the riders and want to learn as much as they can about everything else.  The Velcro animals in the arena were made by Richard and Carol.  Richard has also lent his radio/communications skills and expertise to set up a weather radio in the main office and calls to alert us when bad weather is headed our way.  We can then monitor the system and keep our riders, volunteers and staff safe.  What a great team to have on board!

Above and Beyond Award:  Ralph Moffie

Ralph has outstanding attendance, is an excellent side walker and horse leader and  always has all the stalls clean on Tuesday mornings before the instructor even arrives to begin preparing for class

Arena Waterer Award:  Gregory Pell & Tony Lane

Both Gregory and Tony have been nominated as the best arena waterers in the west!

Iron Man Award:  Gary Irons

Gary is a great asset to the Saturday morning classes.  He always arrives early, begins tasks before being asked or assigned, and has a quiet, easy-going nature.  He has become the “go to” horse handler.  He keeps his focus on the horse while being aware of what is happening around him.  Our Saturday instructor said if she ever had a difficult horse she would ask Gary to lead and she knew with confidence that he be in complete control.  Gregory and Tony may have a little competition; Gary has also been tagged “the best arena waterer” ever!

Tag Team Award: 

Wednesday Hippotherapy & Especially Debbie Nolan

Rodney Foxx, Gregory Pell, Bill Reed & Tim Hassett

Debbie Nolan and Maggie Lusk

Kimberly Webster and Joya Migliaccio

Schooler of the Year:  Missy Hrkach

Missy is fantastic in all facets of what is done at the PPTRC barn.  She is a wonderful horse person who can be trusted to lead and train even the most difficult horses.  She is intuitive and is a great source of information on how each horse is doing on Thursday mornings when she volunteers.  Missy is terrific with other volunteers and is always willing to help if someone has a need.  All the riders love Missy and she has a great input for the instructor and the therapists making hippotherapy worthwhile and fun.

Schooling Team Members:

The Schooling Team members have done a great job working with the herd on Wednesday evenings.  They were also a great asset to PPTRC during Mendy’s recovery, as they stepped in to feed and help with turn-out.