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Montgomery County Adult, Youth Governor’s Volunteer Service Award Recipients

Montgomery County Government TennesseeMontgomery County, TN – Montgomery County recently recognized two community volunteers, Curtis Driver and Ethan Morrow, at April’s formal County Commission meeting.

They were presented with proclamations from Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett for being selected as the 2021 Montgomery County adult and youth recipients of the Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards (GVSA). Driver and Morrow were also recognized at the annual GVSA statewide award ceremony in February of this year.

Retired Major Curtis Driver was awarded the honor as the 2021 Montgomery County adult recipient for his work to support military veterans in Montgomery County and surrounding communities. Driver joined the Army in 2001, prior to 9/11, and served as a physician’s assistant and flight surgeon during his time in service.
 
He has served as the Fort Campbell/ Clarksville Team Red, White, and Blue (RWB) Volunteer Veteran Engagement Director for the last three years overseeing and directing coordinators to assist in arranging and scheduling at least one event a day to re-engage veterans in the community, exemplifying the RWB’s mission to enrich the lives of America’s veterans.
 
When the local Tennessee State Veterans Home (TSVH) closed to the public during the pandemic, Driver worked with others to maintain RWB’s active presence by committing to door visits with the residents a letter campaign to ensure Veteran residents did not feel forgotten.

Ethan Morrow with Miss Tennessee
Ethan Morrow with Miss Tennessee

Driver works to assist in delivering virtual and local, inclusive opportunities for veterans and the community to connect through physical and social activity through fitness activities, social gatherings, and community service events. He facilitates building strong local connections with members and organizations within the community.

Driver is also an involved member of the Montgomery County Veterans Coalition that consistently volunteers to assist Veterans. He also volunteers his time and talents with the Combat Veteran Motorcycle Association, Wounded Warrior, and suicide prevention serves and as a member of LifePoint Church, he serves as a small group leader.

“It was an honor to be nominated and receive this award. There are many people who voluntarily serve the military Veterans of this community every day through organizations like RWB and others. I feel privileged to be counted among them,” said Driver.

Ethan Morrow was selected as the 2021 Montgomery County Youth GVSA recipient because of his combined commitment and passion for the outdoors and literacy.

As part of his Eagle Scout Service Project through Boy Scouts of America, Morrow collaborated with the Clarksville-Montgomery County Imaginary Library, solicited grants and funding from the Tennessee Child Care Resource & Referral Network, local businesses, and members of the community for the funds, and received approval from Montgomery County Parks and Recreation to build Imagination Library Storybook Trails at Weakley and RichEllen Parks.

The storybook trails created an atmosphere where families can walk along the trails and read the pages of children’s books for the purpose of increasing physical activity and promoting literacy.

An added intent of the project was to create further interest for additional trails throughout Montgomery County Parks and in surrounding communities

Morrow is an active teenager who is involved at Clarksville High School as a section leader in Marching Band, and as a participant in the Concert Band and Jazz Band. He is exceptionally active in Scouting in Troop 365, Venturing Crew 225, as a staffer at Boxwell Scout Reservation, and as Vice Chief of Chapter Operations for the Order of the Arrow Honor Society.

“Volunteering is the norm in my family and it is a vital part of being a Boy Scout. I appreciate the award and hope it brings recognition to the important mission of the Scouts and making a positive difference in the community,” stated Morrow.

“One of the best parts of being Mayor is recognizing people like Curtis and Ethan for giving of themselves to make our community better and stronger. I’m thankful for all those who go above and beyond to volunteer in Montgomery County,” said Mayor Durrett.

The Governor’s Volunteer Stars Award is a statewide recognition program that was instituted by former Governor Phil Bredesen to honor and publicly recognize citizens in the adult and youth categories from each county for their exemplary volunteer service to their community.

Nominations for individuals and businesses can be accepted as early as September. Anyone who would like to submit a nomination can find information about the GVSA at https://www.tn.gov/volunteer-tennessee/vt-events/vt-gvsa.html.  Nominations for this year’s honorees are due to manewell@mcgtn.net by November 8th, 2022.

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