CHRISTINA HESS
(Nominated by Pamela Hess)
The Martinsburg VA Medical Center
June 21, 2011
I’m not sure if there are too many mothers out there that consider their 17yr old daughters as their hero, but I certainly do. She doesn’t make a point to bring attention to herself or expect to be recognized. As a mother, that makes it frustrating because I’m so proud of her and I want everyone to see how much of a gracious and caring person she is. Christiana has approximately 250 hours of volunteer service at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center. Last summer and this summer again she will be working the Outpatient Pharmacy window. She is very helpful to the veterans, and greets everyone with a warm smile. She is very responsible and needs very little supervision. Her first summer volunteering, she worked beside me in Primary Care here at the VAMC assisting four departments with numerous clerical assignments. She performed most of her work at the front window beside me and greeted each of the veterans with her warm smile. Everyone enjoyed chatting with her and were so impressed with her commitment to assist the veterans. They treated her like she was their granddaughter for the day. Last year, she received 2nd place for top volunteer, 3rd place the previous year and has received numerous letters of recognition from employees and veterans. She is also active in high school activities such as band (co-captain of the front ensemble), church choir, key club, 4H and ecology club (president). Each Christmas, she volunteers with gift wrapping at the mall for charity and assisted with last year’s Relay for Life in the concession stand for 8hrs. She is also a National Honors Society student with a current GPA of 3.8888 and intends to pursue a degree in pharmacy or forensic science at WVU. She is such a delightful young girl and a joy to be around. She has great values as shown by her many volunteer hours. I just look at her and praise God for blessing me with such a wonderful gift from heaven.
