Community Service Award
The Community Service award honors a VIMS employee who contributes to his or her local community through volunteerism, school actitivies, elected office, or other support.
The winner of the inaugural Community Service Award is Mr. Kevin Kiley.
Many of us know Kevin for his helping hand as an Instructional Technology Specialist in the ITNS Department who has helped launch many a qualifying exam or noontime seminar.
However, you may be unaware of Kevin’s devotion to his community
that started soon after arriving as a graduate student in 1975. Raising a
family with wife Kris, Kevin became active with Gloucester schools, sponsoring
the After School Enrichment program, mentoring students on Virginia Junior Academy
of Science projects, fundraising, and chaperoning GHS students on trips abroad
with daughter Maryanne. In 1992 he became a member of the Gloucester School
Board, and during his 7-year tenure helped guide the construction of a new
elementary school and sports complex.
Kevin is energized by young people and humbled by working with seniors, engaging them during Sunday school and as mission coordinator at church. He organized volunteers to respond to emergencies, including Hurricane Isabel and the April 2011 tornado. He joined Habitat for Humanity and went on mission trips with his son Patrick, a local contractor, and rebuilt homes in Mexico and in the Gulf States following Hurricane Katrina. He organized annual Corn Gleanings on local farms to donate to the Peninsula Food Bank. At the Helping Hands church camp, Kevin sponsored a group of middle-school girls to build a deck with hand tools. Kevin's sensitivity and understanding helped nurture and motivate them to try something new.
Kevin has a long history of exemplary service, dedication, and loyalty to his community. For these reasons he is most deserving as the inaugural recipient of the VIMS Community Service Award.
Congratulations, Kevin!