Volunteer of the Year - Fourth Quarter

 

Yamin Thu-Soe - Europe USO Volunteer of the Quarter

 

Yamin Thu-Soe is a dedicated member of the USO Naples family and, since joining the USO in 2008, Yamin has logged more than 400 volunteer hours! Her time and attention to detail are critical in helping with center events. Even though she is enrolled in school, taking care of a family and involved with other organizations, she always finds the time for the USO, setting an example for everyone she encounters.

Less than a month after Yamin arrived in Naples with her husband, she began volunteering for the USO. Her first USO project was to help care for 200 children during the Navy Exchange Customer Appreciation Day. Since then she has helped organize USO Idol, two Bingo events and Multicultural Spring Bash, which took six months of tough planning. Yamin even baked more than 1,000 brownies and muffins for the USO bake sale!

Yamin always strives to achieve her best work at USO Naples. Her dedication to the USO mission is extraordinary and has prompted many others to come on board as USO volunteers. Yamin’s gentle personality and amazing quality of work make a real difference to her community. Congratulations to Yamin Thu-Soe on being the USO Europe Volunteer of the Quarter!

 

Terry Grimes - United States USO Volunteer of the Quarter

 

The work of Terry Grimes is valued at USO of North Carolina-Raleigh Durham International Airport (USO-NC RDU). Terry tracks and maintains the volunteer calendar, holds volunteer interviews and training sessions and ensures the center is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Beyond her volunteer coordinator duties, she also serves as a member of the USO of NC Speakers Bureau and the Salute to Freedom Gala Committee.

Terry routinely volunteers more than 60 hours a month at the RDU Center. She created a volunteer management and training program that allows the center to better serve the needs of our service members and their families. This online system makes it easier for the center to track and log hours, retrieve applications and has become a template for other centers to use. Terry’s detailed understanding of the airport and airline personnel and operations also is very helpful to the center.

Service to our troops is her passion and the focus of her efforts to continually improve the volunteer system. Even in the most difficult of circumstances, Terry always steps up to assist troops in need. We applaud the work of Terry Grimes and proudly name her USO Stateside Volunteer of the Quarter!

 

Senior Airman Andrew M. Edwards - Southwest Asia USO Volunteer of the Quarter

 

Senior Airman Andrew “Andy” Edwards is one of USO Qatar’s most dependable volunteers. As an active duty airman and member of the base’s Security Forces, Andy has truly raised the standards. As a USO volunteer in a center that serves many of his colleagues and direct reports, SrA Edwards provides the highest customer care to all service members, regardless of rank or reporting status. He goes above and beyond the call of duty as a USO volunteer.

Andy is on-call with the military 24-hours a day, but that doesn’t stop him from giving his time to USO Qatar. He not only learned the behind-the-counter processes, such as checking out games and movies, but he also was instrumental in helping service members tape United Through Reading® Military Program recordings, setting up gaming stations, cleaning the center and relieving staff members during their breaks.

Andy’s hard work and dedication encourage others to follow his example. He is dependable and enthusiastic, and his professional attitude toward troops, their families and other USO staff and volunteers make him an excellent selection for Volunteer of the Quarter for USO Southwest Asia.

 

Mike Preudhomme - Pacific Region USO Volunteer of the Quarter

 

For more than three years, Mike Preudhomme has been a vital part of USO Korea. Having a background in IT, Mike offers significant technical support to the center, helping staff maintain computer systems, updating the wireless network and correcting information retrieval problems. Mike takes a sincere interest in the success of the center and offers his support in any capacity that is needed.

Mike sets the standard for what USO Korea looks for in volunteer candidates. In training other volunteers, he passes on his positive attitude and commitment to the center and the troops he serves. Despite working a full time job, Mike makes an extra effort to come to the center when he gets free time and breaks from work. In many instances, he’s performed center repairs and quick fixes to ensure the facility was in tip-top shape.

The professionalism, enthusiasm and commitment that Mike Preudhomme shows at USO Korea is second to none! A valued member of the team, Mike’s presence is appreciated. USO Korea is happy to announce his selection as USO Pacific Volunteer of the Quarter. Congrats!