Hermiston Resident Earns State Volunteer Award

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Longtime Hermiston resident Diane Shockman received the Governor’s Elderly Volunteer Award for Region 5, at the recent Governor’s Volunteer Awards Luncheon in Salem.

The award was presented by Oregon Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins and State Rep. Greg Barreto. Shockman has volunteered for the past 13 years for the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program. During that time, she has advocated for almost 100 children in the foster care system in Umatilla County.

Shockman Award
Left to right: State Rep. Greg Barreto, Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins, and CASA Volunteer Diane Shockman.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The CASA program for Umatilla and Morrow Counties is operated by Umatilla Morrow Head Start (UMCHS).

“Diane Shockman has always had a love for the highest need and most vulnerable children,” said Jesus Rome, the CASA Manager and Volunteer Manager for UMCHS. “She is very deserving of the Governor’s Volunteer Award and we couldn’t be more proud of her accomplishments.”

Shockman works as a Family Advocate for the Family Support and Connections program, which is also part of UMCHS.

Shockman has also been a volunteer in the schools and for youth sports for a number of years. “My hope in receiving this award is that my experience might inspire others to step up and volunteer in their communities because there is such a great need,” she said.

UMCHS has many volunteer opportunities, from serving as advocates for children, to assisting preschool children in classrooms. For more information on volunteering, visit the UMCHS website.