Team Vance volunteers honored, challenged Published April 29, 2010 By 1st Lt. Agneta Murnan 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Ten exceptional Team Vance volunteers were honored by the 71st Flying Training Wing at an ice cream social held April 22 at the Eisenhower Elementary School auditorium. Each volunteer was a nominee for designation as the best of the best in the Wing's Volunteer Excellence Award program. The Air Force's Volunteer Excellence Award was established by General (ret.) Michael E. Ryan, who served as chief of staff of the Air Force from October 1997 to September 2001. This awards program is separate from the Wing's quarterly and annual awards program, and recognizes federal civilians, family members and retirees, excluding active duty military members, who perform outstanding volunteer community service for one or more years. A condensed and abbreviated list of the volunteers' accomplishments was read aloud as each volunteer was presented a certificate by Col. Chris Nowland, 71st FTW commander, and a rose and gift bag by Terri Presa, the base's volunteer coordinator. The award nominees were: Terry Crawford Sheryl Lawrence Jillian McIntyre Christina McMillin Kimberly Patton Debra Poland Vanessa Smith Laura Stewart Rebecca Terry Chaundra White Kimberly Patton was named the 2010 recipient of the Volunteer Excellence Award, while Terry Crawford was presented the Longevity Award for her countless hours and years of service to the base. "You get the bug of helping others. It's the idea of service before self," said Colonel Nowland to the award nominees. "But living and talking it are two different things." Colonel Nowland challenged those in attendance to spread that "bug" to others, especially to young families just starting out at Vance AFB and in the Air Force.