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Show n- Colleem Sessiom Is Honored By GARY R. BLODGETT Clipper News Editor . BOUNTIFUL -- Colleen Sessions is a public spi-r spi-r person, of which every community could be proud. IN FACT, she is so dedicated to helping in the community that she recently was honored with the "Utah Total Citizen Award" for extra ordinary community com-munity service an award that no other Davis County Coun-ty resident has earned. Why is she so involved in community service? "IT STARTED four or five years ago when I suddenly sud-denly found myself idle after working several years with my son who eventually became a top ice skater," ska-ter," said Colleen. "I couldn't stand not being active so I began doing community service. She explained that for several years she and her husband, Theral, worked with their son, Russell, to perfect his skating abilities which eventually led to him earning a national Gold Medal in freestyle free-style figures in 1976 and a Silver Medal (second place) winner in the 1979 Professional Championships Champion-ships in Jaca, Spain. "IT REQUIRED several hours a day to work with Russell and our lives revolved around his skating, training and performances," she said. "When this ended, I felt empty. I didn't know where to turn or what to do." She said she first got involved in the "Festival of Trees," which raises funds for the Primary Children's Chil-dren's Medical Center. This led to several hours a week of nursing at the Primary Children's Hospital where she was also a member of the procedures committee, and dedicated herself to patient and family education. "BEING SENSITIVE and concerned with the handicapped, she successfully helped overcome the fears of both parents and patients giving them a new meaning for life," explained one hospital official. Mrs. Sessions also devoted years to working with the elderly and handicapped in skilled and intermediate intermedi-ate care centers, using her nosing skills as a tool for bringing understanding and happiness to those who grieved. SHE ORGANIZED the Pink Ladies and Candys-tripers Candys-tripers groups at the Weber Memorial Hospital in Roy which later gave aid and assistance to hospital patients and relieved the hospital staff of much routine work. Mrs. Sessions was coordinator for "Pops on Ice," with the Utah Symphony in 1983 and will serve in this capacity again this year. WHILE ACTIVELY involved with the "Festival of Trees," she knitted 100 stocking caps and gave them to children in her neighborhood who in turn gave them to the "Festival" in their names. This act earned area-wide publicity of newspapers and television. televi-sion. Mrs. Sessions served on a committee for the National Figure Skating Championships which were held last month in Bountiful and Salt Lake City. Winners of this year's championships are representing represent-ing the United States during the Winter Olympics in Yugoslavia. SHE HAS BEEN involved with the U.S. Figure Skating Association, having served as vice president and member of the Board of Directors of the Utah Figure Skating Club. She was ice skating coordinator for the Utah Special Olympics where 250 retarded children participated at Bountiful, the first time the event has been staged in Utah. She currently serves on the International Committee Commit-tee for the Special Winter Olympics to be held in Utah in 1985 at which more than 50 countries will be represented. COLLEEN PERFORMED an outstanding community com-munity volunteer service during and after the devestating deves-tating floods of south Davis County last spring. She was coordinator for the Bountiful Area Chamber of Commerce interviewing families and determining where donations should be used to help those seriously se-riously affected by the floods. She later was coordinator for the Chamber, churches chur-ches and civic clubs for an open-pit barbecue fund raising effort to help the flood victims. A SPECIAL tribute will be paid Colleen in a historical histor-ical book dealing with the flood and the volunteer efforts of thousands of local residents. Proceeds from this book will be used to aid flood victims. The aw ard was presented by the Utah State Chamber Cham-ber of Commerce. She was recommended by Faye Richards, executive secretary of the Bountiful Area Chamber of Commerce. Iff 1 ' . , ,''' III'" "V, by ' ,n U i lif ;;: I" - V .:' ' V i i A : 1 . 'I t X V i-1 ; is - .:- - ; if ; , r. I .-. n,m. , Vv& 00) I COLLEEN SESSIONS |