BELLOWS FALLS — Amanda Reed of Bellows Falls has been awarded a Community College of Vermont Leadership Scholarship that honors leadership through service learning, volunteer work, and involvement in student life at CCV.
CCV president Joyce Judy presented the award to Reed and 12 other recipients representing each CCV branch plus one online student at a luncheon in Montpelier on March 29.
Reed was nominated by her CCV Springfield advisor Debra Grant, who recognized Reed for her involvement in the community.
“Amanda is one of those leaders for Bellows Falls,” Grant said in a news release. “She volunteers her time at events that help people.” She cited Reed's support of members of the Greater Falls Connections by providing meals for children in their programs and organizing logistics for many event sponsors.
Grant also mentioned Reed's involvement in Our Place Drop-in Center's annual food drive, the Battlefield to Vermont Bike Ride that benefits Our Place, and help with the Vermont Idol competition.
“Supporting your neighbors is an important quality as a neighbor,” Grant said, “and Amanda goes above and beyond to do just that.”
Reed has been working at Our Place since 2012. She said she's been “tapped on the shoulder” repeatedly. After a year as a volunteer there, she was offered a job in the kitchen and, a year and half later, she was promoted to an office job.
Now she is head case manager at Our Place, and is also a member of the board of the Greater Falls Warming Shelter, where she assists shelter guests in exploring permanent housing options.
Working towards a bachelor's degree in human services, Reed said, “The scholarship means a great deal to me to be able to continue my college education.”