Killington, VT – At its annual meeting held earlier this month, Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, the largest year-round disabled sports non-profit organization in Vermont, announced the recipients of its annual Volunteer of the Year Award. The 2010 recipients of the Jim Hutchinson Volunteer of the Year are Steve Dingle and Andy Cook of Waitsfield, Vt., and Mary Anderson of Gaysville, Vt.n”Andy has been truly invaluable to the success of our newest program at Bolton Valley,” Program Coordinator Dave D’Angelo said of Cook’s efforts. “In just two seasons he has gone from shadowing lessons to training new volunteers in sit-down and developmental disabilities. He puts in at least two days a week, including the daunting task of doing sit-down night lessons.”

Dingle spends his days teaching snowboarding at Sugarbush in developmental disability, sit-down and emotional/behavioral lessons. Last year he logged in the most volunteer time of any volunteer, assisting with summer sports including kayaking, sailing, cycling, and paddling.

“Mary has been volunteering with Vermont Adaptive since the organization began at Ascutney and is one of the few folks who have stuck with Vermont Adaptive through all the years,” Program Coordinator Craig Cimmons said of Anderson. “She has volunteered at all of our winter locations and volunteers at least three days each week.”

The Jim Hutchinson Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award honors the exemplary efforts of other outstanding individuals. Jim Hutchinson embodied the meaning of volunteer: his tireless dedication, strong leadership and big heart. Each year individuals are nominated for the annual volunteer of the year award in his honor and names are added to a memorial plaque hanging at each program location.