Clarkston News Staff Writer
Jennifer Herrmann was shocked and stunned when she found out she was named Clarkston’s Citizen of the Year.
“Being recognized for the things I do is not something I seek out. I just truly enjoy helping others,” she said. “It’s completely unexpected.”
She added it’s an honor to be selected for Citizen of the Year for the 31st Annual Clarkston Community Awards.
“I’d like to thank Kelly Hyer for the nomination and the selection committee for this recognition,” Herrmann said. “I respect Kelly as a community member and a mom. I am thrilled to be recognized as a representative of the many volunteers in our community. It is on behalf of the many volunteer I am delighted to accept this honor.”
Hyer nominated Herrmann for volunteer work including hours she put in with PTO at Clarkston Elementary; time and design work for Friends of Ryan Kennedy; coaching softball with Independence Township Parks, Recreation and Seniors; volunteer time and design work for the drama clubs at Clarkston Junior High School and Clarkston High School; and Girl Scout leadership.
Out of everything she does, leading the young women in Girl Scout Troop 13363 is dear to her heart.
“These girls are freshman and still want to hang out with Amy Music and I, and they still want to continue what we are doing,” Herrmann added. “I want them to have experiences they might not ever have had without scouting and try to make it an important part of their lives.
“It’s also getting them to achieve their goals and seeing them do it,” she added.
Herrmann and Music put the troop together while the girls were in sixth grade with a combination of girls from Clarkston Elementary, Andersonville Elementary and Bailey Lake Elementary.
“I never went past Girl Scouts in elementary the fact they want to continue is pretty awesome,” she smiled. “I am proud of that.”
Most recently they took the scouts to Michigan State University.
She added it was a great experience for the girls.
“Every freshman in high school should go on a college tour. Don’t want until junior year,” Herrmann sasid. “Now they are looking at what they need to achieve in the next three and a half years. The community service and all the things they are involved with are such a vital part of it now. It was not that way when I went to college. It was a huge eye opening experience.”
Herrmann created created the posters and programs for the Clarkston Junior High School production of Suessical, Jr.
She also took photos of the actors and had them write out their bios which she displayed in the hallway for the audience to see before or after the showings.
Herrmann also used her design skills for the high school’s productions of Carousel and Curious Savage.
“The kids at the high school hand drew what they wanted for the show. They gave it to me and I digitized it to make it into the posters, T-shirts, covers of the programs,” she explained. “I did the kids musical theatre camp Hercules T-shirts, too.”
She received Volunteer of the Year at Clarkston Elementary last year and one of many things she did was the PTO Talent Show for five years after reviving it for the students.
“If I can give my time and my talent to whatever the event is then they have the opportunity to have a cooler experience,” Herrmann said.
Herrmann along with other outstanding individuals and groups were honored on Tuesday morning.
Community award winners also include:
Kailan Mehta- Youth of the Year,
Alan Partington -Adult Youth Volunteer,
Leanna Haun -Business Person of the Year,
Chelsea O’Brien-Community Beautification/Preservation,
Girl Scout Troup #13363-Community Enhancement,
The Independence Day Parade Committee-Community Collaboration.
Check out an upcoming edition of The Clarkston News for photos from the Clarkston Community Awards.