Mindy Diller—2020 Community Service Award

Background

The Nebraska State Education Association has honored Mindy Diller, a family and consumer science teacher at Lux Middle School, with the 2020 Community Service Award. The Community Service Award recognizes individual members and local associations who are actively involved in non-paid volunteer work outside of classroom duty hours.

Explanation

The Nebraska State Education Association has named Lux Middle School teacher Mindy Diller the winner of its 2020 Community Service Award. The award recognizes individual members and local associations who are actively involved in non-paid volunteer work outside of classroom duty hours. Instead of gifts for herself, since 2017 Diller has chosen to celebrate her birthday by collecting items for others, specifically those who visit the Gathering Place. The Gathering Place serves meals and offers support to those in need. Her donation efforts have yielded tens of thousands of items, including more than 2,000 lip balms, hundreds of hair products, soaps and lotions, and 255 blankets.

One of her colleagues said this about Diller when nominating her for the award:

“Community is defined as a ‘feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals.’ Service is defined as ‘the action of helping or doing work for someone.’ Mindy Diller’s photo should be shown next to those definitions.’”

Proposal

That the Lincoln Board of Education adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS, Mindy Diller has been honored with the 2020 Community Service Award from the Nebraska State Education Association; and

WHEREAS, Mindy Diller has committed herself to helping those in need in the Lincoln community; and

WHEREAS, Mindy Diller has collected tens of thousands of items for people who would otherwise go without; and

WHEREAS, Mindy Diller has been a model of compassion and selflessness for her students to emulate;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Lincoln Board of Education
does hereby congratulate Mindy Diller for winning the 2020 Community Service Award from the Nebraska State Education Association.

Updated November 9, 2020