“I am so proud of Rhonda for receiving this award from our Governor,” said Cherie Krug, director for the Center for Volunteerism and National Service Program. “Rhonda’s dedication to our Western Maryland communities is unyielding, and she exemplifies in her work and personal life her commitment to engaging our faculty, staff and students to make a difference.”

Schwinabart has spent over six years working with FSU to assist Western Maryland communities through volunteerism, national service and service-learning. She began as an A STAR! in Western Maryland AmeriCorps member with the Center for Volunteerism and National Service, during which she coordinated FSU’s Read to Succeed program. She also served for two years as an AmeriCorps member and was hired with a grant awarded by the Corporation for National and Community Service to serve as coordinator for the Institute for Service-Learning at FSU. She currently supervises the *VISTA program, which engages FSU graduates and community members in a year-long national service experience.

The Governor’s Volunteer Service Award, an initiative of the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism, is available to state residents of all ages who have demonstrated their dedication to volunteer service. More information about the award is available at www.gosv.state.md.us.

Situated in the mountains of Allegany County, Frostburg State University is one of the 13 institutions of the University System of Maryland. FSU is a comprehensive, residential regional university and serves as an educational and cultural center for Western Maryland.