The Volunteer USI Advisory Council named Carolyn Ruminer Volunteer of the Year at the 2010 Volunteer Recognition Dinner on Sept. 22.
Ruminer has devoted over 1000 hours to USI Athletics.
“I have done just about anything and everything they have done,” Ruminer said.
She has volunteered with the USI Varsity Club Golf Scramble, the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival booth, the Outback luncheon, and the Steak Fry.
During Ruminer’s speech, and even a few days later, thoughts of her service brought tears to her eyes. She has spent the last several years in service to USI. She taught at Tekopple School for 17 years, and had many USI student-teachers working with her.
“They kept me bouncing and going,” Ruminer said.
Ruminer enjoys volunteering because she loves working with other people who are giving their time to gain scholarship money for USI athletes.
It all began when Ruminer and her husband, Ron, moved into their house two doors down from Betty and (former USI President) David Rice, before the president’s residence was built on campus. The Ruminers moved so close to campus they decided that they were going to devote time to USI.
Ruminer said that she owes everything, including the ability to volunteer, to her husband. Ruminer’s husband is a runner and is friends with Mike Hillyard, USI’s cross country and track coach. Ruminer said that she devotes her time to USI, and her husband devotes a lot of time to running.
Every year, Ruminer looks forward to Halloween when the cross country team runs to her house and she gives them candy.
“One year, they came, and we could hear them when they were leaving campus,” she said.
Ruminer said that she and her husband have had from 25 to around 40 cross country team members at their house for Halloween.
On Monday, Ruminer’s day was a typical fall day during the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival. She started the day at the grocery store, then at the booth at the Fall Festival, and then went to a meeting for the Southwest Indiana Master Gardeners Association. After that, she spent the afternoon working with the Master Gardeners.
