Volunteers earn congressional recognition

Dick Benoit

Thursday, March 28, 2002 | 8:25 a.m.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., honored two young Nevada women for their initiative and achievement during ceremonies at Nellis Air Force Base Wednesday.

Berkley presented Senior Airman Kelly Sheets and Community College of Southern Nevada freshman Sarah Hardy with medals signifying excellence in personal development and public service activities. Berkley joined base officials and members of the Las Vegas Boys and Girls Club in honoring the two community volunteers.

"I'm proud of you as if you were my own daughters," Berkley said during the ceremony. "When people talk about our youth and what has happened, they need to look at these two."

Sheets, an executive support specialist at the Air Warfare Center headquarters, received bronze and silver medals for her efforts. She volunteered for a variety of community activities on the base, such as the Air Force talent show and an annual base ceremony honoring former prisoners of war and those missing in action.

She also volunteered for Big Brothers and Sisters of Southern Nevada and other community service projects.

Sheets is an avid runner and weightlifter and has achieved her personal fitness goals in both. She also is enrolled in a communications degree program at UNLV for professional development.

Hardy, daughter of retired Marine officer John and Diana Hardy of Las Vegas, was presented with a bronze medal. She volunteered more than 110 hours at Henderson's Delmar Gardens Adult Center. She also worked with the Salvation Army and participated in fund raising for local residents who lost jobs following Sept. 11.

Hardy is a musician and plays both violin and piano for personal development, performing regularly for senior groups. For fitness she practices a Pilates flexibility regimen and enjoys camping and hiking.

"They earned, didn't win, these medals," Carol Padilla, director of the Nellis Boys and Girls Club, said.

The Congressional Awards program honors young people ages 14 through 23 for accomplishing personal goals in voluntary service and personal development. The Nellis Boys and Girls Club actively promotes participation in the program to youth and young adults in the Air Force and military community of Las Vegas.

Teaming with Thunderbirds

Susan Mucha of Las Vegas must have felt some extra pride as the Air Force Thunderbirds recently showcased their 2002 show for families and friends at the base. Staff Sgt. Jason Cooper, newly assigned to the team, is her son.

Cooper was previously assigned to Hill Air Force Base in Utah. He is a crew chief and is presently working in the phase inspection section for the Thunderbirds.

The Thunderbird squadron has eight pilots, four support officers, three civilians and more than 130 enlisted service members performing in 25 career fields. The squadron performs about 88 air shows each year.

The official season began Saturday with performances at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix. The squadron is scheduled to perform in Las Vegas again on Oct. 5 and 6 at the Nellis open house and airshow.

In brief

During the six weeks of training, the five new airmen studied the Air Force mission, organization, and customs; performed drill and ceremony marches; and received physical training and earned credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force.