The Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service presents the Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards. These awards recognize individual volunteers through an award program, to highlight the importance of volunteerism and community service in the State of Illinois.
Each of the project categories will have a winner selected in the Commission’s five Service Regions: Northeast, Northwest, East Central, West Central, and Southern Illinois. There are 30 awards possible throughout the State. A panel of judges comprised of Governor-appointed Commissioners will select the recipients on Wednesday, September 16, 2020.
Dan Portz, President of River Bend District #2 School Board was recently selected as a nominee for the Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards offered by the Serve Illinois Commission. His service involved the Fulton High School Robotics Program.
Portz had a vision four years ago to bring FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), a competitive robotics program, to students in the River Bend School District. While mentoring and coaching with other parents and River Bend staff through the years, he guided teams to design and build robots; raise funds; design and market their team brand (The Gear Grinders); participate in community outreach projects to earn specific awards.
His vision has fostered more robotics programs and classes in the District, which have impacted hundreds of students at all age levels.
Portz chaperoned field trips to area businesses, colleges, and the Field Museum in Chicago, IL, for students to find a connection between their education and careers. His involvement has mobilized the team to compete at the State level the past two years.
Dan Portz’s drive also brought the first robotics competition last year to Fulton High School, Fulton, IL.