The Larson Leadership Award was created in 2022 in memory of David Larson, founder of the Larson Family Foundation. The foundation has been a critical partner in building up the VOBS Endowment, which provides over $300,000 annually to increase students' access to VOBS courses. This peer-nominated award recognizes VOBS staff for their outstanding leadership, exemplifying qualities such as passion for their work, determination, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to VOBS' mission of changing lives through compassion, challenge, and discovery.
Our recipients were chosen from a strong pool of nominees, and it was inspiring to hear from so many how each candidate has contributed to our shared mission. After careful consideration of the award's defining qualities, we are thrilled to announce Catie Morris and Tessa Olson as the well-deserved recipients of the Larson Award! Join us in celebrating the remarkable contributions of both Catie and Tessa to the VOBS mission and our staff community!
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Here's a sampling of what we heard about Catie during the nomination process:
- Catie is one of those sneaky people always working behind the scenes to make sure that students and staff have amazing experiences at VOBS.
- Master of the invisible (but essential work): planning, communicating and coordinating.
- Catie makes the Twin Cities Program run – she puts all the pieces together to change the lives of our students for the better and helps staff build their skills and confidence along the way.
- Catie is the real deal: thoughtful, committed and quietly powerful
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Here's a sampling of what we heard about Tessa during the nomination process:
- Tessa combines passion, patience and a love for doing the right thing, not the easy thing AND inspires the rest of us to do the same.
- She creates space for learning and growing together that is always thoughtful, never one sided and genuinely assumes the best of everyone.
- She questions our assumptions and structures and is always working to improve how we deliver our mission and serve students.
- Tessa steps up! Over and over, again and again, always with the goal of providing great experiences for students and staff.
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