Much of the success of the Pasadena Independent School District is attributed to the contributions of its community. To show appreciation for those contributions, the Pasadena ISD Administration and Board of Trustees nominated Ben Meador of Meador Staffing Services in Pasadena for the 2008 Community Motivator Governor’s Volunteer Awards. LyondellBasell-Houston Refining was nominated for the 2008 Community Connector Governor’s Volunteer Awards, and retired NASA engineer and Pasadena resident Norman Chaffee was nominated for the 2008 Heroes for Children award. All three received certificates and were honored by the board at its regular June meeting.

The Governor’s Volunteer Awards recognize exceptional individuals and organizations committed to creating positive, long-lasting change, and Meador and LyondellBasell have both shown their dedication to student success by creating positive changes and growth within Pasadena ISD.

“Mr. Meador and the employees of LyondellBasell have truly made an impact on the lives of our students,” said Pasadena ISD Superintendent Kirk Lewis. “Whether they are giving of their time or money, they are making daily efforts to see that our students receive the best education and support that is available. We can’t thank them enough, and it is a true honor to recognize them for their invaluable contributions.”

Meador has served as a friend, leader and support system to the Pasadena school district since his graduation from Pasadena High School in 1957. His heart lies at home in Pasadena and within Pasadena schools as can be seen by his strong ethic of service that has created many opportunities for the Pasadena community and its children. His passion for building a strong community is contagious making him a perfect candidate for the Community Motivator award.

“It is an honor to be nominated for the 2008 Community Motivator Governor’s Volunteer Award by Pasadena ISD,” said Meador. “We have enjoyed working with the many leaders and educators in our district to meet the challenge we are faced with today. The quality of education has a tremendous impact on the economic well-being of a community and anything we can do to help improve that quality is a wise investment of our time and resources.”

For more than 10 years, the employees of LyondellBasell-Houston Refining have played a significant role in the Pasadena community and in the lives of Pasadena ISD students and employees. Whether they are taking time to write a monthly Pen Pal letter to a child in need or renovating a city park, LyondellBasell employees focus on projects that create solutions to community problems, promote economic prosperity and enhance the quality of life in their communities.

“LyondellBasell is honored to be nominated for this award,” said the company’s community relations representative Denise Jennings. “LyondellBasell believes giving back to the community is the right thing to do, and we support many educational projects. We value our partnership with Pasadena ISD and look forward to many more years of working together.”

The State Board of Education established the Heroes for Children award program to honor individuals who provide outstanding service and dedication to helping provide Texas children with a meaningful, positive learning experience in school.

Math, science and technology are all areas in which Pasadena ISD is trying to generate student interest and achievement to better prepare students for the needs of the 21^st century. As a retired NASA engineer and a mentor in many of Pasadena ISD’s programs for more than 30 years, Chaffee has met that need by creating unique opportunities for Pasadena students and sharing his knowledge and experiences with them. He has truly helped Pasadena students soar to new heights.

“Our mentors offer priceless support to our students,” Lewis said. “Mr. Chaffee has served as a mentor in this district for more than 30 years bringing his knowledge and experiences from his career at NASA first-hand to our students. He has created many fun learning experiences for our kids that have engaged them and intrigued their interest in the fields of science and technology. We are appreciative of his support and involvement as he is a true hero for our children.”