Gaye Davis honored with the Carolyn Newman Community Service Award
by Gretchen Orr
WALSENBURG- Last Saturday’s second annual All School, All Class Reunion was a big success. Over 250 people participated, coming from all over the United States and Colorado to catch up with old friends, dine, dance and visit their hometown of Walsenburg.
The evening included a silent auction, organized by Toni (Garbizo) Wallace, WHS 1965. Proceeds from the auction are awarded to local individuals or organizations for their community service efforts that have positively impacted Walsenburg. This year, the award went to Gaye Davis, grant writer for Huerfano Re-1 School District.
Carolyn Newman, the recipient of last year’s community service award and the person for whom it was named, had this to say about Davis:
“Some people just end up exactly where they are supposed to be, doing what is the perfect job for them.
I am going to tell you about one of those people.
This woman took the right first step. She graduated from a Walsenburg High School.
Secondly she had a college major in recreation and a double minor in English (I approve!) and Science.
Third, she worked in a field that has also benefited her later- in whole sale lumber and hardware including building contractor sales.
Somehow she managed to become recreation director for the Huerfano County Combined Recreation Association. Then, bit by bit, when her abilities were recognized, worked her way into the school system, and for the past eight years she has put her energies into being project coordinator and grant writer for the Walsenburg/Gardner school district. She was up ladders, down into basements, arguing with contractors as first a playground was built, then the building of Peakview School, renovation of John Mall High School, then an addition to Peakview, more renovations… it goes on and on.
When numbers go higher than $1,000 you lose me. But Gaye didn’t stop getting grants when she reached a total of $1000 or even $100,000, and especially not when she reached one million dollars for the schools. Much higher and much higher. She has now brought in over ten million dollars.
You can tell she cares about this community and has the energy to work for it.”
We salute Gaye Davis, recipient of the 2010 Community Service Award from the All Walsenburg All-Class Reunion.
