Cathy Berse

Cathy Berse has been volunteering for 12 years at New Smyrna Beach Middle School as a mentor and an artist. Her efforts have changed the lives of students she has mentored and offered unique art enrichment opportunities for hundreds of students.

Through Cathy's ideas and talents, New Smyrna Beach Middle School students created three murals, one for Environmental Awareness, one to bring a new science textbook study to visual form and the Centennial of Flight mural for Aviation Day.

Cathy developed a new program partnering the school and the Atlantic Center for the Arts to bring art appreciation to art classes. Cathy recruited local artists to help students study art history and create works of their own. Cathy's work has created valuable partnerships for the school and opened doors for enrichment opportunities for the students.

Cathy Berse was nominated by New Smyrna Beach Middle School for the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year awards presented by the United Way's Volunteer Center of Volusia-Flagler Counties, FL, and Bright House Networks. Because of her work with the students at New Smyrna Beach Middle School, Cathy was chosen as the winner in the Education Category.