FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jen Tregarthen (405) 325-0598 jen.tregarthen@ou.edu

Sam Noble Museum Honors Volunteers at Banquet NORMAN In conjunction with National Volunteer Week, the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History will recognize the hard work of its volunteers at its annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on Thursday, April 25, as part of the museums Volunteer Appreciation Week April 22 through 26. During the dinner, which will be held at the Sam Noble Museum, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Don Batchelor will be honored as he receives the Tom Siegenthaler Volunteer of the Year Award. Batchelors interest in single cell organisms led him to volunteer in the Hall of Ancient Life 14 years ago. The Volunteer of the Year Selection Committee, made up of former recipients, selected Batchelor because of his long service and dedication to the public. We have 205 active volunteers working in collections, offices and in the public, said Genevieve Wagner, volunteer coordinator. It is important to acknowledge the members of our volunteer community as each one of them makes a difference to the museum. The volunteer of the year award is part of that acknowledgment. Museum director Michael Mares agrees, stating that volunteers are responsible for setting and maintaining a remarkable standard of excellence in every department of the museum. The Sam Noble Museum would not be able to offer our public anywhere near the quality or quantity of programs that our volunteers make possible, Mares said. They are a most important part of the museum experience, influencing collections, exhibits, public programs, research and every other area of museum activity. Just as volunteers impact the museum, these positions often personally affect the volunteers as well. According to Batchelor, volunteering at the museum is the perfect way to end his global professional and military career. He considers his role as docent to be an integral part of providing guests with long-term exposure to natural history education, which he hopes future generations will use to better their world. I could spend an hour extolling the satisfaction I get at the museum, Batchelor said, and I appreciate the opportunity to use 70 years of experience in the field. ### The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is located on the University of Oklahoma Norman campus at Timberdell Road and Chautauqua Avenue.

General daily admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors 65 and up, and $3 for youth ages 6 to 17. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free. Discounts are available for military personnel and their immediate families. For accommodations on the basis of disability, call (405) 325-4712.