In the past 25 years, Turlock resident Felica Renshaw has spent over 500,000 hours working in schools within the Turlock Unified School District. Her hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed, as she was named the district’s 2013 Volunteer of the Year.

For 12 years, Renshaw advocated for Turlock students as an elected member of the TUSD Board of Trustees. But she started her volunteer work in the classroom.

“I initially started volunteering for my children’s classroom to get closer and more involved in their academic life,” said Renshaw. “I saw this as an opportunity to bond with them and to also be a part of their educational life.

“Volunteering in the classroom led me to be a part of the PTA which helped me meet outstanding people within the district. If it weren’t for former board member  Mary Jo Mastin, who mentored me and encouraged me to take on bigger roles within the district, I don’t know if I would have done it,” she said.

Renshaw has been a big supporter of music programs in the TUSD. Over the years she’s spent countless hours at all K-12 school functions, while heavily promoting the district’s music program. She's also been a member of the Pitman High School Music Boosters Club.

“I’ve done everything from drive students to sporting events to checking students for lice in the elementary classrooms,” said Renshaw. “But I enjoyed visiting the schools and classrooms and seeing how the teachers created magic with the students.”

As one of the first members of the newly-formed Turlock Education Foundation in  2011, Renshaw has spent many hours in organizational meetings, participating in the Strategic Plan creation, and marketing the foundation to the community. In addition, she has been a member of the district’s Budget Advisory Committee.

During the May 21 TUSD Board meeting, Renshaw was recognized with a plaque honoring her volunteer efforts within the district.

“I would do it all over again, within a heartbeat,” she said.