This month, Tualatin will observe National Volunteer Appreciation Week, April 19 – 25 by celebrating the 1,500 individuals, families, and groups who contributed 14,500 hours to make Tualatin a kinder, more connected community.
Tualatin’s volunteers planted trees to improve air quality and protect local trails, picked up litter along its streets and roads, and removed invasive species from restoration sites. Members of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) support safety initiatives and volunteers from the Tualatin Historical Society preserve the city’s heritage.
In the Tualatin Public Library, Homework Helper volunteers extended services directly to students at Bridgeport Elementary. Library volunteers also supported programs such as Storytime and Makerspace, while Notary Services and Tech Tutor volunteers provided essential services to community members.
Volunteers at the Juanita Pohl Center contributed 2100 hours of meal service and led recreational activities to enrich the lives of seniors in the community, while volunteers who served on Tualatin’s advisory boards and committees elevated the voices of our citizenry.
We’re also grateful to the 650 volunteers who bring the magic to community events like Blender Dash, Viva Tualatin, and the internationally celebrated Pumpkin Regatta.
On April 13, Mayor Bubenik and City Council members will recognize and celebrate Tualatin’s Outstanding Volunteers of 2025. These volunteers, nominated each year by City Staff, are celebrated for their commitment to service that addresses critical needs, strengthens the City, makes significant improvements in the community and solves problems.
The City of Tualatin extends a heartfelt thanks to every volunteer and is pleased to honor the following contributors for their exceptional service in 2025.
Outstanding Adult Volunteer: Rachel Elliot
A Tualatin resident of more than 20 years, Rachel has long been connected to her community—often quite literally—through her daily walks along local roads and trails. She began her volunteer service picking up litter along the Greenway Trail before turning her energy and talents to supporting the Tualatin Public Library. Nearly five years ago, Rachel joined the Friends of the Tualatin Public Library, a nonprofit dedicated to fundraising and advocacy for the library, and has steadily deepened her involvement. She now also serves on the Library Advisory Committee and has contributed nearly 175 volunteer hours. Over the past year, Rachel stepped into a co-chair role with the team that stocks items for library sales—an opportunity she embraced and grew into, developing strong leadership skills while taking on increased responsibility. A dedicated and reliable volunteer, Rachel has become an essential member of the Friends, bringing commitment, knowledge, and a genuine passion for supporting the library and the community it serves.
Outstanding Youth Volunteers: Nestor Carmona-Sanchez and Cosimah Slider
Nestor Carmona-Sanchez contributed 140 hours in 2025, but what’s most impressive about Nestor is his genuine love of helping others. Nestor has helped with decorations and publicity for Viva Tualatin, folded t-shirts for Pumpkin Regatta volunteers and supported many Storytimes in Tualatin’s Parks.
“I’m so impressed with Nestor,” reports Library Director Jerianne Thompson, “At every library advisory committee meeting, Nestor consistently showed up, stepped up, and spoke up. He has a friendly, easygoing demeanor, and he was well-liked by his committee cohorts. We all appreciated the perspectives he brought to the group, and his confidence in speaking up. He was only able to serve one term on the library committee, because he made the right decision to focus on other priorities in his over-committed schedule. He is consistently helpful and brings humor to fellow teens and library staff regularly when he volunteers at the library.”
Since starting her volunteer service in 2023, Cosimah Slider has been a positive force in our community. Cosi’s most notable features are her whirlwind energy and determination to make things better for youth in Tualatin. A hard worker and a team player, Cosi contributed over 90 hours in 2025.
Most of these hours were spent as a student representative on multiple committees. Cosi does her homework and has advocated clearly and passionately for Tualatin’s youth on the I.D.E.A. Committee, the Teen Library Committee, and the Tualatin Parks Advisory Committee.
According to Library Director Jerianne Thompson, “Cosi is an amazing young woman, and I look forward to voting for her to elected office someday. As an advisory committee member, Cosi was engaged, bringing informed perspectives and insightful questions. As a City volunteer, Cosi brings enthusiasm to every role she steps into — helping with a library program or at the Pumpkin Regatta, speaking at City Council, or pitching in with the Teen Library Committee.”
Outstanding Volunteer Group: Teen Library Committee
The Teen Library Committee (TLC) was created to meet a critical need in the City of Tualatin: ensuring that teens have a meaningful voice in shaping the programs and activities designed for them at the library. Under the leadership of Teen Services Librarian Aimee Meuchel, the committee brings teens together to collaborate, brainstorm, and problem-solve in an environment where their ideas are valued.
By empowering youth to take an active role in program development, TLC fosters creativity, confidence, and a stronger connection between teens and their library. In 2025, TLC members not only contributed their ideas but also developed important leadership skills through hands-on experience. TLC members learned how to manage responsibilities and think critically about community needs. Their efforts led to a noticeable increase in teen participation at library events, demonstrating the success of programs designed by teens, for teens.
They balance their own interests with those of their peers, ensuring that events are inclusive and appealing to a wide audience. TLC also promotes events through their schools and social networks, expanding the library’s reach in authentic and effective ways. Collectively contributing over 200 hours of service, these dedicated volunteers have helped make library programs more welcoming and engaging.
Librarian Aimee Meuchel says, “Working with TLC is one of my greatest joys because of their enthusiasm, creativity, investment in our community, and hard work. They are our future, and I’m excited to see the differences they make in their communities.”
Join us in celebrating these outstanding individuals, whose service cultivates kindness in our community.
For More information on Tualatin volunteer opportunities, visit www.tualatinoregon.gov/volunteer.
