The Phillips 66 Outstanding Service Award is presented annually to a volunteer in Midwestern Swimming in recognition of service to the great sport of swimming.
The award recipient shall be selected by the MW Outstanding Service Award Committee.

(a) Committee shall be the General Chair; (1) Board Member; (1) House of Delegates Representative; (1) Official; (1) Parent Volunteer who is not an Official or member of the Board/HOD; and (2) Athletes.  
(b) The committee shall be appointed by the General Chair with advice and consent of the Board of Directors by July 1 of the current award year.

Nominations can be submitted annually from August 20 through September 15 to the General Chair.

(a) Selection criteria shall consider quality, level, and years of volunteer service in elected or appointed positions in nominee’s club or LSC, from among the categories of administrator, official, and coach.

The award winner will be announced at the MWS Fall House of Delegates Meeting and Annual Banquet in the Fall.

Mark Hilger worked tirelessly, mostly behind the scenes, at all levels of swimming competition from the moment his daughter joined a swim team. He began as a Swim Dad in Omaha’s Summer League program and quickly grasped the importance of the volunteerism necessary to the smooth functioning of the sport. Mark never sought attention, recognition or payment and he once mentioned that ‘those things are a distraction’. He understood how all components - including officials, timing systems, computers, hardware, meet management, deadlines and PEOPLE - must function as one for the sake of the sport. He became an official, did meet entries (starting when they were still done by hand), became the registration chair for two clubs, and became proficient at tracking down meet information, best times, birth certificates, and anything else that needed tracking! He immersed himself in all aspects of the sport – truly a Swiss Army Knife to the sport! Mark was instrumental to keeping all things swimming running smoothly and efficiently. His attention to detail played a HUGE role in Summer League, High School, and Midwestern Swimming. He demanded accuracy and efficiency. Whether it was the NSAA, the local press, or even the Midwestern Swimming Office, Mark was quick with a correction or detail that might impact the story or the outcome.

Mark left us last February due to an unexpected cardiac arrest. He will be remembered as the student who became the teacher and a model of an authentic, knowledgeable, and genuine VOLUNTEER! Mark is truly missed by so many in Midwestern Swimming!

Charles Patterson was a lanky, tall youth with a Speedo! Charles joined the Navy and honed his craft as a radioman. He was a graduate of Bemidji State in Minnesota. Swimming was a part of his life and he met his wife at a master’s swim practice. His daytime jobs included bank examiner and postal worker, but his love of the outdoors and swimming always played a role in his life. His officiating career began much as every other official – having children who swam or having been a swimmer himself. Charles began swimming in the 60s at the Y in Sioux City and his parents set the example by volunteering many hours for club and meets. Charles began officiating in the South Dakota LSC in 2005. When he moved to Sioux City in 2010 he began officiating for Midwestern as well as South Dakota. If he was available, he was always willing to work a swim meet, whether a club meet, an LSC meet, or even a High School meet. His years of travel and cheerful, helpful and dedicated presence were so appreciated by many swim families on pool decks across the Midwest.

Sadly, Charles passed away in July due to advanced pancreatic and liver cancers. He will stand out as a truly dedicated volunteer, giving of his time and talent to the sport he loved!

Like most, Steve became involved with competitive swimming as a result of his children’s participation.  And, like many, has continued to volunteer long after his children have graduated from age group swimming.

Steve registered as an official in 2000 with the Omaha Suburban Aquatic Club (OSAC).  Beginning in the Fall of 2001, he spent 17 years as an official associated with the Metropolitan Omaha Swim Team (MOST).  Steve also served a number of years on MOST’s Board of Directors.  Currently, he is affiliated with the iNspire Swim Team. Steve was on Midwestern Swimming’s Officials committee for six years before he termed out last year.   

Last Spring Steve was elected as Officials Chair and and now serves on Midwestern Swimming’s Board of Directors in that capacity. He officiates at numerous local, regional and national meets each year including Zone, Sectionals, Pro Series, Futures, Junior and Senior Nationals. 

Like most volunteers, Scot Sorensen became involved with competitive swimming as a result of his children’s participation in the sport. And like many others, Scot has continued to volunteer long after his children have graduated from age group swimming. Not content to sit in the bleachers, Scot became a USA Swimming Official in 1999 and continued to officiate until 2014. He has served on the Midwestern Board of Directors in several capacities including Delegate at Large (2000-2002), General Chair (2002-2003), Officials’ Chair (2007-2011), and Registration Chair (2011-Present).

As a volunteer Registration Chair, Scot oversees the registration of MW’s group, athlete, and individual members. This is not an easy job considering the additional continuing education and training requirements for coaches, officials and non-athlete members that must all be tracked. Scot’s attention to detail and the conscientious manner in which he approaches his role maintains the integrity of Midwestern Swimming on and off the deck. Scot receives no compensation but continues to volunteer.

Scot has been among the most visible proponents of Midwestern Swimming and leads by being among the finest examples of true professionalism and volunteerism. He is a wise counselor and a standard bearer of integrity and civility. He leads on and off the pool deck, locally, regionally and nationally. Scot truly exemplifies what it means to be a volunteer and to give to a sport that he truly supports.

The 2017 Outstanding Service Award-Midwestern Swimming is awarded to Elizabeth (Betsy) Purcell.

Betsy, like most swimming volunteers, began volunteering when her children began swimming and first registered as an official in 1997. She has continued to volunteer long after her children have graduated from age group swimming.

Betsy's accomplishments and certifications include Meet Referee, Stroke and Turn N3, Chief Judge N3, Starter N3, Deck Referee N3, and Administrative Referee N3. She has been a model and inspiration to many as an outstanding professional, mentor, teacher, colleague, and leader. For the last two decades she has been among the most visible proponents of officiating in MW. She leads by being among the finest examples of true professionalism, inspiring both seasoned officials and new officials. She seeks to recruit new officials, schedules and facilitates numerous officiating workshops both in person and online, visits clubs to stimulate their programs, and works countless meets in any capacity needed. She has served on the MW Board of Directors for the past two years as Officials Chair and will continue in that capacity through 2019.

Betsy is a wise counselor, a standard bearer of integrity and civility, and is highly respected. She has demonstrated these skills on and off the pool deck, locally, regionally, and nationally. She continues to serve as the next generation of the Purcell family joins the ranks of the MW swimming family! MW is truly grateful for the outstanding service and continued commitment of Betsy Purcell!

The 2016 Outstanding Service Award-Midwestern Swimming is awarded to Marvin and Jeannette Fast, Hastings YMCA Aquatic Club.

Marvin and Jeannette Fast have been volunteering for 20 years within the Midwestern LSC. Marvin started in 1996 when his oldest daughter began swimming with HYAC, and he literally jumped right in fixing lane lines. He began obtaining certifications, one by one – stroke and turn, starter, and referee. He has done just about every job on the deck but he has the most fun when starting.

Jeannette began working meets when she could bring the youngest who would sleep on blankets behind the scoring table. She is currently a stroke and turn judge as well as an administrative official and is also adept at operating the timing consol.

Marvin has been HYAC Club president and Meet Director along with Jeanette for more meets than either wish to count. They have hauled, set up and taken down timing equipment for many meets in the central and western Nebraska areas and helped run meets for other clubs besides the HYAC meets. Marvin has been available to work as much as possible despite sometimes being up all night to load a train with grain the night before a meet. He has served as referee or an official for more meets than he wants to count and Jeannette has been right there on the deck too. Meets include HYAC-hosted meets, High School meets, Central Nebraska Swim League meets,  Platte Valley League meets, YMCA League meets, Midwestern and other club meets when their daughters were in attendance. Marvin has also served on the Midwestern Officials Committee and the Midwestern House of Delegates. Jeannette is a three-time volunteer for the Olympic Trials in Omaha working in the Administration/Time Trials area.

Both have mentored many young officials and guided young and new parents toward volunteering for the sport they both love and have fun being involved with. What started as a way to spend time with their daughters  turned into a way of life for the last 20 years.

The youngest daughter has now graduated from high school and Marvin says he will still ‘help out’ when needed and Jeannette will probably be there too! Marvin and Jeannette are what volunteerism is all about – serving unselfishly with passion in any and every area where there is a need!

Alan R Johnson - 2002 - 2015

The 2015 Outstanding Service Award-Midwestern Swimming is awarded posthumously to Alan Johnson, Metro Omaha Swim Team

Alan began as a volunteer in Midwestern Swimming when his children joined the Metro Omaha Swim Team (MOST) in 2002. He continued to find many areas to serve both MOST and also the LSC and remained an active volunteer even when his children were no longer involved in club swimming after high school. Alan became an official in 2004, a member of the MOST Board of Directors in 2005 and began serving as the team business administrator in 2006, a position which he held for nine years. He also served as president of the MOST Board of Directors from 2010-2011. Alan not only spent countless hours working meet management for meets hosted by MOST, he also helped out at other clubs and local high school meets. He was the Midwestern Swimming assistant registrar for five years and in this role assisted with registrations, meet reconciliations and was backup staff for the MW Office. Alan was also a club representative to the Midwestern Swimming House of Delegates for many years. During the 2008 and 2012 Swimming Olympic Trials held in Omaha, Alan was a member of the Local Organizing Committee. For the 2008 Trials he managed the volunteer database receiving all the emails from Trials volunteers prior to the start of the Trials. During both Trials he was on-site each day and was instrumental in managing the Volunteer Services area. Alan was a dedicated volunteer in every position he held and was a strong advocate for all swimmers at all levels.  His service and commitment to our swimming community will truly be missed.