Sean Armbruster, a Video Production Technology student at Pellissippi State Technical Community College, has been selected as a Governor’s Volunteer Star of the Year. Armbruster was recognized by Gov. Phil Bredesen at the first Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards ceremony Oct. 27.
The award honors individuals, who are nominated by fellow county residents or the county mayor, for their volunteer work in the community. Each county is allowed to select one youth and one adult volunteer.
Armbruster was selected for his ongoing volunteer work with the Knoxville Zoo, John XXIII Catholic Center on the University of Tennessee campus and the Youth Action Council. He has volunteered at the zoo since he was 16 years old, helping with special events such as Zoo Camps and Boo at the Zoo.
He also has worked the sound system for the John XXIII Catholic Church since February 2007. That’s where all the student time he’s spent in the video production lab at Pellissippi State’s state—of—the—art Bagwell Center for Media and Art comes in handy.
“I’m the sound guy,” he said. “I record things and put them on line. Sometimes students are gone on vacation and want to hear a sermon when they get back.”
The Youth Action Council is a “very fun thing” Armbruster said. “It’s a student government kind of thing where you are involved with local government. The whole goal is to have representatives from every high school.”
“I was the representative for the entire north side. I talked with Mike Ragsdale, Bill Haslam and ‘Tank’ Strickland. We were able to go to city—county meetings and sit in on all those.”
Armbruster is a 2007 graduate of Halls High School.