Wyoming Volunteer Awarded AARP Driver Safety’s Top Honor

As part of AARP’s National Volunteer Month celebration, Patricia Green of Cheyenne was recently named the recipient of the 2023 Michael Seaton Volunteer of the Year Award for her exceptional contributions last year. Named after the person who oversaw the first safe-driving program for AARP, the Michael Seaton Volunteer of the Year Award is the highest award an AARP Driver Safety Volunteer can receive nationally.

Patricia, who began Volunteering with AARP Driver Safety in 2017, was part of a group dedicated to rebuilding Driver Safety in Wyoming after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2023, she took on the leadership role of District Coordinator, covering Cheyenne and two other counties to improve Driver Safety awareness locally. She successfully fostered a sense of community among fellow Volunteers, emphasizing team building and a positive atmosphere.

“As a direct witness of all the great things Patricia does for her community and fellow volunteers, this is such a well-deserved honor,” said Sam Shumway, AARP Wyoming State Director. “We’re proud and inspired to see that her dedication and great impact in our state has resonated on a national level.”

Patricia's extensive efforts to strengthen relationships with the AARP State Office led to a return of monthly Smart Driver courses held there. She was actively engaged in community outreach efforts, participating in local events and media interviews promoting Driver Safety offerings and volunteer opportunities. She also began an initiative to recruit new host locations.

“I am very honored to have been chosen, and it was very unexpected,” said Patricia, who also found time to instruct Smart Driver courses last year. “I truly enjoy being able to teach and meet what I consider my people. I've been doing this for several years, and it's very heartening to see repeat participants and to meet the new people coming in.”

Patricia's dedication to meet the needs of others is further exemplified by her willingness to travel long distances to lead courses and recruit volunteers in remote locations in Wyoming. She also collaborated with volunteer leaders in Nebraska to lead a course in Gering, Nebraska. According to some of her fellow volunteers, Patricia's “do-what-it-takes” attitude serves as a model for other Driver Safety Volunteers. This is also apparent beyond her role in Driver Safety, when she serves as a Wyoming 2-1-1 responder, connecting those in need with relevant services for help.

Patricia is the first Michael Seaton Volunteer of the Year Award recipient since 2019, after a hiatus caused by the pandemic. To be eligible for this award, a Volunteer must first be a Volunteer of the Month in his or her state, then a State Volunteer of the Year, and finally a Regional Volunteer of the Year. From the regional recipients, a selection committee appointed by AARP Driver Safety staff selects one as the Michael Seaton Volunteer of the Year.

About AARP Driver Safety

First launched in 1979 as the "55 Alive" program, AARP Driver Safety (ADS) helps keep older Americans independent, safe, healthy and confident while on the road. ADS has reached more 20 million people, and counting, through leading educational programs and resources on driving, vehicles and alternative transportation. The flagship AARP Smart Driver course is the nation’s largest classroom and online driver safety course designed especially for drivers 50-plus. More than 3,500 AARP Driver Safety volunteers nationwide help coordinate and instruct in-person and virtual programs. For more information, visit www.aarp.org/drive.