LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- USA Luge's Jayson Terdiman (Berwick, Pa.) travels the globe every winter competing in international luge races, while his mother, Kathryn, stays behind the scenes supporting his goal of someday competing in the Olympic Winter Games. However, it turns out that she not only supports her son's dream, but the dreams of many other sliders, who also hope to be Olympians someday, as a chaperone and race official for the past six years. Her efforts were recognized, Thursday, March 6, when she was named the co-recipient of the Sam Venezia Volunteer Spirit Award.
Kathryn Terdiman joins Larry Page (Muskegon, Mich.) as a 2008 co-recipient of the annual award, which was established in 1996 following the passing of Sam Venezia, and honors his memory by recognizing outstanding USA Luge volunteers. This year marked only the third time in which two volunteers were recognized in the same year. In 2002, the entire group of Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games luge racing officials received the award.
"I love working with the kids from the development team all the way up [the team structure], seeing the expressions on their faces when they have a good run, and watching them achieve their goals" remarked Kathryn Terdiman upon receiving the award. "It's a lot of fun and it's just one way of giving back."
Over the past six years, Kathryn Terdiman has donated a minimum of two weeks each year, and at times as many as six weeks each year, chaperoning and officiating several U.S. junior luge programs and races in Lake Placid, N.Y. In addition, she also helps coordinate the transportation of 50-plus athletes to and from the Olympic Training Center to the Olympic Sports Complex, on Mt. Van Hoevenberg, during junior and youth national championship races. She's also active in arranging study hall time and recreational activities while the athletes are training in Lake Placid.
"She goes above what is considered a normal role for a chaperone," said Peter Motta, USA Luge's junior national team coach, who nominated Kathryn for the award. "She's indispensable and she's the best kind of volunteer in that besides being selfless with her time and energy, she's also extremely valuable and effective."
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