Star’s own Jean Schurman named Volunteer of the Year

Longtime Bitterroot Star employee Jean Schurman has been selected as Volunteer of the Year by the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce. Jean’s face is ubiquitous around the valley as she performs her duties as sports editor and advertising consultant for the Star, but also in the many groups and committees she serves on in her volunteer capacity.
Born and raised in Victor, Jean attended Montana State University and graduated with a degree in animal science. She continues to put that knowledge and training to work as reporting for the Bitterroot Star. It gives her a leg up on the average reporter covering things like the Darby Bull-o-Rama. It also gives her a leg up in a lot of her volunteer work which often has to do with animal-related activities.
Schurman’s volunteer spirit showed itself at an early age. She remembers when she was in the 7th grade and volunteered along with some other Victor 4H students to help out at Trapper Creek Job Corps.
“I was so shy it was difficult,” said Schurman, “but I did it.”
Once bitten by the volunteer bug, she jumped into 4H, an organization that nurtures the volunteer spirit, and remained a member for 10 years. She went on to serve as a leader for another 20 years. During that time she served on the 4H Council and the Horse Project committee.
Schurman also volunteered a lot at Victor school. She volunteered to chair the school’s building committee for several years, sticking it out until the elementary building was funded and built. She’s also been a member of the Victor Schools Foundation for about 16 years and helped with the fundraising for the Mary Stuart Rogers auditorium.
Since working at the Bitterroot Star her volunteerism has spread far beyond her hometown of Victor.
She has chaired the Promotion committee of the Stevensville Main Street Association for several years, and helps with organizing Western Heritage Days, the Scarecrow Festival and many a First Friday celebration.
She has helped the Hamilton Downtown Association with their First Fridays and served on the Christmas committee.
She worked for a few years as support for some of the events involved in the Sprinkle Pink campaign and now serves as Chair of the Sprinkle Pink Turn & Burn Barrel Race. Last year 55 barrel racers from all over the state competed in the event, raising thousands of dollars for Marcus Daly Hospital’s free mammogram program.
Schurman has been a member of the Ravalli County Fair’s Rodeo Committee for five years and helps organize and support the fair each fall. She also helped out with the Cowboy Ball which is a fundraiser for the rodeo arena.
Although not a member of Kiwanis, she helps with the All Valley All Star Basketball event sponsored by that organization.
Last but not least, she has also been a volunteer for the Chamber, serving on the Brewfest committee for 6 or 7 years. She belongs to the Leads committee for business networking and is also a graduate of the Leadership Bitterroot program.
“I think they still talk about our legendary group,” said Schurman.
As for being the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award, Schurman said, “I’m just overwhelmed, actually. It’s just amazing.”
She said that she could not be doing all this without the support of her family which includes her daughter Erin and her husband John Rosenkrance and grandkids Roan and EllaBay. and her son Zack and his wife Crystal and grandkids Kyle and Zoey. She said support from her employers Michael and Victoria Howell at the Bitterroot Star was also crucial to her volunteer efforts.
“We are just so proud of Jean,” said Victoria Howell, Bitterroot Star co-publisher. “She does so many great things for the valley and the people here. It’s obvious that she really loves this place and wants to contribute positively to the quality of life here. She’s sure doing a great job!”
Schurman will be honored along with this year’s other award recipients at the annual Chamber banquet this Saturday, April 4 at the Bitterroot River Inn. For reservations call the Chamber office at 363-2400.