Barbara Cornett Named Clay County Volunteer of the Year

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. -- Clay County Commissioners honored Barbara Cornett Tuesday as the Clay County Volunteer of the Year during the Clay County Board of County Commissioners meeting. Commissioners also recognized eight outstanding nominees for their dedication to the county.

Cornett, a devoted educator and passionate advocate for the arts, dedicates her time to nurturing young artists from across Clay County. Her contributions include teaching budding artists at the Augusta Savage Arts and Community Center, teaching classes at the Green Cove Springs Library, and curating exhibition showcases. Overall, she's spent more than 100 hours volunteering her time to help others in Clay County.

Cornett's dedicated time to children of all ages and all backgrounds curated not only unique pieces of art created by Clay County's youngest residents, but it fostered an avenue for expression. Her nominators said her students came from all backgrounds, and some had never experienced a formal art class or been allowed to freely express themselves. Cornett empowered students to use their creative discoveries without limitation or judgment and feel at home while doing so.

In addition to her classroom instruction, Cornett curated student exhibitions in public places, including the Clay County Courthouse, and at community events like the CalaVida Festival. Her work provided countless children with their first opportunities to see their art celebrated in public spaces.

The Clay County Board of County Commissioners is proud to recognize Cornett's selfless dedication and lasting contributions to the cultural and educational growth of the community.

Volunteers in Clay County:

In 2024, 2,817 people volunteered 23,385 hours of their time throughout the county. That equates to $743,643.

These volunteers work in areas like the County's animal shelter, Parks and Recreation, libraries, community cleanups, at nonprofits, and much more that directly make an impact on the county's communities.

Commissioners appreciate the work that each and every one of them does for the county, and they also want to recognize their friends, family, county departments, and nonprofits who took the time to nominate them.

If you'd like to get involved, there are many opportunities available! Find out more on our website: https://volunteer.claycountygov.com/need/.