Latest News RSS Feed

Guillot earns Rogers Community Service Award




As the mother of twins, doing double duty is old hat for Sheila Guillot.
 
So juggling responsibilities at home and overseeing 14 programs at Lamar State College Port Arthur while constantly giving of herself just comes naturally for her.
 
“I am a teacher all the way to my soul,” she says. “I enjoy learning and passing that knowledge on to others. I believe that working in the community empowers individuals in the community.”
 
Guillot, a member of the LSCPA leadership team for 33 years and now the school’s Chair of Business and Industrial Technology, was recognized Thursday when she received the Julie and Ben Rogers Community Service Award in a short ceremony at Lamar University in Beaumont.
 
The Rogers Family set up an endowment in 1979 to annually provide a $1,000 cash award to a member of the Lamar University faculty or staff who made a significant contribution to public service in Southeast Texas. The award was expanded a decade later to recognize four annual winners, one representing each of the four regional campuses carrying the Lamar name.
 
A Port Arthur native, Guillot is treasurer and a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Jefferson County, which mentors Key Clubs at Nederland, Port Neches-Groves and Bob Hope High Schools and raises funds to provide four scholarships each year.
 
In keeping with the Kiwanis motto, “Serving the children of the world – one community at a time,” Guillot has been chairperson for five years for the Kiwanis Club’s Children’s Christmas Party. The party provides for underserved elementary school children who otherwise might not receive gifts for Christmas.
 
“Sheila really cares about the community and is very deserving of this award,” said David Prioux, Jr., Kiwanis Club president. “She has donated her time, despite her extremely busy schedule, just to help the youth of our community.
 
“She also is a loving wife, mother and grandmother.”
 
Guillot is involved in two Bible Study groups in her church, First Baptist Nederland, where she has been a pre-school teacher and Vacation Bible School leader.
 
She’s a board member of a Christian community service organization named Scrap Zone, and teaches scrapbooking.
 
Scrap Zone is a women’s ministry open to women of all denominations that provides a safe place for women to meet and be creative.
 
As an associate member of the Medical Center Volunteers in Port Arthur, she has taught the volunteers how to use the Internet as well as how to use Microsoft Word and Excel to better run their organization.
 
Guillot chairs the Career and Technical Advisory Committees at both Nederland and Port Neches-Groves High Schools.
 
Her work with schools began when she served as home room mother for two separate classes in the same grade at the same time, thanks to twins Garrett and Maggie. She was a PTA member for 10 years and received the Texas PTA Lifetime Award.
 
She was a Cub Scout den leader for five years for Pack 232 in Nederland and committee member for Troop 232 for four years. She served as Pinewood Derby chairman and Day Camp leader.
 
Guillot was also a Girl Scout Troop leader for 12 years. Besides leadership, citizenship, outdoor skills and emergency preparation, she taught financial literacy to the boys and girls she worked with in Scouting.
 
“Mrs. Guillot has served unselfishly,” Carolyn Newsom, director of Scrap Zone, said. “She has given time, energy and personal strength to our members, regardless of how tired or busy she is.
 
“Her ability, service, and character are truly outstanding.”
 
Guillot joins 23 other LSCPA winners of the Rogers Community Service Award. In chronological order of recognition, they are:
 
Marie Snider, Tom Neal, Dr. Charles Gongre, Bill Worsham, Dr. Beverly Parker, Peter Kaatrude, Jimmet Lawrence, Dr. Jeffrey L. Haven, Mavis Triebel, Dr. Janis Hutchins and Terry Jackson.
 
Also, Linda Tait, Conrad Cooper, Dr. Barbara Huval, Dr. Laura Stafford, Janet R. Hamilton, Mary Wickland, Andrea Rodriguez, Cindy Guidry, Amanda Smith, Adriane Champagne, Scott Smith and Diana Crutchfield.