A trio of Polk County residents has been chosen as recipients of the 2023 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award.

Sofia Lilly, Don Dicey and Dr. Warren J. Carson are among a handful of state residents chosen for the award, created in the Office of the Governor in 1979 to honor those who have shown concern and compassion for their neighbors by making a significant contribution to their community through volunteer service. Dr. Carson also received the Governor’s Medallion Award for volunteerism.

The trio appeared at the June 5 meeting of the Polk County Board of Commissioners along with those who nominated them – Cathey Stoney (Lilly), Pam Torlina (Dicey) and Dr. Joseph Fox (Carson). Ronette Dill, who served as county coordinator for the awards, also spoke about each winner.

Sofia Lilly
Lilly has spent years making a difference in Polk County, connecting youth to service, devoting time and energy to a greater cause and working to preserve our rural way of life. She established the Young Farmers and Ranchers program that offers a mentorship and apprenticeship program for local youth to inspire students and young farmers to consider farming as a lifelong career. Lilly volunteers in Polk County’s elementary schools to read the Ag in the Classroom Book of the Year, has hosted a Blood Connection blood drive, teaches farm safety to county fifth graders on Ag Awareness Day at PCHS Farm, hosts field trips to her family farm, organized a food drive for Outreach that raised more than $2,100 and helps her father deliver Meals on Wheels, where this past summer she added fresh flowers from her farm for each of the meal recipients.

Don Dicey
Dicey has been volunteering with Conserving Carolina for more than eight years.  He has shown exceptional commitment to environmental stewardship by regularly attending the Conservancy’s weekly “Kudzu Warrior” workdays.  He helps to manage kudzu and other non-native and invasive plants on a 185-acre nature preserve that is open to the public for hiking and outdoor recreation. Dicey is passionate and positive about restoring native habitat and his service has significantly impacted and expanded the efforts of Conserving Carolina to fulfill their mission to protect, restore and inspire appreciation of the natural world.

Dr. Warren J. Carson
Dr. Carson has been a steadfast community leader and volunteer in Polk County for more than 30y years.  To honor his dedication, he was chosen to receive the Governor’s Medallion Award for volunteerism.  Dr. Carson was recognized in a special ceremony in Raleigh on May 8.  He received this award for his lifetime commitment to the well-being of low-wealth citizens and communities of Polk County.  

Dr. Carson has served as President of Roseland Community Center for nearly 30 years.  Much of his work continues to focus on the African-American Eastside Community to ensure equity for youth, adults and seniors in Tryon and Polk County.  Dr. Carson has also served as a volunteer for many community organizations such as Polk County Schools, Tryon Elementary PTA, Isothermal Community College Board of Trustees and Foundation Board, Polk County Library Board of Trustees and Strategic Planning Committee, St Luke’s Board of Trustees, Thermal Belt Outreach Board of Directors, Polk County Department of Social Services Board of Directors, Tryon Fine Arts Center Board of Directors, Polk County Child Protection Team and Child Fatality Board, Polk County Council on Aging Advisory Board and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.