A Surrey school teacher and a Surrey school volunteer are among the 45 British Columbians receiving a BC Community Achievement Award.

Jeff Vaughan, a physical education teacher at Sullivan Heights and Suneet Maan, a very active Surrey school volunteer organizer, were selected by the award's independent advisory council for their community contributions.

Vaughan is an inspiration to students, teachers and his community through his many contributions. He organizes shore cleanups, tree planting programs and Right to Play fundraisers. He also volunteers as a hockey coach, hosts wheelchair soccer and contributes to Special Olympics basketball.

Glenn Young with Surrey school district's Curriculum and Instructional services centre notes that Vaughan's "open-mindedness coupled with his vision of how issues fit into the big picture allow him to become a valuable educational leader."

In receiving the award, Jeff is recognized as "a gifted teacher and natural leader".

Maan was recognized for her enthusiastic eight years of volunteering for the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Surrey schools. Through the Hoops4Heart and Jump Rope4Heart fundraising campaigns in school, she was instrumental in raising $11,000 in 2009.

The British Columbia Achievement Foundation was launched to showcase the best of our province, inspire our young people and celebrate BC's great achievers. It is an independent foundation, established with an initial endowment of $6 million from the province.

Visit www.bcachievement.com for more information on the Foundation.

Last Updated: March 22, 2010