A classroom full of beaming 4-year-olds sit eagerly on the reading carpet and hangs on every word Phillip Hawkins utters. More than just colors, shapes and numbers. Hawkins is teaching his students about the importance of giving back. After all, he is helping to mold the minds of the city’s youngest citizens.

Hawkins was recently awarded the 2010 Barbara Davis Volunteer Crime Prevention Award at the 18th Annual Crime Prevention Awards Ceremony. The event was sponsored by the Norfolk Police Department and the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association of Norfolk. A 14-year veteran of Norfolk Public Schools, Hawkins currently teaches pre-kindergarten at the Berkley-Campostella Early Childhood Education Center.

“It is important to teach children the value of serving others by developing a strong sense of citizenship, social responsibility, while nurturing civic mindedness and volunteerism for our communities,” Hawkins said. “It is good when our students can relate to their teachers outside the school environment and to see us in the community serving others in various capacities.”

Outside of teaching, Hawkins also serves as president of the Ingleside Civic League. While he is honored by the award, Hawkins stands firm in his belief that teaching children about community service is his civic duty.

“It is only natural for me to serve others as I am giving back what was given to me,” Hawkins said. “This service helps to make the community a better place for all of us.”

A classroom full of beaming 4-year-olds sit eagerly on the reading carpet and hangs on every word Phillip Hawkins utters. More than just colors, shapes and numbers. Hawkins is teaching his students about the importance of giving back. After all, he is helping to mold the minds of the city’s youngest citizens.

Hawkins was recently awarded the 2010 Barbara Davis Volunteer Crime Prevention Award at the 18th Annual Crime Prevention Awards Ceremony. The event was sponsored by the Norfolk Police Department and the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association of Norfolk. A 14-year veteran of Norfolk Public Schools, Hawkins currently teaches pre-kindergarten at the Berkley-Campostella Early Childhood Education Center.

“It is important to teach children the value of serving others by developing a strong sense of citizenship, social responsibility, while nurturing civic mindedness and volunteerism for our communities,” Hawkins said. “It is good when our students can relate to their teachers outside the school environment and to see us in the community serving others in various capacities.”

Outside of teaching, Hawkins also serves as president of the Ingleside Civic League. While he is honored by the award, Hawkins stands firm in his belief that teaching children about community service is his civic duty.

“It is only natural for me to serve others as I am giving back what was given to me,” Hawkins said. “This service helps to make the community a better place for all of us.”