Mike Null might be able to call himself the biggest Symmes Valley Vikings’ fan. And he has the hardware to back it up.

The Waterloo resident has been a part of the school’s athletic programs for more than three decades, doing everything from bookkeeping and scorekeeping and just about anything else that is needed.

Null was honored with the Southeast District Athletic Board’s Friends of Youth award for his longtime commitment and volunteer service.

We applaud Null for this award and hope the community appreciates all the dedication and hardwork that goes into volunteering.

We hope to see more organizations create awards and recognition opportunities for those in the community who give something back.

Also, we hope Null and others like him can inspire more people to donate their time and get involved in civic organizations, youth activities, community projects or some other outlet for volunteerism.

Far too often, it is the same men and women volunteering at these events, creating the potential of getting burned out and losing interest over time.

In the past, The Tribune honored a Volunteer of the Week, based on nominations from the community. However, we stopped doing this because of lack of suggestions from citizens that are crucial to helping us shine a spotlight on those most deserving.

We would love to resume this weekly, or even monthly, honor.

Do you know someone who selflessly volunteers his or her time? Let us know. Send an e-mail to mike.caldwell@irontontribune.com or by mail at Volunteer of the Week; The Tribune, P.O. Box 647, Ironton, OH 45638.

The men and women who make these sacrifices and give something back won’t seek recognition. And that is exactly why they deserve it.