GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

This weekend, the JETS Swim Team will host the 51st Annual Summer Classic Swim Meet at Lake Central High School in St. John, Indiana. As the team prepares to welcome more than 600 athletes to the event, the Y would like to highlight one of the amazing volunteers who makes the Summer Classic possible – JETS Parent Advisory Council (JPAC) Chair Dawn Stephens. 

“Dawn has been immensely helpful over the past several years in a couple key leadership roles as JPAC Chair and Meet Director,” Director of Competitive Aquatics Dave Hedden said. “She leads monthly meetings with parent volunteers who organize fundraising efforts and help host swim meets and other special events throughout the year.”

Dawn’s journey with the JETS began seven years ago when her children, Laura and Tristan, were looking to make the jump from YMCA swim lessons to competitive swimming.

“At that time, my daughter was going into eighth grade and my son was going into sixth grade. We wanted the kids to be able to swim in high school and learned high school coaches typically want kids to have at least a year on a club team. We were able to talk to one of the coaches at the Y and we have been a JETS family ever since,” Dawn said.

Dawn said she was eager to support the team as a volunteer right from beginning,

“I joined the JPAC as soon as I found out that the group existed. During our first fall parent meeting I saw a few of the JPAC parents talking about the things they did for the team and I wanted to be involved,” she said. 

Dawn says she felt welcomed right away with a strong culture of support emanating throughout the program. 

“Parents that had been involved a little bit longer didn’t leave me floundering. It’s a community that helps put it all together for you. Nothing is ever dumped on you. We always reach out to see what parents can handle, what they can help with. You’ll never be left alone,” she said. 

Dawn has gone on to help with preparations for multiple Summer Classic Meets, and said that this year’s edition will be the largest during her time with the JETS.

“In order to have the meet run successfully we need more than 200 volunteer slots filled. Many of those slots are timers, but we also have marshals that organize swimmers on the deck and off the deck, safety/first aid support, hospitality, and concessions. And, as we work through the volunteer schedules, we make sure to work it out so parents are still able to watch their kids swim. Being able to coordinate all of that and make sure that the meet is successful is incredibly rewarding,” she said.

Hedden shared that the volunteer support doesn’t go unnoticed by the JETS coaching staff.

“Volunteers are essential to our team, and also the sport of swimming in general. Dawn is calm under pressure and is always willing to lend a hand, and I am very grateful for all of her efforts,” Hedden said. 

The Y thanks Dawn and all the incredible volunteers that will make this weekend’s meet a special experience for swimmers and their families. 

And, as a reminder, there is still time to help support the JETS as a meet volunteer. To learn more, please contact:

Dave Hedden
[email protected]
(815) 782-0805