Cynthia Schwartz
Nancy Popenhagen is the PebbleCreek Pickleball Club (PCPB) Player/Volunteer of the month. She is the chairperson of the PCPB Court Allocation Committee (CAC), organizes skills and drills and is a coach for the novice, 2.0, and 2.5 classes. When asked why she volunteers, Nancy said, “I like giving back. People continue to help me become a better player; I like doing that for others. I enjoy participating in club events, and they don’t happen on their own. I believe there are different times in people’s lives where they can volunteer and this is a good time for me.”
Nancy played sports in high school and college. She played volleyball, basketball, and tennis in high school. While attending the University of Northern Colorado, Nancy played college volleyball and tennis and, when there was an opportunity to coach a high school volleyball team, Nancy stopped competing and started coaching. After graduating college with a degree in physical education, she worked in public education for 31 years. In Loveland, Colo., Nancy taught physical education, health, communications, and social studies to grades 6 through 9. Nancy commented, “I never had a boring day in teaching. Working with over 160 students a day, no two days were ever the same. I also enjoyed coaching high school volleyball and junior high boys and girls basketball teams. At this age, students are learning to become leaders and evolving as young adults.”
While teaching, Nancy became a certified emergency medical technician (EMT). She said, “Since I worked in a school and coached sports, I thought it was important to know advanced medical skills.” For several years, Nancy was a member of the Larimer County Search and Rescue Team that searched for children, hikers, and hunters who got lost in the mountains.
Continuing on her path to help others, while still teaching, she became a certified reserve police officer. When asked why, in addition to teaching, she became a street cop she said, “I guess I liked the idea of catching bad guys and being first on scene to help others.” After 19 years of teaching, Nancy’s professional career took a turn. She was elected president of the Thompson Education Association, a position she held for 12 years. She was released from her classroom and coaching duties and worked with 900+ teachers, administrators, and the school board. While being her local association president, Nancy was also elected and served for six years as secretary/treasurer of the Colorado Education Association. “It was a privilege to be a voice of 38,000 school employees.”
In 2002, Nancy had another opportunity come her way; she was asked to serve on the board of directors of the Volentine Family Foundation. The foundation provides non-profit funding for drug and alcohol rehabilitation, youth programs, education, and community well-being. Today, she continues to work with the foundation as the president of the board.
Thank you, Nancy, for helping others and for all you do for the PebbleCreek Pickleball Club!