Eagleville’s Erin Donovan to receive Soap Box Derby service award
President’s Youth Volunteer Service Award recognizes volunteers who have made a positive impact
AKRON, OHIO » Erin Donovan, 16, of Eagleville, is one of four young volunteers of the Soap Box Derby program nationally who will receive the President’s Youth Volunteer Service Award that recognizes volunteers under the age of 21 who have made a positive impact on the Soap Box Derby through their leadership on the local, regional or national level.
“These 2020 honorees are all long-time racers who have become dedicated volunteers in their home communities and have great passion for and commitment to the Soap Box Derby program,” said Mark Gerberich, president and chief executive officer of International Soap Box Derby. “They all are giving back to the Soap Box Derby through their support in staging local races and in recruiting and mentoring other young boys and girls who participate in our youth racing program.”
Donovan, 16, is a thirdgeneration racer who has been competing in local Soap Box Derby events since 2011. She won the Local Stock division race in Conshohocken, in 2012, making her first of eight trips to the FirstEnergy AllAmerican Soap Box Derby in Akron as a local or rally champion.
She won the world championship twice — in the Rally Stock division in 2013 and in Rally Super Stock in 2019. At local races and rallies, Erin mentors other racers to help familiarize them with various racing procedures and driving skills. During All-American finals in Akron, she volunteers in support of various events at the track. She will be a junior this fall at Methacton High School in Eagleville.
After Donovan became a two-time World Champion, longtime Conshohocken Soap Box Derby director Mark Marine said this about the local derby’s national star:
“It’s awesome,” Marine said last year. “There’s two ways to get to Akron. There’s the local race, which is held in Conshohocken and wherever, and then there’s the Rally Division, where you go around the country racing and collecting points. You can qualify that way. So there’s a local champ and a Rally champ. Erin won the Rally Super Stock Championship. She already went out as local Super Stock champ, now she went out as a Rally Super Stock champ. She’s now a two time World champ, one as Stock and one as Super Stock. It’s a rare thing to win it twice,” Marine added, “and when you’re racing around the country you’re really racing against the best of the best.”
Other winners are Braedon Quinlan, 18, of Arlington, Massachusetts; Lukas Ramey, 16,, of Hanson, Kentucky, and Samantha Uhler, 18, of Howard, Pennsylvania.
Because the 83rd FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby scheduled for July has been canceled due to COVID-19 issues, the 2020 youth award winners will be honored online this year and recognized in-person as part of the 2021 race week activities.
The International Soap Box Derby is a non-profit youth education and leadership development organization whose mission is to build knowledge
and character, and to create meaningful experiences through fair and honest racing competitions, STEM curriculums, and other community-focused activities. The Derby’s Core Values and Drivers include: Youth Education and Leadership Development; Family Engagement and Enrichment; Honesty, Integrity and Perseverance; Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Teamwork and Collaboration; Mentoring; Volunteerism; and Commitment to Community. The Derby’s two youth initiatives are the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby racing program and the STEM-based Education Program, which provides educational opportunities for K-12 youth worldwide through Soap Box Derby racing. The Derby dates back to 1934, when the first All-American race was held in Dayton, Ohio. For more information, visit www.soapboxderby.org.