Jori Peterson of Rockford, Ill., has been selected to receive the USBC Youth Volunteer of the Year Award, and Robert "Bud" Endicott of Apopka, Fla., has been selected to receive the United States Bowling Congress David Dahms Coach of the Year Award by the USBC Youth Committee.

Peterson, 45, is the Mites and Bumper coach for the youth leagues at Don Carter Lanes in Rockford. Her son, James, started bowling when he was four years old and she was asked to be the snack mom and "it all started there."

She volunteered every Saturday morning but took a break when her daughter, Tegan, was three. She would return three years later to coach Bumpers when Tegan wanted to join her brother on the lanes. James now is 19; Tegan is 11.

"This award overwhelms me because I am just a mom supporting her children in a sport that they both love," Peterson said. "I also have my 'bowling children' as part of my family, all of whom I look forward to seeing each and every Saturday morning. Each child has a gift, and it amazes me how much talent they have."

The prestigious award recognizes an adult volunteer who has displayed outstanding efforts to foster, organize and promote certified youth bowling programs at the local, state and/or national levels.

Endicott, a USBC Silver coach, has been the Youth Director at Brunswick Wekiva Lanes for more than 10 years. The program, which had less than 50 bowlers when he took over, now has about 150 bowlers.

"Being awarded the David Dahms Coach of the Year award is truly an honor and a humbling experience," Endicott said. "No coach takes on the responsibility of molding and shaping the minds of young athletes expecting to be recognized or given awards; we do it because we love what we do and realize that the future of the sport lies in the development of future participants. I truly am honored to receive this award."

Endicott offers a PBA Experience league exclusively for youth bowlers and also provides scholarship opportunities. The league has awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships to the youth bowlers.

The award is named in honor of David Dahms, who was an instrumental leader in the creation of what is now known as the USBC Junior Gold program. The David Dahms award recognizes a USBC-certified coach who has been actively involved in a USBC Youth program and has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to coaching, sportsmanship and knowledge of USBC Youth rules.

Endicott also works with three high school bowling teams in the Orange County Public School system - Apopka, Ocoee and Wekiva high schools. He started coaching high school bowling when his own children were on the Apopka teams before the Florida State Athletic Association made bowling an official varsity sport. He has since started working with the other programs because bowlers on those teams also are in his youth program.

Peterson, who works for United Health Integrated Services as a Provider Service Representative, also volunteered for her son's bowling team when he was in high school. She said the dedication of the high school coaches made her realize "how important it is to be there for all of the children."