AW VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH PRESENTED BY KOKATAT: DR. REGINA CUNNINGHAM, DMD

American Whitewater is proud to recognize Dr. Regina Hatfield Cunningham of Lexington, KY as our March Volunteer of the Month.

 Regina is the mother of two teenagers, drives a minivan, works at the Veteran's Administration as a maxillofacial prosthodontist. If you met her in a social setting, you might not picture her as an experienced outdoor adventurer, but you'd be dead wrong by a country mile. Descended from the Hatfield clan of the infamous Hatfield-McCoy feud, Gina isn't intimidated by much. Kayaking, scuba diving, sky diving, she wants to do it all and do it well. Along with her husband and paddling partner Jim, she somehow manages to get out and boat more weekends than not, no small feat when you have that many balls in the air already.

When the National Paddling Film Fest needed a new director, Gina rose to the occasion and took on the role with enthusiasm and determination. She pulled other people into the process with masterful organizational skill, delegating roles and tackling details and still getting out to paddle with startling regularity on the Gauley, New, Red River Gorge, Big South Fork, Ocoee, Nolichucky and far too many creeks to mention here. She even finds time to teach at rolling sessions and the BWA spring clinic.

Over the last year she has been soliciting famous paddlers to speak at NPFF, doing promotion and marketing, managing her volunteer staff and tirelessly chasing down loose ends all while looking for ways to improve the festival. In recognition of her selfless dedication we are pleased to recognized all of Regina's hard work. As Volunteer of the Month, Kokatat will be hooking Regina up with a super rad Dirt Bag Gear bag, and we hope you'll extend her a hearty thank you when you see her on the river.

Thanks to Hanley Loller for the bio of Regina and to Photo Landmark, LLC for the photo of Regina on the Gauley River.