Dale Plummer, the Williamson College of the Trade’s director of athletics since 1988, will be the inaugural recipient of the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 19 Humanitarian Award in May.

Plummer, recognized for his outstanding character and service to others, will receive the award at a ceremony in Atlantic City in May, according to a release from the Williamson College of the Trades.

“He is a great role model for our students and exemplifies Williamson’s core values of Faith, Integrity, Diligence, Excellence, and Service in all that he does, whether he is working with students, dealing with coaches, teaching, or any of his many other responsibilities at Williamson,” said Williamson President Michael Rounds. “His community service, in this country and in Africa, clearly demonstrates his commitment to our core values.”

Plummer’s work and accomplishments include:

• Providing drinkable water to the poor in Kenya, Africa, for eight years
• Serving on the board of trustees of CityTeam in Chester for five years
• Serving on the board of directors of the Rocky Run YMCA in Middletown Township for four years
• Serving four years on the board of directors of the U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association
• Facilitates a weekly Life Group for adults and is on the Missions Committee at his church, Bethlehem Church
• Served on the board of trustees of the Christian Academy in Brookhaven for ten years.

Plummer goes to Kenya with Start With One Kenya, a Christian organization that sponsors humanitarian mission trips. During the trips, he is part of a team that teaches the residents of isolated villages how to use a water filtration system to clean their water and has helped build a school.

In rural Kenya, waterborne illnesses are one of the leading causes of death among children and are dangerous to people of all ages.

“It was truly heartbreaking. The poorest areas in the United States are like paradise compared to the poverty I saw in Kenya. These trips take a lot out of you physically and emotionally, but as long as I can help, I will be there.”

He says the filtration systems they provide for the villagers provide them with clean water for ten years and save lives.

After raising $3,500 to cover the costs of the 2-week trips, Plummer takes a 22-hour flight to Nairobi, Kenya, and then a 4-hour drive to Nakuru, a rural village. Using Nakuru as headquarters, his group visits as many villages as time and resources allow.

On his trip in August 2021, his group impacted the lives of 15,000 Kenyans on the island of Lake Victoria.

Despite an initial hesitancy about traveling to a third-world country, he said it was clear that God wanted him to go. He described his first trip there as “so rewarding that now I can’t imagine not going. It was a life-changing experience.”

Plummer has also volunteered with CityTeam in Chester for 25 years, helping to feed the homeless, provide Christmas presents for the poor, and provide turkeys and hams for people’s Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving dinners.

He also has helped alcoholics and drug addicts in the rehab programs at the organization earn a GED and prepare for employment by teaching them mathematics. CityTeam’s success rate for drug and alcohol rehabilitation is 70 percent.

Among his service at the YMCA is raising money to provide summer camp for underprivileged children.

“My goal is to do whatever I can to help the underprivileged. As a Christian, I ask myself, ‘Where would Jesus be if he was on earth today? Who would he be helping? If he knew there were people in Kenya without clean water, that is where he would be. If he knew there were hungry homeless people in Chester, he would be there feeding them.’

At Williamson, Plummer oversees eight varsity sports, announces for several sports, runs the Restall Sports Center, maintains the athletic website, serves as co-chair of student activities, and teaches mathematics.

He serves on several committees and is an advisor to the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter, and holds a weekly Bible study for the college’s athletes.

Read more about Dale Plummer here.