Dana Juriew Honored with Blue Door Award for Her Dedication to Spring Hill Kids 

Dana Juriew poses for a photo with Christian Wyatt, BGCSCTN Area North Director, following her Blue Door Award recognition.

For more than three years, Spring Hill Public Library Director Dana Juriew has helped bring the joy of reading directly to children at the Boys & Girls Club Greatness Academy at Spring Hill Elementary School. Through the beloved Raider Readers program, Dana created much more than a weekly reading activity — she helped build a space where children felt encouraged, supported, and excited to learn. 

In recognition of her lasting impact, Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee (BGCSCTN) presented Dana with the Blue Door Award this week, a rare honor given to individuals who embody the Club’s mission and values through extraordinary dedication to young people. Dana is only the second person in BGCSCTN history to receive this award. 

The recognition comes as Dana prepares to move on from her role as Spring Hill Public Library Director. 

Since the spring of 2023, Dana has spearheaded the Raider Readers program in partnership with BGCSCTN, connecting Spring Hill Public Library volunteers with Club members each week to read, build relationships, and inspire a love of books. Under her leadership, the program has included 20 to 30 volunteers each week and more than 800 hours of reading and engagement with Spring Hill youth. 

Dana Juriew poses for a photo with Club members at the Boys & Girls Club Greatness Academy at Spring Hill Elementary School.

Each visit, Dana and the volunteers brought a wide selection of library books for children to choose from based on their own interests. Club members looked forward to the program so much that, during Dana’s award presentation, several immediately noticed something unusual: it was the first time she had arrived without her trolley of library books. 

Instead, Dana was welcomed by Club members and BGCSCTN staff for a small surprise celebration in her honor. Children presented her with farewell cards they had written themselves, filled with kind words and memories from their time together. 

Dana Juriew looks through handmade thank-you cards created by Spring Hill Club kids in her honor.

“She lets us read and she is always happy. She even allowed us to read to dogs,” said Aloura, 8. 

“She helps us learn by reading books. I love the books she brought, and I will miss you,” shared Audrey, 9. 

“She runs a cool library,” said Liam, 7. 

“She is very kind,” added Gracelyn, 9. 

Those simple reflections capture what made Dana’s presence so meaningful. Through Raider Readers, children received more than literacy support. They were given time, attention, encouragement, and the chance to build confidence alongside caring adults who returned week after week. 

One of the program’s most memorable moments came at the end of this school year, when Club members had the opportunity to write and illustrate their own books. With support from volunteers, children created stories that included cover art, dedication pages, personal biographies, and reflections on the things they love. It was a fitting celebration of a program that not only helped children become stronger readers, but also reminded them that their own stories are worth telling. 

Spring Hill Club kids gather around Dana Juriew during the celebration.

Dana’s commitment to Spring Hill youth has extended beyond Raider Readers. In 2025, she served as a Spring Hill Hero of the Year candidate for Boys & Girls Clubs, raising vital funds to support kids in the community. Her leadership has consistently reflected a deep belief in creating opportunities for children to learn, grow, and feel valued. 

During the Blue Door Award presentation, Dana shared that the Spring Hill children were what made the program so special. She reflected on how deeply the youth had impacted the volunteers, giving back to them in profound and unexpected ways. 

That spirit of connection has been at the heart of Raider Readers from the beginning. The program has brought together children, volunteers, library staff, and Club staff around a shared belief: a love of reading can open doors, relationships can shape futures, and showing up for kids matters. 

As Dana prepares for her next chapter, her legacy will continue in the young readers she encouraged, the volunteers she inspired, and the Spring Hill children who will remember the library director who arrived each week with a trolley full of books and a genuine joy for helping them grow. 

Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee is proud to honor Dana Juriew with the Blue Door Award and grateful for the lasting difference she has made in the lives of Spring Hill kids. 

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