Fessenden Center’s April Bodiford named Dare County Employee of the Month for March

April Bodiford, who serves as fitness coordinator for the Dare County Parks and Recreation Department’s Hatteras Island Division at the Fessenden Center in Buxton, has been named Dare County Employee of the Month for March 2023. The award was presented to Bodiford by Dare County Public Services Director Tim White during the Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting that was held at 9 a.m. on Monday, March 6, 2023.

Bodiford initially began her service to the county on July 17, 2008, when she was hired to work as an income maintenance caseworker for the Dare County Department of Health & Human Services’ Social Services Division’s office in Frisco. On June 26, 2015, Bodiford transferred to the Dare County Parks and Recreation Department, where she began working as a leisure activity specialist at the Fessenden Center. On December 23, 2019, she was promoted to her current position of fitness coordinator at the Fessenden Center.

In her role as fitness coordinator, Bodiford is tasked with conducting and choreographing group fitness classes for members of the community, planning and conducting formal class instruction on various health and fitness topics, and assisting individuals with physical exercise prescriptions for specific health-related needs.

“[Promoting April] was probably one of the best moves we’ve ever made down there at the Fessenden Center,” said White. “April is extremely well liked at work and in the community. April is humble, considerate and mature. April is easy to talk with. April is one of the best individuals the Fessenden Center has ever had.”

During his presentation, White also commented on Bodiford’s “deep sense of dedication” to the members of the community who participate in her fitness classes at the Fessenden Center.

“April has to prepare every day for all of her different classes, the different movements that she has to do, as well as the music to go with each class,” he said. “She’s loved by her peers, as I said, and she’s loved very much in the community. Normally we don’t read the information that non-employees give, but in this particular case she’s got a lot of people in the community that love her as well as our employees, so I’d like to just read a few of those so you understand what she does in the community.”

White went on to read a portion of a nomination form that was submitted by one of the citizens of Hatteras Island: “April is always working. Even on her days off and when the Fessenden Center is closed for a holiday or weather emergency, April posts workouts on her personal Facebook page so the residents can keep up with their workout challenge.”

“That takes a lot of dedication and a lot of preparation to get something on your Facebook that everybody’s looking forward to because it couldn’t come to the Fessenden Center that day,” White remarked before beginning to read the words that were written by a second nominator from the community.

“April is energetic, motivating, engaging and truly cares about Dare [County] residents and their health and well-being. She is the glue that holds the community together, connecting people through the many classes and outdoor activities she leads, and meets people where they are on their health and wellness journey. April shows up early and leaves late, always fully explains the lesson plan for the session and provides specific instruction as to how to modify or level up or down depending upon a person’s ability and fitness level.”

“That takes a lot of preparation to be able to go in there with a group of 30 people and you’ve got them all in about 20 different levels and you have to teach them how to modify their exercises so that they feel part of the group,” said White, who then went on to read from a third nomination form in which the nominator praised Bodiford for the passion she exudes in her role as fitness coordinator for the Fessenden Center.

“I have told [April] I have never met a person who truly loves what she does for a living like she does,” White read. “Fitness is her passion, and she loves teaching and helping people reach their fitness goals. Many times during a class, you will see April with a smile on her face when she teaches.”

As he concluded his presentation, White said, “Because of what you’ve done in the community, because of what you’ve done down at the Fessenden Center, I’d like to present you with Employee of the Month.”