2009 Governor’s Awards for Outstanding Service Recipients
2009 Governor Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Achievements
Recipients and Nominees
Community and Government Volunteer Service Award
This award recognizes an individual or group that has made a significant impact through their volunteer efforts. Selection is based on the extraordinary manner in which the effort was made and its effectiveness and sustainability in the community.
2009 Community Volunteer Service Award Recipient
Richard Enyart–Rochester, IN
Nominator: Mona Elsea
Richard Enyart has been an RSVP Volunteer since August, 2002. He has worked tirelessly in the United Ministries Outreach Program. He has been a phone call away when someone has needed help. Seeing the need for a free medical program, while working in the United Ministries office, was the basis for his diligent searching for resources in Fulton County to get the idea to become a reality. Helping a client to receive a gallbladder operation without cost gave Dick the vision of starting a free medical clinic in the area. With the poverty ratio in Fulton County, the percentage of people needing medical services in the community was a fact that Dick could not ignore. After many months spent in research and finding donations, the Compassionate Health Center opened it’s doors on Aug. 10, 2009. This is such a valuable service to our community and we greatly appreciate all of Dick’s time and effort in developing this project.
2009 Government Service Award Recipient
Keith Blackburn–Indianapolis, IN
Nominator: Dave Liebel
Keith Blackburn is a volunteer assistant chaplain at the Pendleton Correctional Facility. Married, and the father of three children, Keith keeps a busy schedule. In addition to his family and volunteer work at Pendleton he works full time and is active in his church, Bethel Temple. In his spare time, Keith is pursuing his Masters of Divinity degree at Indiana Wesleyan University.
2009 Community and Government Volunteer Service Award Nominees
Hillary and David Baker–Columbus, IN
Bernard Barcio–Indianapolis, IN
Geraldine “Jerri” Barnes–Noblesville, IN
Fred Berger–Rensselaer, IN
Elizabeth Blanchard–Indianapolis, IN
Adam Brown–Indianapolis, IN
Kimberly Browning–Beech Grove, IN
Carol Chappel–Franklin, IN
Raju Chinthala–Indianapolis, IN
Kevin Cornett–Indianapolis, IN
Kevin Cox–Elkhart, IN
Cynthia Day–Indianapolis, IN
Yolanda Dotson–Indianapolis, IN
Tim Eli–Evansville, IN
Thom England–Zionsville, IN
Helen Freeman–Bloomington, IN
Allen Cem Galloway–Indianapolis, IN
Dennis Helke–Indianapolis, IN
Missy Iles–Logansport, IN
Shontrai Irving–Gary, IN
Kenneth Jack–Indianapolis, IN
Nancy Jaussaud–Indianapolis, IN
Kimberly Johnson–Kalamazoo, MI
Werner (Vern) Jorck–Columbus, IN
Sarah Kanyer–Long Beach, IN
Brad Kimmel–Fort Wayne, IN
Shelly King–Union City, IN
Mark Long–Indianapolis, IN
Lucy Mikula–Indianapolis, IN
Brent and Bonnie Morrison–Columbus, IN
Linda Orr–Indianapolis, IN
John Peirce–Fort Wayne, IN
Richard and Carolyn Riley–Anderson, IN
Ed Staab–Indianapolis, IN
Pat Staab–Indianapolis, IN
Shannon Silver–Lafayette, IN
Sean Stevens–Orleans, IN
Joe Summers–Paoli, IN
Lewis Weiss–Indianapolis, IN
Lee Ann Wiseheart–New Albany, IN
Faith-Based Contribution Award
This award recognizes an individual representing a faith-based organization that has made an outstanding volunteer contribution to the community or state outside his/her own place of worship.
2009 Faith-Based Award Recipient
Pam Leffler–Greenwood, IN
Nominator: Cindy Helmich
Pam Leffler was a member of Our Lady of Greenwood Catholic Church when a situation came to the attention of the parish that a member was waiting for Social Security Disability and was in need of financial assistance while she waited. To the surprise of many from the church what they discovered was surprising and very troublesome in that there really was no help for her. As a result, Christian Help was created in the beginning from members of the church and subsequently into a interdenominational organization that strives to assist the homeless and those on the edge. That was April of 2003 and Pam has continued to carry the weight of the cause on her shoulders. Over the years she has volunteered to assist the poor on a one on one face to face basis. Oftentimes she fights the utility company, landlord and trustee battles for the clients themselves. She has worked to encourage agencies to work together combining resources and programs to serve more efficiently and effectively. More times than not this results in only more battles to fight. She approaches the “cases” with respect and admiration for those who struggle to survive each day. She sees the strengths and resources that each person presents and attempts to build on those with respect and dignity for each person. She has managed to remain focused and clear in her mission for the past six years. She and her husband Ron, who is deserving of an award as well, reside in Greenwood. They were victims of the flood of June 2008 and lost most of their household belongings.
2009 Faith-Based Contribution Award Nominees
Willard Alexander–Seymour, IN
Fred Berger–Rensselaer, IN
William “Bill” Boone–Indianapolis, IN
Jesse Gunselman–Terre Haute, IN
Nancy Heasley–Huntington, IN
Sheryle Jefferson–Indianapolis, IN
Felecia Jordan–Indianapolis, IN
Joannie Kinnaman–Carmel, IN
Simone Kranzman–Warsaw, IN
Cindy Love–Westfield, IN
Cheryl Lewis–Indianapolis, IN
Kathleen Kearney-O’Day–Crown Point, IN
Margaret O’Kon–Plainfield, IN
Jamie Terhaar–Richmond, IN
Garry Dodd and Tim Thayer–Hope, IN
Stefan Thibodeaux–Indianapolis, IN
Barbara Wilson–Terre Haute, IN
Service-Learning Award
This award recognizes an individual or group whose volunteer efforts epitomize the goals of service-learning; to help students meet community needs while improving their academic skills.
2009 Service-Learning Award Recipient
Gayle Hutchens–Indianapolis, IN
Nominator: John Oaks
Gayle Hutchens does not see a teenager in trouble as one seeking to cause trouble. Instead she sees a troubled teenager seeking purpose. She does not see a dog facing euthanasia as hopeless. She sees that dog as a “carrier” of purpose for a teen seeking purpose. She sees that dog as the helping hands that could open the doors of life for people who cannot open doors and drawers for themselves. She does not see a person with physical challenges as being handicapped. She sees a person who could handle the activities of daily life with the aid of a trained dog. Gayle has the unique ability to bring at-risk youth, at-risk canines, physically challenged people, children who are grieving, and children with reading skill opportunities together with volunteers who share her passion for making a better life for all.
2009 Service Learning Award Nominees
Kevin Cox–Elkhart, IN
Jeremy McLaughlin–Goshen, IN
Youth Service Award
This award recognizes young Hoosiers – ages 14 through 18 who have made significant contributions through volunteer efforts and serve as models and inspiration to other young volunteers.
2009 Youth Award Recipient
Clay Oppy–Lafayette, IN
Nominator: Gary Werner
Clay Oppy created an annual football camp for disabled kids in grades 6 through 12. Each fall, campers spend time with members of the local football team (the McCutcheon Mavericks), performing specially designed drills and receiving an autographed poster of each participating player. Additionally, they attend a varsity game free and join the team on the field at game’s end. Clay’s program provides on-going involvement in a popular sport and with varsity athletes for kids that often do not have such opportunity. In addition to the football camp, Clay formed a nonprofit group, Friends of Tippecanoe County Trails, which over a period of time will be transferring nearly 20 miles of former railroad line into walking and biking trails in Tippecanoe County. This activity not only provides a free and limitless recreational opportunity but also addresses the Governor’s initiative to create healthier Hoosiers for a more productive Indiana.
2009 Youth Service Award Nominees
Ceremonial Team of Lobarlehense Chapter–Indianapolis, IN
Katey Burns–Fishers, IN
Connell Coyne–Goshen, IN
Kimmie Lewis–Columbus, IN
Amanda Marie Mansard–Terre Haute, IN
Grant Alexander Mansard–Terre Haute, IN
Alison Mansfield–Fort Wayne, IN
Manuel Peredo-Muniz–Carmel, IN
Ashley Slayton–Indianapolis, IN
Rebecca Stevens–Richmond, IN
Colton Strawser–Wolcottville, IN
National Service Award
This award recognizes an individual or group who has demonstrated outstanding volunteer service above and beyond the requirements of their designated program. The individual or groups must have been affiliated with AmeriCorps or Senior Corps in 2008-2009.
2009 National Service Award Recipient
Julie Brawner–Hanover, IN
Nominator: Jene Bridgewater
Julie Brawner attended Southwestern High School in Hanover, Indiana where she played basketball for Southwestern High School and graduated in 2003. During her years at Southwestern, they won the state championship in 2002 and were runners-up in 2003. Following high school, Julie attended Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky where she majored in Exercise Science and once again played basketball. While in college, Julie came under the influence of one of her professors who mentored and inspired her. Dr. Jean Kiernan (Chair and Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Health Studies) had a profound impact on Julie’s life. She helped to transform Julie’s thinking and vision to that of a person wanting to help others and give back to her community. Thus, when she returned to Hanover following graduation, she volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jefferson County. In 2008, Julie decided to join the Scott County AmeriCorps team. She served with Adult Education, the EDGE (an after-school middle school program), and was on the Guiding Coalition for the new Circles Campaign. Julie is serving a second term with Scott County AmeriCorps. She will continue her service with Circles, with Adult Education, and with the EDGE.
2009 National Service Award Nominees
JoAnne DeVries–Washington, IN
Katy Kaesebier–Indianapolis, IN
Angela Paris–Bristol, IN
Alonna Samaniego–Indianapolis, IN
Amy Simpson–Fort Wayne, IN
Betty White–Indianapolis, IN
Cheron Wilson–Mishawaka, IN
Lifetime Achievement Award
This award is for lifetime achievement in volunteer service. This category recognizes a long-term commitment to volunteerism and community service at a variety of levels. This year, the nominations were extremely competitive making the committee’s decision to determine a winner very difficult. The committee chose a tie between the top two nominees.
2009 Lifetime Award Recipient
Ruth Dickmann–Washington, IN
Nominator: Ann Dahm
Ruth Dickmann moved to Indiana with her young family in 1947 when she was 29. In addition to working as a nurse and raising three daughters, she has been a volunteer. Much of her early service is unrecorded, but since records have been kept, this 91 year old volunteer has given more than 16,483 hours of service to more than 35 organizations or programs. She has been a member of Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in Indiana for fifteen years and remained an active volunteer for her church. More than 48,944 people, primarily in Indiana , have benefited from Ruth Dickmann’s volunteer activities. She loves to sew. Her donated handiwork has welcomed babies, warmed preschoolers, comforted children, kept nursing center residents in mended clothes and bedded the homeless. She has donated her quilts to many fundraisers. The value of her volunteer time has been increased exponentially because much of it has been done for service providing organizations and because she has used volunteerism to leverage her financial support. She is an inspiration to her family and those who meet her or learn of her lifetime of service to others.
Lifetime Achievement Award Nominees
Fred Berger–Rensselaer, IN
Albert Davis, Jr.–LaPorte, IN
Mildred Dent–Indianapolis, IN
John Fultz–Salem, IN
Pat Kingsbury–Bloomington, IN
Judge Robert Miller, Sr.–South Bend, IN
Lawrence Rowland–Fort Wayne, IN
Anne Schuster–Indianapolis, IN
Herman Strakis–Indianapolis, IN
Ronald Wilson–Noblesville, INI
A special Thank You
to the OFBCI Team of Volunteers
who participated in the Selection Committee
for the
2009 Governor’s Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service.
Stay Connected
- What is the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives?
- Are there grants available from the government specifically for faith-based organizations?
- What is AmeriCorps?
- What is a volunteer center?
- How many people in Indiana volunteer?
- What are the Governors Service Awards?
- How can I nominate someone for a Governor's Service Award?
- Join AmeriCorps
- Get an AmeriCorps member for my program
- Find a volunteer opportunity in my area
- Sign up to receive e-Newsletters from OFBCI
- Find out more about other national service programs in my area (Senior Corps, AmeriCorps*VISTA, and Learn and Serve America).
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