The bipartisan Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service presents he Governor's Volunteer Service Awards. These awards recognize individual volunteers through a statewide award program to highlight the importance of volunteerism and community service in the State of Illinois.
Individual awards will be presented to one Youth (18 and under), one Adult (19-54 years old) and one Retiree/Senior (55+ years old) in each of the Commission's five service regions across the state (Northeast, Northwest, East Central, West Central and Southern Illinois). National Service Awards will be presented to one Learn and Serve, one AmeriCorps, and one Senior Corps Member in each of the five regions. Each category will be asked to meet one of the following focus areas: Economic Opportunity, Education, Environmental Conservation, Disaster Preparedness/Response, Health, and Veterans Affairs.
Nomination Forms
Nomination forms are due to Serve Illinois no later than February 29, 2012. Recipients will be notified no later than March 30, 2012. The awards ceremony will be hosted at the Executive Mansion in late April (date to be determined).
Please direct any questions to 800-592-9896 or E-mail Serve Illinois.
The 2012 Governor's Volunteer Service Award Recipients
To view full biographies for the winners, please visit our featured volunteers section
Southern Illinois Award Recipients
- Youth: Madelyn McGlynn - Belleville, IL
- For service to: Belleville Area Humane Society
- Adult: Kim Lingafelter - Albion, IL
- For service to: Hope Center and Southeastern Illinois
- Senior: Elmer Ragland - Waterloo, IL
- For service to: Conserving Lions Club
- AmeriCorps Member: Nathan Elwood - St. Louis, MO
- For service to: Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation
- Senior Corps Member: Lee Stowers - Mt. Vernon, IL
- For service to: One Hope United Foster Grandparent Program
East Central Illinois Award Recipients
- Youth: Mary Perkins - Effingham, IL
- For service to: University of Illinois Extension-Effingham County
- Adult: Teresa Haley - Springfield, IL
- Senior: Ellen Harms - Champaign, IL
- For service to: Daily Bread Soup Kitchen
- AmeriCorps Member: Jamie Hadley - Bloomington, IL
- For service to: McLean County Health Department
- Senior Corps Member: Jamie Storm - Springfield, IL
- For service to: Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center
West Central Illinois Award Recipients
- Adult: Lane Pfeiffer - Carlinville, IL
- For service to: Macoupin County Center for the Developmental Disabled; Carlinville Food Pantry; Macoupin County Jail
- Senior: Bob Wiltz - Peoria, IL
- For service to: American Red Cross
- AmeriCorps Member: Karla Williams - Peoria, IL
- For service to: Children's Home Association of Illinois
- Senior Corps Member: Mike Faley - Peoria, IL
- For service to: OSF St. Francis Medical Center and Children's Hospital of Illinois
Northwest Illinois Award Recipients
- Youth: Alexis Ochoa - Rockford, IL
- For service to: Life Church
- Senior: Carole Perrin - Rockford, IL
- For For service to: Carpenter's Place
- AmeriCorps Member: Leann Duncan - Rockton, IL
- For service to: Prairie State Legal Services
- Senior Corps Member: Steve Verdick - Carbon Cliff, IL
- For service to: RSVP of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois
Northeast Illinois Award Recipients
- Youth: Isha Jog - Schaumburg, IL
- For service to: D.A.R.E. American & Holiday Heroes
- Adult: Luciano Rodriguez - Naperville, IL
- For service to: People's Resource Center and St. Paul Lutheran Church
- Senior: Lou Ann Johnson - Crest Hill, IL
- For service to: National Hook-Up of Black Women, Inc.
- Learn and Serve Member: Howard Allen Jones, Jr. - Oak Park, IL
- For service to: National Alliance for Mental Illness-Greater Chicago
- AmeriCorps Member: Monica Gonzalez - Chicago, IL
- For service to: Centro Sin Fronteras
- Senior Corps Member: Linda Kielas - Inverness, IL
- For service to: Palatine Emergency Management Agency
The 2011 Governor's Volunteer Service Award Recipients
To view full biographies for the winners, please visit our featured volunteers section
Southern Illinois Award Recipients
- Youth: Mallory Dawn Hammell - Crossville, IL
- For service to: University of Illinois Extension Service, White County 4-H
- Adult: Amy Simpson - Carterville, IL
- For service to: Gum Drops
- Senior: Carl DauBach - Fults, IL
- For service to: Conserving Lands in Farm, Forest, Talus, or Prairie (CLIFFTOP)
- AmeriCorps Member: Ben Taylor - Belleville, IL
- For service to: Belleville AmeriCorps
- Senior Corps Member: Jean Domingez - Mt. Vernon, IL
- For service to: One Hope United Foster Grandparent Program
East Central Illinois Award Recipients
- Youth: Abigail Westendorf - Effingham, IL
- For service to: University of Illinois Extension Effingham County 4-H Program
- Adult: Derrick Stapleton - Springfield, IL
- For service to: Springfield Urban League/Frontiers International Springfield Club
- Senior: Bobby Hall - Springfield, IL
- For service to: Central Counties Health Centers, Inc.
- Learn and Serve Member: William Nesbitt - Catlin, IL
- For service to: City of Catlin (through Catlin High School)
- AmeriCorps Member: Ed Gaskill - Effingham, IL
- For service to: Effingham City/County Committee on Aging
- Senior Corps Member: Beverly Bazemore - Springfield, IL
- For service to: One Hope United Foster Grandparent Program
West Central Illinois Award Recipients
- Adult: Robin Forney - Brimfield, IL
- For service to: University of Illinois Extension 4-H Program
- Senior: Billy Stiegemeier - Staunton, IL
- For service to: Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1241
- AmeriCorps Member: Isaac Pizzo - Gillespie, IL
- For service to: Macoupin County Public Health Department
- Senior Corps Member: Dr. John Fendrich - Peoria, IL
- For service to: RSVP of Peoria and Tazewell Counties
Northwest Illinois Award Recipients
- Adult: Ezekiel D. Hartman - Lanark, IL
- For service to: Freeport Community Foundation - Youth Advisory Council (YAC)
- Senior: Edward Leach - Rockford, IL
- For service to: Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity
- AmeriCorps Member: Patricia Crowell - Rockford, IL
- For service to: Winnebago County Health Department and Kennedy Middle School
- Senior Corps Member: Ed Mitchell - Moline, IL
- For service to: RSVP of Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois, and Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging
Northeast Illinois Award Recipients
- Youth: Andrew Katcha - Kenilworth, IL
- For service to: The Joseph Sears School
- Adult: Virginia Neuckranz - Winnetka, IL
- For service to: Erika's Lighthouse: A Beacon of Hope for Adolescent Depression
- Senior: Thomas Neuckranz - Winnetka, IL
- For service to: Erika's Lighthouse: A Beacon of Hope for Adolescent Depression
- Learn and Serve Member: Tyler Maly - Gages Lake, IL
- For service to: Clyd Lash Academy
- AmeriCorps Member: Joy Martin - McHenry, IL
- For service to: Home of the Sparrow
- Senior Corps Member: Paul Gantz - McHenry, IL
- For service to: Senior Services Associates, Inc
The 2010 Governor's Volunteer Service Award Recipients
To view full biographies for the winners, please visit our featured volunteers section
Southern Illinois Award Recipients
- Joshua Greene, Bluford, IL - Youth, Volunteer Service in Education
- Nominated for work with the Junior Master Gardner program through University of Illinois Extension.
- Dale Fowler, Harrisburg, IL - Adult, Volunteer Service in Education
- Nominated for instituting the "Coats for Kids" program through United Way and the Saline County Schools.
- Jo Poshard, Murphysboro, IL - Senior, Volunteer Service in Health
- Nominated for founding, with her husband, the Poshard Foundation for Abused Children and continued volunteer work since its inception.
East Central Illinois Award Recipients
- Nicholas Jordan, Bloomington, IL - Youth, Volunteer Service in Environmental Conservation
- Nominated for organizing Central Catholic High School to benefit St. Jude's Ranch for Children.
- Grant Michael Reed, Champaign, IL - Adult, Volunteer Service in Health
- Nominated for founding the Illini Medical Screening Society.
- Mike Clagg, Altamont, IL - Senior, Volunteer Service in Environmental Conservation
- Nominated for work at the Ballard Nature Center.
West Central Illinois Award Recipients
- Cristina Campos, Galesburg, IL - Adult, Volunteer Service in Education
- Nominated for work as a volunteer literacy tutor at Carl Sandburg College Literacy Coalition.
- Jack Larson, Galesburg, IL - Senior, Volunteer Service in Education
- Nominated for extensive service to the Galesburg community, notably through "Project Santa" (shoe and gift distribution with the Galesburg Community Foundation and local Elks lodge) and support of the School District #205's band program.
Northwest Illinois Award Recipients
- Brad Foreman, Rapids City, IL - Adult, Volunteer Service in Education
- Nominated for service at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley
- Janis Haugen, East Moline, IL - Senior, Volunteer Service in Economic Opportunity
- Nominated for service at The Arc of Rock Island County
Northeast Illinois Award Recipients
- Katelyn Mucci, Streamwood, IL - Youth, Volunteer Service in Education
- Nominated for volunteering for a variety of community and youth outreach programs through Hanover Township Youth & Family Services.
- Matthew Cross, Chicago, IL - Adult, Volunteer Service in Economic Opportunity
- Nominated for volunteering at the Safer Foundation.
- Sandy DeChant, Chicago, IL - Senior, Volunteer Service in Environmental Conservation
- Nominated for after-school environmental service club through the Chicago Conservation Corps at Pulaski Elementary Fine Arts Academy.
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