Steve Brooks, 2006 CASA of the Year
Steve Brooks was honored as 2006 Volunteer Advocate of the Year. This award is given annually to a volunteer who has served for no less than three years, provides effective advocacy on a number of different cases, has excelled during the last year, and continues to be an ambassador of excellence for Advocates for Children. Brooks continues to show interest in learning and growing with the program. This award is the highest honor bestowed upon an Advocate’s for Children volunteer. Steve Brooks has been a volunteer since March 2002 and has served 5 cases involving a total of 10 children in Columbus. During this time, Brooks has been a single dad of two and a full-time engineer with Cummins Inc. Brooks has consistently been an “ambassador of excellence” for the agency, according to Anne Pringle, Program Director. “I have always been impressed with Steve’s unequivocal compassion for the children as well as the parents in his cases. Never have I heard a judgmental word out of his mouth,” said Pringle.
 

Linda Thompson
Linda Thompson of Columbus won the “Longevity Award” for being the longest-serving volunteer advocate. She has been an advocate since 1993 and has served more than 20 children.
 

Jill Ingrum, 2005 CASA of the Year
This award is given annually to a volunteer with at least 4 years of experience. This year’s recipient, like previous CASAs of the Year, has excelled in the quantity and quality of her work. Jill trained in Fall 2002 and has served multiple cases in both Decatur and Shelby counties. With no children of her own, Jill makes no secret of how much she cares about kids and their right to a safe and secure home. This passion is what has driven her to fight so aggressively for what should happen for the children she has represented. So impressive is this CASA that Judge Westhafer, Circuit Court Judge in Decatur County was uncharacteristically moved to write to Advocates for Children in order to draw our attention to the contribution that she makes to our program. Congratulations to Jill on this award and for all of the work she does for Shelby and Decatur county children.
 

Exemplary Advocates of 2005
Also honored at the event were: Connie Marbach, Bertha Olmeda, and Richard Nipper as exemplary advocates of the year.
 

Rookie Awards of 2005
Rookie awards were given this year to: Sharon Stewart, Michelle Graves, Deb Cook and Cheryl Faulkner.
 

Samantha Duncan Named 2004 Volunteer of the Year
Samantha Duncan, of Columbus, was named the 2004 CASA Volunteer of the Year at the annual Volunteer Recognition Event, held on December 2nd. This award is given annually to a volunteer with at least 4 years of service, who continues to be an "ambassador of excellence" for the Advocates for Children program. Samantha has served 5 cases in both Bartholomew and Decatur counties since being trained in 2000. She serves both abuse & neglect and custody cases.
 

Exemplary Advocates of the Year, 2004
Other honorees at the event were: Emily Alvis, Karen Arnold, Art Clark, Jill Ingrum, Debra Moreno, Richard Nipper, Jo Ann Swank, Bill Walker, and Cathy Zehr. Also in attendance at the recognition event were four former CASAs of the Year: Jean Nichter, Carol Price, Ken Mitchell, and Eileen Stinson.