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Wisconsin Public Service Volunteer Awards Breakfast

Outstanding volunteers were honored at the 22nd Annual WPS Volunteer Awards on Tuesday, April 13th at the  KI Convention Center.  More than 150 nominations were submitted across the seven award categories.  The event is orchestrated by the Volunteer Center of Brown County and sponsored by Wisconsin Public Service.

A recipients and runner-up were announced at each category

Download the program (PDF)

Thank you Sponsors! 

Title Sponsor
In-Kind Support	Erin Davisson & Tom Zalaski
Corporate Table Sponsors	Advantage Office Solutions American Foods Group Ansay & Associates De Pere VFW Post 2113 Haeger, Dewick & Zingler Hawkings, Ash, Baptie & Company Imaginasium Liebmann, Conway, Olejnicazk & Jerry Robinson Heating & Cooling Smet Construction Services Wesley Heating & Cooling Women's Fund of Greater Green Bay

Each of the seven awards was sponsored by a local company or foundation.  Below is a summary of the accomplishments of each of the recipients.

Green Bay Packaging Volunteer in Education Award
Feeling that at 94 years-old, she deserves to sleep in a bit, Bernice Kugel has just retired from 15 years of service as a Foster Grandparent at Encompass Early Education and Care.  Foster grandparents offer an extra set of hands and a loving heart to children served by the non-profit organization.   Bernice provided a sense of stability and security to children in the “toddler room,” where she was known as the grandma in her 90s that got down on the floor to play with the children in her care. 

Schreiber Foods, Inc. Volunteer Youth Award
Alexis Zernicke is a student at Green Bay East High School and a member of its FFA Club.  She initiated a mentoring program between FFA students and those from Baird Elementary School.  Lexi established an interview process for the volunteers, organizes bi-monthly activities, supervises her peers, and has found funding to support the mentoring projects.  Activities coordinated by the group both enhance awareness of agriculture, and build literacy skills.

Georgia-Pacific Adult Volunteer Award
Garrett Lancelle learned at an early age the importance of reaching out to others. He has two siblings with Down syndrome and has witnessed several family members and friends battle cancer. Most of his volunteer activities have centered on these needs. Not only does Garrett help care for his siblings, he also has extended his understanding of the needs and potential of people with disabilities by volunteering for various ASPIRO programs. Likewise, he has taken on leadership roles with several programs associated with providing services for, and fueling the battle against cancer. Garrett is a senior at St. Norbert College

Bellin Health Small Group Award
Mike and Carol Capion give so much of their time and talent to Marion House, they seem like full-time staff.  Marion House serves pregnant and parenting young mothers and their children.  Mike is not only a volunteer handyman, but also is a positive male image for the young women at Marion House.  Many of these girls have had abusive father figures in their lives.  Karolyn Capion works in the daycare area, provides babysitting while the moms are involved in educational program, and does transportation services as well.

Green Bay Packers Large Group Award
The volunteers of the Sexual Assault Center provide coverage of its hotline that operates all day, every day.  Volunteers answer calls in their own homes when Sexual Assault Center staff is unavailable.  This includes weekdays, evenings, the entire weekend, and holidays.  Once contacted by a person who has been assaulted, the volunteer may be involved in supporting that person for months.  Volunteers may accompany a victim to the hospital when seeking medical attention, be with them when they’re making a criminal complaint, and will provide support to them during the court process.

Schneider National Foundation Volunteer Leadership Award
Sister Fran Bangert is the visionary, administrator, public relations specialist, fundraiser, and team leader at Wellspring….A Place of Peace for Women.  The downtown organization provides a “house of hospitality” for women who have been marginalized in various ways, e.g. mental illness or other disability, backgrounds of sexual or domestic abuse, homelessness, ex-offenders, etc.  She and her team have created a place of creativity, acceptance, and encouragement –  but no coddling.  The goal is for the women who come to Wellspring to gain the skills, self-esteem, and connections that they need to move their lives forward in positive directions.

Associated Bank Heart of Gold Lifetime Achievement Award
Jeannie Koehler has been volunteering at the Cancer Treatment Center at St. Vincent Hospital for the past 26 years.  Witnessing the excellent treatment that her husband Al received there, Jeannie wanted to give something back.  Unfortunately, Al did not survive.  Jeannie turned her grief into action, and has provided comfort and counsel to hundreds of patients that have come through the Cancer Treatment Center.  Dr. Paul Koch of Green Bay Oncology wrote:  “Over the years she has served refreshments, weighed patients, put people in rooms, run for charts, etc.  But her greatest gift is talking.  Jeannie can relate to the patients to calm fears and ease their tensions.  She has the gift of happiness with the patient with good news and the empathy for the person with a sad outcome.  Jeannie can laugh and Jeannie can cry, but she is always there for the cheery word.”

A runner-up was also announced in each category.  They were:

Green Bay Packaging Volunteer in Education Award: Larry Frazier, Jefferson Elementary School

Schreiber Foods, Inc. Youth Volunteer Award: Benjamin Keighly, Aurora Bay Care

Bellin Health Small Group Award: Linda Van Pay & Jeanne Maricque, Green Bay Correctional Institution

Green Bay Packers Large Group Award:St. Norbert College, Miches Hall Service Program

Georgia-Pacific Adult Volunteer Award: Cathy Jacobs, Unity Limited Partnership

Schneider National Foundation Volunteer Leadership Awardr: Jodi Arndt, Greater Green Bay Earth Week Coalition

Associated Bank Heart of Gold Lifetime Achievement Award: Barbara Luczak, St, Willebrord's Parish