Congrats to our nominees and winners of our 2026 Advocate of the Year and Volunteer of the Year awards! Our volunteers are everything to us and this group truly exemplifies “above and beyond” in their volunteer work. Their efforts this past year were astounding and it’s an honor to recognize them in this way!
Read more about each nominee and our award winners below.
Shelley Thompson
Shelley visits her little guy more than required. She not only visits him at his placement but also sees him in school and has lunch with him. When there’s school events, he’s always happy to see Shelley there like recently at his school Thanksgiving Feast. She makes such an impression that teachers invite her into their classrooms to observe and read stories!
On the occasions that her child’s placement must change she knows that he will be looking for her when he gets to a new placement, so she is there immediately. Lately, her little guy has been having video visits with his dad in preparation for moving to his home. Shelley attends every single one. No one else has been as consistent in attending these to observe how they are going. She is a fierce advocate even in the face of opposition. She has been the constant for this child through so much and you can see it in the way he reacts to her and asks for her. He trusts her and knows she will be there no matter what.
A few months ago he caught a worm while playing outside and he kept telling the caregiver he had to keep it until Shelley could come see him again and he could show it to her. Sure enough, Shelley was there later that day because she knew how important it was to him. It was such an “aha” moment that such a simple thing as catching a worm could reveal just how important Shelley is to this child.
Shelley is also a tremendous support for the caregivers. She realizes that part of supporting her CASA child is supporting the foster parents who care for him. If they need help with a paperwork issue or getting therapy set up she is there. Not too long ago, the caregiver was having many issues with finding a doctor and dealing with insurance, and she reached out to Shelley. Shelley of course put a lot of effort and time into finding answers for her. The caregiver has raved about Shelley and is so very thankful for her and so are we!
Tom Tyrrell
Tom is steadfast, calm, and consistent. He has been one of the only stable things for the three children he serves, especially the two teens in his case. Tom is also very pragmatic and no nonsense when he needs to be, which has been an important skill for him in this case. The teens in his case have lived a harder life than most and appreciate how honest and direct he is with them. He has a great balance of compassion and accountability when talking to them but also in the way he testifies at court. He is a natural leader whose demeanor commands attention. When he speaks, people listen and action is then taken.
He makes sure all the needs of his children are met. If it’s a need Tom can’t directly meet then he is in frequent contact with attorneys, caseworkers, and other stakeholders until the need has been met. Tom is a great problem solver and when a solution is taking longer than it should he channels that frustration appropriately and gets results. Tom has helped search for placements and relatives to be support to the kids. He’s always good about keeping his supervisor apprised of what’s going on and what he’s doing.
Tom was a consistent lifeline for both of his older kids when on runaway status but especially the oldest boy. He was in constant contact with everyone, including law enforcement, to help them find the children. Most importantly though, he was the only one his child felt safe enough to reach out to during this time. Although he wouldn’t let Tom know where he was, that line of communication with the child, knowing Tom still cared about him and was trying to help was vital. His case has many unique situations to it and helping his kids while on runaway was one of them. When his kids ran into criminal issues he was still there, talking with criminal attorneys, probation officers and advocating for their best interests. When they end up in jail or detention, he makes sure to visit in person frequently and talks to them daily, so they don’t feel lost and alone. Tom reminds them that while they may have made bad decisions in the past, they are still capable of more and that he believes in them and reminds everyone else they should too.
Due to the uniqueness of his case, Tom attends court nearly every month and spends countless hours on emails, driving to meet with relatives, visiting the children and on many calls. We all deserve a Tom in our life and to have someone never give up on us.
Darkess Miller
Darkess has been a God-send to the two children in her case. She has formed such strong connections with them and has seen them through many ups and downs over the years. From typical pre-teen struggles to bigger things like placement changes and frustrations of being in the foster care system; she has been there to walk them through these challenges. When the preteen girl ran away, it was Darkess to whom she reached out to and as a result was brought to safety.
Darkess’s case has been through it’s share of tough situations, and then some, but she hung in when many others could have given up. This paid off and she earned the trust and respect of the attorneys, case workers, but most importantly the children. Children with trauma don’t trust easily and not just because you say you are there to help. They often test you and make you work for it over time. So that’s what she did; she did the work over and over again. Darkess showed up for these kids in person, by phone and zoom calls time after time, for big things and little things. The children learned she was in their corner, always fighting for their best interest and for true permanency.
Darkess has also done a wonderful job of connecting with the children’s mother. This mom has struggled with substance use and had been in and out of her children’s lives in the past. However, the mother has showed up and done the work needed to be there for her children. Darkess has become an important source of encouragement, support, and help to the mother. As the mother continued to make positive strides Darkess made sure if there was a need it was met. Darkess even helped track down furniture when the mother got a new place for her children to return to. Darkess made sure to keep the goal of permanency at the top of everyone’s mind and pushed for the children to be with their mother. When that day came it was so sweet to watch not only the children and mom rejoice but also how Darkess was a part of their celebration.
Lesley Knappen – Winner!
Lesley has been this teen’s CASA for three years and to say she is committed would be an understatement. This teen was dropped off at CPS because his dad could no longer care for him and mom had already been out of the picture for a while. Upon entering foster care, this teen threatened suicide and had violent outbursts. Lesley didn’t flinch at the notion of being his CASA and she quickly gained his trust and became “his person.” Caseworkers have come and gone, but Lesley remains. She truly is his only constant and the closest thing to family he has.
From day one, Lesley has visited this young man regularly no matter where he’s been placed. At his farthest placement, Lesley visited at least twice a month; otherwise, she visits him weekly. She also speaks to him weekly, sometimes more if he initiates the calls to her. Once he got in trouble at a placement and was scared for the placement to tell Lesley about what had happened because he was scared, she might finally give up on him. Once she found out, she reassured him she was not going anywhere and nothing he could do would change that. She truly understands the toll that trauma and abandonment can take on a child. She is a strong advocate for him in all areas. Her teen has had run-ins with law enforcement and even spent time in juvenile detention. While there, Lesley ensured he had his medication, his educational needs were met, and ensured he had important things like his glasses. When family days were organized, Lesley was there for every single one. Additionally, Lesley kept money in his account, so he was able to call her whenever he wanted or needed to.
This teen has had a rocky time in foster care, but Lesley remains steadfast in her role as his advocate, always meeting him with grace and non-judgmental kindness. Lesley always looks for the best in this young man and affirms it. She has a unique ability to give him tough love when it is needed but show her commitment and love by always showing up. He knows he can count on his CASA and that is a very important gift she has given this teen.
Glen Conant
Glen loves and serves with her whole heart. She is a natural at forming relationships with all parties, but she especially shines at bonding with caregivers and parents. In her current case, she has visited the child’s mother at many “interesting” places most people wouldn’t go. This mom has mental health issues, along with substance abuse, and Glen takes a motherly approach with her. Glen meets here where she at not just physically but emotionally with a genuine concern and desire to help her. She takes her food and clothes, meets her for lunch, and is often the person this struggling mom reaches out to for a listening ear. Glen has a knack for ministering to moms like this while at the same time being fiercely protective of her assigned child. It’s a hard balance but she handles it gracefully and with empathy. She keeps her eye on the purpose of her role and is unwavering in her commitment to serving his best interests.
Earlier on in her case, Glen’s baby was initially placed in an amazing foster home but a kinship option became available for placement, and it was very difficult to agree to moving him since he was thriving. In true Glen fashion, she spent A LOT of time with these potential caregivers so that she could make an informed decision. While she hated to see her little guy moved from such a perfect placement, she agreed to the move. Because this foster family was so invested in this little boy, Glen asked the kinship family if they were willing to meet the foster parents and they agreed. Through Glen’s facilitation, the foster parents and kinship have had several gatherings and continue to meet regularly to maintain this important connection for her little guy. When this little boy turned one the kinship family not only invited Glen to be part of his “pit crew” for his car themed birthday but also the previous foster parents. Because of Glen this little guy has even more people in his life who not only love him but show up for him.
She will go anywhere at any time to meet the needs of her child, parent, or caregiver. When the child needed a medical procedure that required the parent’s consent she at the drop of a hat came to the office to get the paperwork that needed to be signed and then to an out-of-town jail to see if she could get the mother to consent to the treatment. The mother has previously denied it when talking with the caseworker, but Glen had spent many months building an open and honest relationship with the mother. Glen was able to secure permission for her child to get a much-needed medical procedure.
At trial Glen was a key witness and gave great testimony. She had gone above and beyond in her work over the year which helped secure the termination and allowed this sweet boy to have a safe and permanent home. We are grateful for Glen and her dedication to her CASA child and ensuring his best interests were met.
Leigh Ann Kovalcik
Leigh Ann Kovalcik has been an invaluable member of the CASA family since 2023, beginning her service as a dedicated CASA Board member. In 2025, she stepped into the vital (though often thankless) role of Treasurer, serving with integrity and diligence. This past year she also completed training to become a CASA Advocate, further deepening her commitment to our mission.
Leigh Ann brings a true servant’s heart to everything she does. She is personally and wholeheartedly invested in CASA’s success; if something matters to CASA, it matters to Leigh Ann. Although she volunteers in numerous places throughout the community, she is a frequent and cherished presence in the CASA office, often stepping in to help anytime she’s asked. She is here more than nearly any other volunteer, quietly and humbly taking on tasks with unmatched excellence and reliability.
This year, Leigh Ann once again served on the Kids Expo committee, where she tirelessly engaged community partners and advocated for their participation. She helped prepare the venue, contributed to event logistics, and even served alongside her husband on the day of the event. Her event involvement didn’t stop there. Leigh Ann supported additional CASA events throughout the year and consistently offers a helping hand for any job, big or small.
As an added blessing, she is known to brighten staff days with surprise Sonic drinks or mini Bundt cakes, small gestures that mean more than she realizes.
Leigh Ann is an encourager, a steady worker, and a true gift to our organization. Her dedication, humility, and heart make her an extraordinary asset to the CASA team and a deeply deserving nominee for Volunteer of the Year.
Melanie Oates – Winner!
Melanie consistently prioritizes CASA, placing us on her calendar and showing up time and time again. She attends and volunteers at every CASA event, going above and beyond in each role she takes on. Melanie serves on the Kids Expo committee and even worked the Edward Jones booth while simultaneously volunteering—arriving at sunrise and staying until the event was complete. At the crawfish boil, she brought her signature enthusiasm—serving mudbugs with a smile and staying to help clean up once the event wrapped up.
She is instrumental in helping spread awareness about CASA, faithfully sharing our Facebook posts, assisting with raffle ticket sales, and communicating the importance of our mission within her social circles. This year, Melanie also played a key role in our Christmas Toy Drive by helping deliver toy boxes and ensuring they were picked up as well.
Melanie truly takes volunteering to the next level with her enthusiasm and creativity. At Bingo, she always finds a way to dress up her CASA t-shirt with special touches that ensure fun is the vibe—and she brought that same energy to the Parade of Playhouses. She was one of the five dedicated volunteers who walked very “briskly” to distribute CASA and raffle flyers to the public.
Melanie is the very definition of a tried-and-true volunteer, and CASA is incredibly grateful for her unwavering dedication, energy, and heart for the children we serve.
Jill Pagels
Jill is a true gem. She loves CASA, people, and service – and we love HER! While Jill has been a faithful volunteer with CASA events throughout the year and a valuable participant in board meetings, what stands out most about Jill is her consistent and genuine presence at CASA. She’s up to help with anything she’s asked – whether a 5 minute email draft or a 3-hour project, Jill is in to help in ANY way her schedule allows. She works behind the scenes in ways that most don’t even see updating records, supporting functions of the board, organizing toys, and leading and guiding the students involved with Kats for CASA. She’s been elected to be the next president of CASA’s board, and she is intentionally investing in learning and listening so that she’s prepared to serve in this role.
Additionally, Jill is an encourager to our staff and always the first to introduce herself to a new board member or volunteer. Jill isn’t one to just run in and take care of business – she makes an intentional effort to greet and encourage us ALL every time she stops by. She’s been known to bring chocolate or a flower or some other token of appreciation, always given in a way that makes the staff feel seen and valued. While it’s certainly not the job of the volunteers to take care of the staff, Jill makes care and concern a priority. When she says “How can I help you today,” we know she means it and we’re grateful to have her in our corner.
Jill is a valued board member who takes her roles at CASA very seriously. She’s a leader and a friend with a fun, sarcastic wit. We’re grateful to have her on our board and our volunteer team!
Sue Slater
Sue began working with CASA as a committee member during the very first year of the Kids Expo and has continued to bring valuable knowledge, dedication, and creative ideas to the table ever since. Sue has been an incredible asset to the Expo—helping with booth layout and marking, arriving in the early morning hours for setup, staying late to break down and working in-between.
Sue didn’t stop there though she also recruited her husband to assist with CASA events and together they also assisted with the golf tournament and then headed straight to the crawfish boil to continue lending a hand wherever it was needed. Always committed for the long haul, Sue and Danny rarely pause for a break, focusing instead on getting the job done efficiently and effectively.
They both played an important role in constructing the CASA parade float and, once again, were there from sunup until well after sundown. Sue was also one of the five dedicated volunteers who ran the downtown streets distributing flyers to help spread awareness about CASA and the raffle.
During all this and the long days Sue’s attitude was always upbeat, and you could see her smiling and laughing bringing true joy to everyone she interacts with at these events. This past year, Sue and Danny took their commitment to CASA to the next level—Sue became an advocate, and Danny stepped in as a companion. Together, they are truly unstoppable, and CASA is incredibly grateful for their unwavering dedication and servant hearts.
Lisa Branch
Lisa has been a volunteer with CASA since 2017. While her primary role served in CASA through the years has been that of a board member, Lisa is an “above and beyond” kind of leader. In 2025, Lisa volunteered at EVERY CASA event – she greeted guests at the Expo, put in a ton of behind the scenes work Bingo – researching, shopping, and prepping our prizes – and participated in the ongoing planning of the event. When it was time for Mudbugs & Mulligans, she was all in for whatever was needed. At expo she was among the first to arrive, and for the Crawfish Boil she was one of the last to leave. She’s a “put me in, coach” type of volunteer, who shows up ready to give her all!
In addition to these things, Lisa faithfully carried out her role as a board director, providing wisdom and guidance to major organizational decisions. When a need presented to serve on the Executive Committee, Lisa stepped up, despite having a million reasons to say no. She personally sponsors CASA’s fundraising events and is an advocate for CASA and kids in everything she does.
Like most, Lisa’s life has a million and one other priorities – a million other places she could spend her time. But month after month and year after year, she keeps choosing CASA and that in itself is worth this recognition!
Nancy Ormsby
Nancy always amazes us with her talents! She is very creative and helps bring our crazy ideas to life from palm trees to mountains and more. She also is a CASA companion and serves as a special helper to her CASA advocate and to create not only precious, but impactful art pieces for Christmas in July Bingo ‘s child art auction.
Nancy is a great team member at all our events. She assisted with the planning of the CASA float for the Christmas parade and doing multiple days of prep work to get things ready for the float assembly. She also helped with bingo where she wore MANY hats including setup and decorating to payment check out (a tough job for sure). We are grateful that she not only has creative talents but that she is a wiz at excel! Nancy assisted with our Kids Expo and is ALWAYS willing to lend a hand. We know it is cliché but she definitely takes the work out of teamwork. She steps in whenever called.
She has been an immense help to the CASA staff stepping in to help with admin tasks, help at the office and community outreach events when the staff are stretched a little too thin. Nancy isn’t one to care for recognition and will downplay how much of an impact she has, but we really don’t know where we’d be without Nancy stepping in and always saying yes. She doesn’t just say yes though, she does it with a smile and genuinely because she is happy to help others.
Nancy loves her community and is often involved with other things but always makes time for CASA. She loves CASA and it continues to show in all that she does. We are so grateful for her and all the ways she serves CASA and our mission.