Jefferson Awards

Whispers of Hope volunteer honored with Jefferson Award
By Lynn Walker (Times Record News)
Friday, April 17, 2009

Jefferson Awards

A 15-year-old girl who involves herself totally in a therapeutic horse-riding center is the winner of the local Jefferson Award for Public Service.

Morgan Dresbach performed every chore from cleaning out the stalls to calming down a skittish rider.

In her five years with the nonprofit Whispers of Hope, Morgan has delved into all aspects of the operation designed to help patients by involving them with horses and riding.

It's an area she'll stay with - she intends to become a veterinarian.

The award, sponsored as a partnership between the Junior League Jefferson Awards

and the Times Record News,

recognizes groups and individuals who volunteer a variety of services to the community.

The Jefferson Award is a national program. It was started in 1972 as a Nobel Prize for public service. Co-founders Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Sen. Robert Taft Jr. and Sam Beard urged a "Call to Action for Volunteers" in local communities.

Nominated by their nonprofit organizations in four categories - adult, group, education and youth - the individuals are judged by a panel Jefferson Awards

made up of community leaders. Morgan will go on to represent the area

at the national level in Washington, D.C., later this spring.

Other nominess for this year's award were:

  • Leanne and Jay Cottrell, who volunteer for River Bend Nature Center.
  • Jody Pacheco, for the Project Jody veterans effort.
  • Sue Hempfling for Meals on Wheels.
  • Janice Waldon for work at Community Health Care Center.
  • Lila Arnald of the Wild Bird Rescue Inc.
  • Laura Von Loh with Rathgeber Hospitality House.
  • Jessica Langdon for Teens Make a Difference.
  • Betty Carroll for work with Wichita-Archer-Clay Christian Women's Job Corps.
  • Linda Boyd with Child Advocates CASA.
  • Paula Shepherd for work at Faith Mission.
  • Lou Cotter for work at Faith Mission.
  • Greater Wichita Falls Soccer Association.
  • Taylor Watson for work with Whispers of Hope.
  • Linda York with Early Head Start.
  • Zundy Special Education Class through Interfaith Ministries Inc.
  • Whispers of Hope Horse Farm Junior Volunteers.
  • Wichita Falls Crime Stoppers Inc.
  • Teens Make a Difference.
  • Elevating Excellence Campaign at United Regional Health Care System.
  • Habitat for Humanity's Burk Build.

Thursday's awards presentation was at Kemp Center for the Arts.

 

To download a nomination form, click here.