As we just celebrated Thanksgiving, I would be remiss to not express appreciation for those who work tirelessly for the youth of our state.

Each year, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) presents multiple awards for deserving advocates. In 2025, we were thrilled with each of the nominations, people or organizations doing exceptional work, and certainly for those selected as the winners by our board. Those selected are:

• The Jasmine and Melvin Moran Kidizenship Award was presented to Addison Sams, a high school freshman who is a Student Advocate for the Oklahoma Chapter of Decoding Dyslexia.

• The Laura Choate Resilience Award was presented to Dr. Bradley Mays, the Developmental Disabilities Council of Oklahoma’s Advocacy & Training Coordinator.

• The Dr. Dwight Sublett Health Care Award was presented to Dr. Ashley Weedn, a board-certified pediatrician and Assistant Professor at OU Health Sciences Center.

• The Sandy Garrett Educator Award was presented to Teresa Eichenberger, at Tulsa Public Schools Teacher who has helped with the education of youth in the Tulsa Juvenile Detention Center, leading to their first two graduates during time in the facility.

• The Ray and Pat Potts Community Leader Award was presented to Mayor Kim Peterson, for service as a board member for Kids Inc Guymon, Guymon United Way, Guymon Chamber of Commerce and the City of Guymon Rodeo Board.

• The Burnes/Lichtenstein Journalism Award was presented to John Small, the managing editor of The Johnston County Sentinel in Tishomingo.

• The Senator Judy Eason McIntyre Inclusion Award was presented to children’s book author Mariana Llanos.

• The Jon Hansen Public Servant Award had two winners: Tulsa County Juvenile Detention Center Assistant Manager Penny Lewis and Ardmore Police Department Detective Landon Gary for his work in the investigation unit with a specialization in child crimes.

• The Steven A. Novick Child Advocacy Award also had two winners, Oklahoma Policy Institute’s child well-being specialist Jill Mencke and Stephen Garvin, a former Human Services worker of 18 years who helped shape Citizens for Children, a Stephens County nonprofit working to help keep biological families united.

• The Jari Askins Justice for Children Award was presented to attorney Cameron Spradling, who specializes in civil representation for children, survivors of sexual abuse and victims of violent crimes.

• The H.E. “Gene” Rainbolt Corporate Citizen Award was presented to Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores for their support of Children’s Miracle Network and multiple youth initiatives.

• The OICA CEO’s Recognition Award was presented to Dr. Amy Emerson, a Tulsa child advocate with a lengthy track record of service to youth programs, including service to Reach out and Read and Lilyfield Empower Tulsa.

• The OICA Volunteer of the Year award was presented to James “Tony” Willis, who generously gives of his time to help OICA.

These winners join other awards’ recipients presented earlier this year:

• The Honorable Joe Eddins, winner of the Laura Boyd Public Servant Award, presented to a formerly elected/appointed Democratic official who has continued going exception work for children.

• The Honorable Weldon Watson, winner of the Henry Bellmon Public Servant Award, presented likewise to a Republican official with the same qualifications.

Justice Yvonne Kauger (retired), winner of the Kate Barnard Lifetime Achievement in Child Advocacy Award, for her efforts during her service as member of the Oklahoma Supreme Court to expand education through the Sovereignty Symposium and modernization of court systems.

• The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, winner of our OICA Organization Advocate of the Year, for their programming which elevates civility conversations with youth.

• Kim Garrett Funk, winner of our Jay Scott Brown Individual Advocate of the Year Award, for her work with Palomar as founder and their Chief Visionary Officer.

Thank you to each of these amazing Oklahomans, along with everyone who has done exceptional work as child advocates. We are thankful for you!

– The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy was established in 1983 by a group of citizens seeking to create a strong advocacy network that would provide a voice for the needs of children and youth in Oklahoma, particularly those in the state’s care and those growing up amid poverty, violence, abuse and neglect, disparities, or other situations that put their lives and future at risk. Our mission statement: “Creating awareness, taking action and changing policy to improve the health, safety, and well-being of Oklahoma’s children.