hall of award winners

The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy takes pride in recognizing outstanding child advocates and those Oklahomans working to improve the quality of life for all its youngest residents. Each year, OICA recognizes a number of Heroes for Children at the Annual Heroes Ball with an array of awards. Beyond the Heores Ball, OICA has awards honoring the work of child advocates throughout the year. Below is a list of those who have been honored for their work on behalf of Oklahoma's children.

Kate Barnard Lifetime Achievement Award

  • 2017 – Jasmine and Melvin Moran
  • 2018 – Hon. Ed Long
  • 2019 – Hon. Lisa Tipping Davis
  • 2020 – Hon. Doris Fransein
  • 2021 – Jean and Bob Harbison
  • 2022 – Dr. Barbara Bonner
  • 2023 - The Potts Family
  • 2024 - Barry Switzer


Jay Scott Brown Individual Advocate Award

  • 2017 – Amy and Craig Groeschel
  • 2018 – Lou Kerr
  • 2019 – Karen Waddell
  • 2020 – Noble McIntyre
  • 2021 – Charis and Chad Richison
  • 2022 – Wanda Van Metre Felty
  • 2023 - Jabee Williams
  • 2024 - Maggie Nichols


OICA Organizational Advocate Award

  • 2017 – Adopt OK Kids, KFOR, KSWO and KTUL
  • 2018 – The Chickasaw Nation
  • 2019 – Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth
  • 2020 – Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA)
  • 2021 – The Health Departments of Oklahoma – State, Tribal and County
  • 2022 – Hunger Free Oklahoma
  • 2023 - The Cherokee Nation
  • 2024 - The Choctaw Nation


Laura Boyd Public Servant Award

  • 2017 – Hon. Dan Boren
  • 2018 – First Lady Kim Henry
  • 2019 – Hon. Laura Boyd
  • 2020 – First Lady Rhonda Walters
  • 2021 – Hon. Judy Eason McIntyre
  • 2022 – Hon. Sandy Garrett
  • 2023 - First Lady Donna Nigh
  • 2024 - Speaker Steve Lewis


Henry Bellmon Public Servant Award

  • 2017 – Hon. Harry Coates
  • 2018 – Hon. Ken Miller
  • 2019 – Hon. Ron Peters
  • 2020 – Hon. Glenn Coffee
  • 2021 – Hon. J.C. Watts
  • 2022 – Hon. Fred Perry
  • 2023 - First Lady Cathy Keating
  • 2024 - Speaker Kris Steele


CEO’s Public Service Award

  • 2021 – “Tulsa Burning”
  • 2022 – Jerry Bennett, James Hostler and Charles J. Martin
  • 2023 - Eva Carter, Anne Roberts, Linda Terrell, Doug Gibson, and Terry Smith
  • 2024 - George Krumme


The Burnes/Lichtenstein Award for Excellence in Journalism

  • 2023 - Karen Burnes and Bill Lichtenstein
  • 2024 - Terri Watkins, Bill Gallagher, Carlton Sherwood, and John Hanchette


The Judy Eason McIntyre Inclusion Award

  • 2024 - The Reverend Dr. John A. Reed, Jr.


The Dr. Dwight Sublett Healthcare Award

  • 2024 - Dr. Dwight Sublett


The Sandy Garrett Educator Award

  • 2024 - Tanya Jones

Laura Choate Resilience Award 

  • 2015 – Laura Choate
  • 2016 – Penny Reynolds
  • 2017 – Thomasine Fife
  • 2018 – LV Crutcher
  • 2019 – Joyce Rock
  • 2020 – David Hall
  • 2021 – Jena Nelson
  • 2022 – Courtney Gaines
  • 2023 - Shelly Lee
  • 2024 - Kristina Egnor


Jari Askins Justice for Children Award

  • 2022 – Timothy Michaels-Johnson
  • 2023 - Judge Mike Warren
  • 2024 - Judge Mike Flanagan


Stephen A. Novick Child Advocacy Award

  • 2019 – Martha Cordell
  • 2020 – Katy Maxwell and Kathryn Brewer
  • 2021 – Clotiel Howard, Kevin Evans and Mark Mann
  • 2022 – Christy Kastl
  • 2023 - Carolynn Macallister
  • 2024 - Alana Ruth Hughes


Jasmine and Melvin Moran Kidizenship Award

  • 2017 – A’Layah Robinson, Maya Carter, Laryssa Nunn, Desi Abney and Raylee Stonecipher
  • 2018 – Samantha Lively, Caitlin Coffey, Elizabeth Fry and Kennedy Denton
  • 2019 – Lilly Coates, Mary Owen, William Harkin
  • 2020 – Jensyn Hood, Danica McTague and Elizabeth Fry
  • 2021 – Zabella Hernandez and Danica McTague
  • 2022 – Conner Quintero
  • 2023 - Ace Morris and Isaiah "Zay" Jarvis
  • 2024 - Kayla Leeper


Anne Roberts People’s Choice Organizational Award

  • 2017 – Whiz Kids Oklahoma
  • 2018 – Peppers Ranch
  • 2019 – Oklahoma United Methodist Circle of Care
  • 2020 – Diabetes Solutions of Oklahoma
  • 2021 – SoonerStart
  • 2022 – Fostering Connections
  • 2023 - Sara's Project
  • 2024 - The Anna's House Foundation


Anne Roberts People’s Choice Individual Award

  • 2017 – Brenda Lene’
  • 2018 – Cody Inman
  • 2019 – Judy Payne
  • 2020 – Ryan Abernathy
  • 2021 – Melissa Ahlgrim
  • 2022 – Amber Cuyler
  • 2023 - Alethea Satterwhite
  • 2024 - Mary Beth Talley


Ray and Pat Potts Community Leader Award

  • 2024 - Stan Clark


The H.E. "Gene" Rainbolt Corporate Citizen Award

  • 2024 - BancFirst


The Jon Hansen Public Servant Award

  • 2024 - Oklahoma City FIre Department


OICA Volunteer of the Year Award

  • 2024 - Debbie Hogue-Downing