Hall of Award Winners

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