Sangamon County residents, businesses honored at Good as Gold ceremony

Tiffani Jackson, State Journal-Register
·5 min read
For her service as a Hospital Sister of St. Francis for more than 70 years, Ann Pitsenberger of Springfield was honored with the 2023 Distinguished Volunteer Award. Pitsenberger has served as a volunteer for the Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach since its inception and was the first chair of its board of directors.
For her service as a Hospital Sister of St. Francis for more than 70 years, Ann Pitsenberger of Springfield was honored with the 2023 Distinguished Volunteer Award. Pitsenberger has served as a volunteer for the Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach since its inception and was the first chair of its board of directors.

More than 50 Sangamon County volunteers, businesses and organizations were honored at the 15th annual Good as Gold ceremony at the University of Illinois Springfield on Monday.

The ceremony, started in 2008 to honor people who give their time and talents to make the county a better place to live, was presented by UIS, Junior League of Springfield and the United Way of Central Illinois.

For her service as a Hospital Sister of St. Francis for more than 70 years, Sister Ann Pitsenberger of Springfield was honored with the 2023 Distinguished Volunteer Award. Pitsenberger has served as a volunteer for the Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach since its inception and was the first chair of its board of directors.

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“I have learned in the Peace Prayer of St. Francis that ‘it is in giving that we receive,’” she said. “I believe that we are called to share what we have been given with others, and volunteering is my way of responding to that call.”

Pitsenberger has also served on the board of directors for HSHS St. John’s Hospital, Pregnancy Care Center of Springfield and the Ronald McDonald House over the years. Today she spends her time tutoring a Ukrainian student in English and said the most important aspect of volunteering is in giving and helping others, whether at home or abroad.

Star Student award

UIS senior public administration and political science major Emmanuelle Yakana of Gabon was honored with the Star Student Award for her track record of volunteering with numerous organizations.

Yakana has served in leadership roles with the International Student Friendship, University Bible Fellowship and International Student Association during her time at UIS.

“The most important aspect of volunteering for me is doing everything with joy and doing it well,” Yakana said. “As you volunteer, you are not remunerated for it, yet you must give it your all, and you must do it well because it is out of your will that you decided to serve and surely you will see the fruits of it.”

Yakana also volunteers with Faith Coalition for the Common Good, a local nonprofit organization that works to create a community with racial and economic equity. She currently serves as student body president for the UIS student government association.

Star Staff award

Administrative aide for the UIS Career Development Center, Douglas Brackney, was honored with the Star Staff award for his work with students and the community. Brackney serves as a council member on the Faculty & Staff Campaign, the State and University Employees Combined Appeal (SECA) campaign, the Dr. Ford Emergency Fund and the Student Employee of the Month committee.

Brackney has also helped provide meals to the Springfield Overflow Shelter as a volunteer with the Unity of Springfield Church for 12 years.

“I don’t really think about what I do as volunteering, but as sharing," he said. "Sharing with others was instilled in me at an early age.”

Youth Volunteer award

Glenwood High School senior Liana Clendenny was honored with the Youth Volunteer award for her service to several organizations.

Clendenny has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Fight for Air Climb, Memorial’s Festival of Trees, the Honor Flight and at her church.

Clendenny currently volunteers with The James Project, a non profit Christian ministry that supports foster families in Sangamon County. She said she views volunteering as an opportunity to make the lives of the unfortunate easier and build connections with the community.

Organization of the Year award

Girls on the Run of Central Illinois received the Organization of the year award for its afterschool programs designed to enhance young girls’ social, emotional and physical skills and behaviors to successfully navigate life experiences.

Trained volunteer coaches part of the organization lead small teams of girls in a curriculum that integrates running twice per week through its 10 week program.

“Participating in Girls on the Run transforms girls’ lives by helping them increase their self-confidence, develop healthy relationships and feel good about themselves, inside and out,” said executive director Jennifer Sublett. “Girls on the Run reaches girls at a critical stage, strengthening their confidence at a time when society begins to tell them they can’t.”

This year, Sublett said coaches and 5k event volunteers will provide more than 11,500 hours of service to mentor and support the girls in the program. The organization serves over 700 girls each year.

Heart of Gold community awards

Twenty-four volunteers received the Heart of Gold Award. Honorees included: Fumika Brudnak, Rachael Buraski, Patricia Carley, Mary Cumming, Evan Davis, Marissa Deweese, Carl Fryman, Taryn Grant, Cheryl Harvey, Michael Hortsman, Carol Jessup, Mary Kyes, Connie Lorenz, Emily McVeigh, James (Jim) Moser, Mary Ann Pohl, Ty Rees, Lori Roate, Donald Scribner, Stacey Skrysak, Beth Waldman, Nancy Wall, Jody Wallace and Ralph Welch.

Business Honor Roll

Sixteen Sangamon County businesses were named for this Business Honor Roll.

Businesses honored with 1-10 employees include AlignLife of Springfield, Gem PR & Media, Illinois Local, Smart Owl Coffee, Tails to Remember Pet Services, The Storyteller Studios and Unleash'd Canine Academy.

The Golden Distinction was awarded to Formea Insurance Group, which supports Titan Fuel, the Chatham and Springfield Jaycees, Hope Institute and a multitude of athletic and extracurricular organizations that help children develop social-emotional and leadership skills.

For businesses with 11-50 employee’s, Central Illinois Society for Human Resources Management was honored with the Golden Distinction. The organization has been involved with food drives, professional clothing drives and has given time to assist job seekers.

Marine Bank received the Golden Distinction award in the 51-150 employee’s category.  The bank is  passionate about finding opportunities to offer financial education and teaching people the skills they need to become financially independent.

Concordia Village, Scheels and Springfield Memorial Hospital were honored in the category of businesses with 150 employees or more.

Bank of Springfield received the Golden Distinction designation for its support  of more than 200 organizations and events and collaboration with The Springfield Project.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: UIS Good as Gold ceremony recipients 2023