WCA Awards
The Wisconsin Correctional Association is proud to recognize outstanding professionals and support continued education through our annual awards program.
Celebrating Excellence. Honoring Achievement.
WCA Awards
The WCA Awards Program recognizes members for their dedication, service, and impact within the correctional field.
Awards are presented annually at the WCA Conference during the awards luncheon. Recipients are encouraged to celebrate alongside colleagues, friends, and family.
Award Categories
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Boyd Spikerman Memorial Correctional Officer Award
Established November 11, 1987
This award recognizes a correctional officer, adult or juvenile, for his or her dedications to the mission goals and programs of corrections. In addition to performing his or her job each day with a high level of professionalism, this person brings credit and honor to the profession. Examples include displaying leadership among peers, involvement in facility or community activities and/or willingness to perform special assignments. The recipient could be a county, state or federal employee. (Award is in honor of Officer Boyd Spikerman, who was killed in the line of duty during an inmate uprising at the Federal Correctional Institution - Oxford)
2025 - Lincoln Hills Corey Proulx First Responder Team
2024 - Ralph Sadowski Jr.
2023 - Sean Hart
2022 - Thomas Gomach
2021 - Michael Turner
2020 - Charles Duha & Mark Johnsrud
2019 - Brad Londre
2018 - Monica Horner
2017 - Phil Henneman
2016 - Andrew Boerst
2015 - Jason Mentzel
2014 - Timothy Retzlaff
2013 - Tony Bakken
2012 - Amy Strutz
2011 - No award presented this year
2010 - Anthony Montez
2009 - Michael Granger
2008 - Debra Miller
2007 - OSCI Staff (11)
2006 - Raymond Fadroski
2005 - Russell Jabas
2004 - Daniel Brown and Thomas Core
2003 - Terry Schulz
2002 - Wayne Schwantes
2001 - Kenneth Perre
2000 - Alan Deschler
1999 - Brian McCoic
1998 - C. T. Field
1997 - Greg Polzin
1996 - Rory Thelen
1995 - Harlan Linjer
1994 - Kevin Halverson
1993 - Al Youngbauer
1992 - Oregon Correctional Center Staff (9)
1991 - Donald Klemmer
1990 - Jay Delpho
1989 - William Hamer
1988 - Shelly Boulware Sr. -
The Dr. Juliette Martin-Thomas Award for Excellence in the Field of Human Services
Established in September 1994
This award recognizes an individual in the public or private sector who has made significant contributions to the field of human services. The recipient may be a social worker, psychologist, health care provider, clergy, volunteer, probation/parole agent, child care worker, treatment provider, etc. Further, through genuine interaction, communication and commitment, this individual has made a valuable contribution to multi-culturalism.
2025 - William Armstrong
2024 - Holly Stanelle
2023 - Rachel Fryda-Gehde
2022 - Julie Ludwig
2021 - Julie Reichert
2020 - Sarah Cooper
2019 - Trina Kroening-Skime
2018 - Autumn Lacy
2017 - Nathan Melanson
2016 - Beverly Pittman-Burns
2015 - Dr. Samantha Schwartz-Oscar
2014 - Christine Trinrud
2013 - George Koenig
2012 - Kathy Walter
2011 - John Husz
2010 - Pamela Brandon
2009 - Kalen Ruck
2008 - Rose Kleman
2007 - Terry Schemenauer
2006 - Roberta Gaither
2005 - Sheryl Graeber
2004 - Urban Klosterman
2003 - Dennis Moser
2002 - Antonia Vann
2001 - Jan Cummings
2000 - Dr. Susan Curran
1999 - Karl E. Brekke
1998 - George Fuedner
1997 - Robert C. Kocmoud
1996 - Robert Kolinski
1995 - Jerry E. Smith, Jr. -
The Sanger B. Powers Award for Excellence This award, established in 1984, recognizes an individual for his or her career contributions to the field of criminal justice. The recipient can be from a private or public agency. Sanger B. Powers held many levels of positions throughout his prestigious career. He began his career in the social services field with the City of Milwaukee and then promoted to a Dunn County supervisor for public assistance for eight counties. In 1950, he promoted to the director of the State Division of Probation and Parole and shortly thereafter was selected as the Superintendent of the Wisconsin State Reformatory, now the Green Bay Correctional Institution. In 1956, he was appointed director of the Division of Corrections, a position he held until his retirement in 1974. Mr. Powers served in the Navy and was active in the Naval Reserve until he retired in 1969 with the rank of commander. Mr. Powers served as President of the American Correctional Association as well as in high-level positions on the National Council of Crime and Delinquency, the Council of State Government, and on numerous other state and national organizations
2025 - Kristy Baumgart
2024 - Chantell Jewell
2023 - Grace Knutson
2022 - Beckie Blodgett
2021 - Jean Young
2020 - Deanna Perschke
2019 - Michelle Burton
2018 - Larry Jenkins
2017 - Judy Smith & Denise Symdon
2016 - Rose Snyder-Spaar
2015 - Lori McAllister
2014 - Lawrence Mahoney
2013 - Mary Jane Anttila
2012 - Robert Grusnick
2011 - William Rankin
2010 - James Miller
2009 - Gerald Berge
2008 - John Bett
2007 - Phil Kingston
2006 - Steven Casperson
2005 - Dave Burton
2004 - Marianne Cooke
2003 - John Barian
2002 - Carol Briones
2001 - Ken Sondalle
2000 - Adelaide (Binky) Krahn
1999 - Donald W. Gudmanson
1998 - James W. Mathews
1997 - Gilbert F. Durkin
1996 - Michael J. Sullivan
1995 - Pamela J. Brandon
1994 - John R. Gagnon
1993 - Paul D. Prast
1992 - Darrell A. Kolb
1991 - Donald Clark
1990 - Stephen E. Bablitch
1989 - Gordon Abrahamson
1988 - Elmer O. Cady
1987 - Roland C. Hershman
1986 - Katherine Helmer
1985 - David A. Johnson, Jr. -
Wisconsin Correctional Association Clerical/Office Support Award
Established in 2016
This award is WCA’s newest award and recognizes an individual in the public or private sector who has made significant contributions to their field as a clerical or office support person. As part of a larger team, the support staff assists in making sure daily operations flow seamlessly and are always an integral part of accomplishing their agency/office’s mission.
2025 - Jennifer Trochinski
2024 - Suzanne Wells
2023 - Darren Miller
2022 - Natalie Anderson
2021 - Judy Beeschke
2020 - Jane Chamberlin & Shelly Flier
2019 - Mary Lee & Kathy Martin
2018 - Lynn Van Handel
2017 - Cynthia Schumerth
2016 - Carol Krueger -
The Wisconsin Council on Community Corrections Community Service Award
This award, established in 2004, recognizes a person in the private sector who demonstrates a high level of commitment and professionalism to community-based corrections; who has been instrumental in either improving existing services to offenders in community-based corrections or in piloting new services; who reflects the Wisconsin Council on Community Corrections mission to promote the development and understanding of humane, effective and responsible treatment and services for community-based corrections; and who works to promote and develop alternative community-based corrections programs for offenders with legislative representatives, the Department of Corrections leaders, the community, etc.
2025 - Jerome Dillard
2024 - Clarence Johnson
2023 - Lynda Olson
2022 - Amanda Rodriguez
2021 - Angel Eggers
2020 - Vicki Trebian
2019 - Laurie Lessard
2018 - Celesta Miller
2016 - 2017 No awards given these years
2015 - Paulette Romashko
2014 - Joe Spolowicz
2013 - Anne Strauch2012 - Joe Wilz
2011 - Betty Gregory-Paasch
2009 - Constance Shaver
2008 - Terry Marshall
2007 - Stephen Swigart
2006 - Karen Kinsey
2005 - Michael Houlihan
2004 - Erwin Heinzelmann
Applications
& Timeline
The nomination and application process opens annually.
Applications Open: June of each year
Deadline: Early August of each year
Board Review: In mid-August
Recipients Notified: By early September of each yar
Awards Presented: Monday at each Annual Conference Award Luncheon