President’s Volunteer Service Awards

The Texas Juvenile Justice Department presented the President’s Volunteer Service Awards to 184 of the agency’s most active volunteers. The awards are given in recognition of 100 or more service hours during a twelve month time period. This year’s award recipients collectively contributed a total of 33,894 hours of service to our youth. Six volunteers earned the Gold Medal award by each contributing more than 500 hours. Twenty-six volunteers earned the Silver Medal award by each contributing between 250 and 500 hours of service. The remaining award recipients earned the Bronze Level award for contributing between 100 and 249 hours of service. Each volunteer will receive a letter and a personalized certificate from President Barack Obama recognizing their distinguished service.

The President’s Volunteer Service Award is the premier volunteer awards program, encouraging United States citizens through presidential recognition to live a life of service. The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation established the President’s Volunteer Service Award program as a way to recognize and honor Americans who inspire others to engage in selfless service. The program continues as an initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service.

TJJD has participated in the President’s Volunteer Service Awards for eight consecutive years. The following volunteers earned the Silver and Gold Medal awards this year:

GOLD MEDALS (More than 500 hours of volunteer service to TJJD)

Diana Leggett, Gainesville State School
Judy Davis, Gainesville State School
Loretta Felderhoff, Gainesville State School
Nancy Voss, Gainesville State School
Brian McCann, McLennan County SJCF
Ernie Black, McFadden Ranch

SILVER MEDALS (Between 250-499 hours of volunteer service to TJJD)

Anna Jackson, Ron Jackson SJCF
Claude Jackson, Ron Jackson SJCF
Donald Newsom, Ron Jackson SJCF
James Kit Dean, Ron Jackson SJCF
MaryAnn Rowan, Ron Jackson SJCF
Nimitr Weropas, Ron Jackson SJCF
Paola Guzman, Ron Jackson SJCF
Bettie Washington, Gainesville State School
Bob Voss, Gainesville State School
Gary Carlson, Gainesville State School
Jane Talcott, Gainesville State School
Jerome Voth, Gainesville State School
William West, Gainesville State School
Jalyn Demerson, Houston Parole
Jerome Johnson, Houston Parole
Barry Hanson, McLennan County SJCF
Dennis Rejcek, McLennan County SJCF
Doris Herbert, McLennan County SJCF
Paul Henry, McLennan County SJCF
Kelsey O’Toole, McFadden Ranch
Maria Barron, McFadden Ranch
Matthew Williams, McFadden Ranch
Shirley Stephens, McFadden Ranch
Sylvia Rodriguez, McFadden Ranch
Ernesto Hall, Schaeffer HWH
Valarie Thomas, Schaeffer HWH

McFadden Sends Youth Home with Backpack of 'Hope'

By Y. Denise Caldwell Community Resource Coordinator, Northern District Parole Office FLOWER MOUND, Texas - Larry Bossaler, McFadden volunteer McFadden Ranch Volunteer Larry Bossaler enjoys his assignment: Making sure that every youth who leaves the McFadden halfway house knows that people are praying for him and wishing him the best in his future. He is the man who brings them their “Good-Bye” backpack. When he delivers the backpacks, he makes sure to do three things – visit with the youth, show the contents of the backpack (because staff put them in the lockers until the youth leaves), and lastly close the visit with a heartfelt prayer. The youth enjoy and appreciate the backpack, the visit and the prayer. Many are a little anxious and scared to leave but knowing that the McFadden volunteers care enough to send them off in this special way, helps them feel a bit less worried. “I always bring an extra backpack,” Larry said. ...

IN MEMORY AND APPRECIATION: Trayce Haynes Alexander

Trayce Haynes Alexander, of Cat Spring, Texas passed away in April. She was a JCO IV at the Giddings State School and began her employment with the Texas Youth Commission on January 5, 2009, as a JCO III. She was promoted to a JCO IV on April 1, 2010. Trayce was a hardworking, loyal and dedicated staff member and friend. Her number one priority was the youth in her dorm and she would drive one hour and forty minutes everyday (even in ill health) to try to make a difference in the lives of the youth she worked with. She was well respected by both staff and youth due to her extraordinary work ethic. The boys could always depend on her to hold them accountable. She is survived by her husband Geoff Alexander and two daughters, Kristyn and Robyn Alexander. Trayce was born on September 3, 1952. She earned a BS from Southwest Texas State University in Law Enforcement.

Canyon Lake Evening Reporting Center

When Comal County Juvenile Probation Chief Kris Johnson joined the department in March 2011, he brought with him a long-term vision to open an Evening Reporting Center (ERC) in the county. ERCs, which require youth offenders to report to specified locations during evening hours for programming, skills building and community service, were first used in Chicago, where juvenile justice advocates needed after school programs to keep their higher risk kids from getting involved in the gang scene. They also serve as an alternative to detention pending a youth’s hearings. ERCs have become common detention alternatives in many communities throughout the United States and are based on research and best practices recognized by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Johnson believed implementing an ERC in Comal County would reduce juvenile crime by providing supervision during the hours crime is most likely to occur. Additionally, it could significantly reduce the cost of deten...

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