Love Above Bars
Annual Awards
Since our founding in 1787, our mission has remained steadfast, and the need for our work has only grown. Our annual award winners have shown unwavering commitment to the health, safety, and dignity of people in prison and exemplary leadership. They exemplify the best of our community.
Our nation’s founders came together in 1786 to form the Pennsylvania Prison Society; a "society" or group of people dedicated to the proposition that all among us are entitled to a life of dignity and caring. A community that believes that the criminal justice system should restore hope and the possibility of a “life of virtue and happiness,” not dash hope and end lives.
Since our founding, we have advanced this mission, through wars, pandemics, and political upheaval. But our focus, just like in centuries past, has not wavered.
Every year, since our founding, we have honored those among us that exemplify our mission through our annual awards. Below you can meet last year's award recipients and hear directly from them. You can also scroll down to view a list of historic award winners.
Meet our 2022 Annual Award Winners
Heather Lavelle
Incarcerated Person of the Year,
SCI Muncy
Heather has been incarcerated at SCI Muncy since 2006 and is currently serving a life sentence. Over the past 16 years, she has done so much to better the lives of her peers. As a mentor, she has inspired the women around her. As an advocate, she has touched the heart of many by speaking and writing about the humanity of women in prison.
James Archer
Correctional Employee of the Year
SCI Chester
James has been critical in keeping mentoring running during the pandemic, and also aided the Society in becoming the first provider back in person at SCI Chester. He is committed to preparing guys to come home and is well respected and loved by all of the guys at Chester. He's helped us get creative with how to use technology while we were locked out of the facilities and is always quick to respond.
Phyllis Taylor
Volunteer of the Year,
SCI Phoenix
Phyllis has been a long-term advocate for people who are incarcerated. She is a correctional chaplain and very involved in victim support. Phyllis largely deals with people who are ill and is directly involved with seeing that people in prison get the medical attention they need. She has assembled what she refers to as her “team" to use their expertise to address the health care of incarcerated people.
Historic Award Recipients
2022
Heather Lavelle, SCI Muncy, Incarcerated Person of the Year
James Archer, SCI Chester, Correctional Employee of the Year
Phillis Taylor, SCI Phoenix, Volunteer of the Year
2021
Paul Schuelter, SCI Camp Hill, Incarcerated Person of the Year
Marion Damick, Allegheny Chapter, Volunteer of the Year
Cheryl Steberger, Lancaster County Prison Warden, Correctional Employee of the Year
2020
Kim Drum, Correctional Professional of the Year
Kevin Brown, SCI Chester, Incarcerated Person of the Year
Dave Moyer, Official Visitor of the Year
2019
Malik Neal, Philadelphia Chapter, Volunteer of the Year
Sam Barlow, SCI Coal Township, Incarcerated Person of the Year
Tom McGinley, SCI Coal Township, Correctional Professional of the Year
2018
Daniel Miniarchick, Centre County Prison, Correctional Employee of the Year
Rebecca Mitchell, SCI Huntingdon, Official Visitor of the Year
Kirby Keller, SCI Dallas, Incarcerated Person of the Year
2017
Gene Breisch, SCI Muncy, Official Visitor of the Year
Joyce Schofield, SCI Muncy, Incarcerated Person of the Year
Major Gina Clark, SCI Graterford, Correctional Professional of the Year
2016
Magaleen Stewart, SCI Muncy, Incarcerated Person of the Year
Carolyn Robinson, Lebanon County, Volunteer of the Year
Jill Scheppler, Correctional Administrator of the Year
Senator Shirley Kitchen
2015
Gary Brown, Incarcerated Person of the Year
2014
Franklin Castile, SCI Smithfield, Incarcerated Person of the Year
David Young, SCI Muncy, Volunteer of the Year
2013
Gerome Walsh, SCI Dallas, Correctional Professional of the Year
Elsie McCullaugh, Blair County, Volunteer of the Year
William Payne, Prisoner of the Year
2011
Janie Byrd, SCI Muncy, Volunteer of the Year
Dennis Nicholson, SCI Retreat, Prisoner of the Year
2010
Stan Washington, SCI Somerset, Prisoner of the Year
Barbara Price McHale, Convener of the Year
Joe Nish, SCI Waymart, Correctional Officer of the Year
2009
Sharon Wiggins, SCI Muncy, Prisoner of the Year
Marsha Levick, Meritorious Service
Josephine Rhyder, Carbon County, Volunteer of the Year
2008
Paul Perry, SCI Graterford, Incarcerated Person of the Year
Arthur Clark Developed Clemency Project, Justice
David DiGuglielmo, SCI Graterford, Correctional Professional of the Year
2007
David Ruovsky and Jonathon Feinberg, Meritorious Service
Dr. Nicholas Scharff, Corrections Professional of the Year
Jerry L. Mims, SCI Graterford, Prisoner of the Year
2006
Caig A. Lowe, Pike County Correctional Facility, Corrections Professional of the Year
Richie J. Marra, SCI Chester, Prisoner of the Year
James Syphers, Fayette County chapter, Official Visitor of the Year
Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker Knoll, Meritorious Service
2005
Anita Alberts, Esq. and Martha Sperling, Esq., Meritorious Service
Greg Gaertner, Corrections Professional of the Year
Clarence R. Davis, SCI Retreat, Prisoner of the Year
2004
Stephen Knight, SCI Pine Grove, Prisoner of the Year
2003
Michael Moore, SCI Dallas, Prisoner of the Year
Norman Johnston, Meritorious Service
2002
Douglas Hollis, SCI Mahanoy, Prisoner of the Year
Sharon Dietrich, Community Legal Services, Meritorious Service
2001
Commer Glass, SCI Graterford, Prisoner of the Year
Joe Heckle, Volunteer of the Year
James J. McKenna, Jr., Ph.D, Outstanding Criminal Justice Professional of the Year
2000
Jon Yount, SCI Huntingdon, Prisoner of the Year
George and Nan McVaugh, Volunteers of the Year
David Richman, Esq., Outstanding Criminal Justice Professional of the Year
1999
Cyd Charisse Berger, SCI Cambridge Springs, Prisoner of the Year
Rita Foderaro, Centre County, Volunteer of the Year
Tom Stachelek, SCI Dallas, Outstanding Criminal Justice Professional
Stephanus Barth and Gillian Barth, Distinguished Service
Julia Hall, Ph.D., Outstanding Performance as President
1998
Donald Vaughn, SCI Graterford, Outstanding Criminal Justice Professional of the Year
Lewis C. Rhodes, Volunteer of the Year
Kevin Lively, SCI Huntingdon, Prisoner of the Year
1997
Harriet Kaylor, Ph.D., Huntingdon Chapter, Volunteer of the Year
James Taylor, SCI Graterford, Prisoner of the Year
1996
Marie Scott, SCI Muncy, Prisoner of the Year
Tom Raiker, Volunteer of the Year
Bradley Bridge, Esq., Meritorious Service
2022
Heather Lavelle, SCI Muncy, Incarcerated Person of the Year
James Archer, SCI Chester, Correctional Employee of the Year
Phillis Taylor, SCI Phoenix, Volunteer of the Year
2021
Paul Schuelter, SCI Camp Hill, Incarcerated Person of the Year
Marion Damick, Allegheny Chapter, Volunteer of the Year
Cheryl Steberger, Lancaster County Prison Warden, Correctional Employee of the Year
2020
Kim Drum, Correctional Professional of the Year
Kevin Brown, SCI Chester, Incarcerated Person of the Year
Dave Moyer, Official Visitor of the Year
2019
Malik Neal, Philadelphia Chapter, Volunteer of the Year
Sam Barlow, SCI Coal Township, Incarcerated Person of the Year
Tom McGinley, SCI Coal Township, Correctional Professional of the Year
2018
Daniel Miniarchick, Centre County Prison, Correctional Employee of the Year
Rebecca Mitchell, SCI Huntingdon, Official Visitor of the Year
Kirby Keller, SCI Dallas, Incarcerated Person of the Year
2017
Gene Breisch, SCI Muncy, Official Visitor of the Year
Joyce Schofield, SCI Muncy, Incarcerated Person of the Year
Major Gina Clark, SCI Graterford, Correctional Professional of the Year
2016
Magaleen Stewart, SCI Muncy, Incarcerated Person of the Year
Carolyn Robinson, Lebanon County, Volunteer of the Year
Jill Scheppler, Correctional Administrator of the Year
Senator Shirley Kitchen
2015
Gary Brown, Incarcerated Person of the Year
2014
Franklin Castile, SCI Smithfield, Incarcerated Person of the Year
David Young, SCI Muncy, Volunteer of the Year
2013
Gerome Walsh, SCI Dallas, Correctional Professional of the Year
Elsie McCullaugh, Blair County, Volunteer of the Year
William Payne, Prisoner of the Year
2011
Janie Byrd, SCI Muncy, Volunteer of the Year
Dennis Nicholson, SCI Retreat, Prisoner of the Year
2010
Stan Washington, SCI Somerset, Prisoner of the Year
Barbara Price McHale, Convener of the Year
Joe Nish, SCI Waymart, Correctional Officer of the Year
2009
Sharon Wiggins, SCI Muncy, Prisoner of the Year
Marsha Levick, Meritorious Service
Josephine Rhyder, Carbon County, Volunteer of the Year
2008
Paul Perry, SCI Graterford, Incarcerated Person of the Year
Arthur Clark Developed Clemency Project, Justice
David DiGuglielmo, SCI Graterford, Correctional Professional of the Year
2007
David Ruovsky and Jonathon Feinberg, Meritorious Service
Dr. Nicholas Scharff, Corrections Professional of the Year
Jerry L. Mims, SCI Graterford, Prisoner of the Year
2006
Caig A. Lowe, Pike County Correctional Facility, Corrections Professional of the Year
Richie J. Marra, SCI Chester, Prisoner of the Year
James Syphers, Fayette County chapter, Official Visitor of the Year
Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker Knoll, Meritorious Service
2005
Anita Alberts, Esq. and Martha Sperling, Esq., Meritorious Service
Greg Gaertner, Corrections Professional of the Year
Clarence R. Davis, SCI Retreat, Prisoner of the Year
2004
Stephen Knight, SCI Pine Grove, Prisoner of the Year
2003
Michael Moore, SCI Dallas, Prisoner of the Year
Norman Johnston, Meritorious Service
2002
Douglas Hollis, SCI Mahanoy, Prisoner of the Year
Sharon Dietrich, Community Legal Services, Meritorious Service
2001
Commer Glass, SCI Graterford, Prisoner of the Year
Joe Heckle, Volunteer of the Year
James J. McKenna, Jr., Ph.D, Outstanding Criminal Justice Professional of the Year
2000
Jon Yount, SCI Huntingdon, Prisoner of the Year
George and Nan McVaugh, Volunteers of the Year
David Richman, Esq., Outstanding Criminal Justice Professional of the Year
1999
Cyd Charisse Berger, SCI Cambridge Springs, Prisoner of the Year
Rita Foderaro, Centre County, Volunteer of the Year
Tom Stachelek, SCI Dallas, Outstanding Criminal Justice Professional
Stephanus Barth and Gillian Barth, Distinguished Service
Julia Hall, Ph.D., Outstanding Performance as President
1998
Donald Vaughn, SCI Graterford, Outstanding Criminal Justice Professional of the Year
Lewis C. Rhodes, Volunteer of the Year
Kevin Lively, SCI Huntingdon, Prisoner of the Year
1997
Harriet Kaylor, Ph.D., Huntingdon Chapter, Volunteer of the Year
James Taylor, SCI Graterford, Prisoner of the Year
1996
Marie Scott, SCI Muncy, Prisoner of the Year
Tom Raiker, Volunteer of the Year
Bradley Bridge, Esq., Meritorious Service
1995
John Hargreaves, Volunteer of the Year
Thurman Ali Bonner, SCI Muncy, Prisoner of the Year
Ann Schwartzman, Meritorious Service
1994
Judith Zucker, Aline Wolf, Matthew Epps, Julia Cass, Meritorious Service
Elizabeth Alexander, Scott Burris, Angus R. Love, Robet W. Meek, Stefan Presser, David Rudovsky, Attorneys on the Austin v. Lehman Team
1993
Sharon Wiggins, Thomas O'Rourke, Janet Leban, Finn Hornum, Meritorious Service
David Williams, William Gonzalez, Sharon Fowler, Bruce Oxford, Madeline Ramos-Pagan, Awards for Outstanding Performance in the Community Service Orders Project
1992
Flora Belle McKinney, Board member
Allen Hornblum, Chief of Staff (City of Philadelphia Sheriff's Office)
Michael Clate, Convener (Allegheny Chapter) Gary Rock, SCI Huntingdon
Tyone Werts, SCI Graterford
1991
Alvin Bronstein, Esq.
Gretchen Kelley, Cumberland County Convener
Mamie Fains, Retired Regional Director, Community Corrections, Eastern Region
1990
David S. Owens Jr, past commissioner of the Department of Corrections
Melvin Heller
Jane Crosby, Volunteer of the Year
Jesse Kithcart and Thomas Sim, Incarcerated People of the Year
James McKenna and Bella J. Muir
1989
Pat Finio
Steve Blackburn, Incarcerated Person of the Year
Jane Johnson, Volunteer of the Year
Allen Kukovich, State Representative
Angus Love Esq., Montgomery County Legal Services
Edmund H. Lyons, Superintendent, Philadelphia Prisons
1988
Diane Metzger, Incarcerated Person of the Year
Theo Wilkins and Heine Rathmann, Volunteers of the Year
H. William DeWeese, Meritorious Service
1987
Rev. John A. Parkinson, Board Member, Chaplain to Philadelphia Prisons
Lois Williamson
Robert Earl Barnes, Incarcerated Person of the Year
Joan Gauker, founder of Graterfriends
Alexine L. Atherton, President of the Board of Directors
1986
Ted Klugman, Volunteer of the Year
John D. Case, Outstanding Criminal Justice Professional of the Year
Rick Nichols
Raymond B. Crawford, Incarcerated Person of the Year
1985
Bernice O'Hara, Staff member
Dr. Rose Cologne, Volunteer of the Year
Rendell A. Davis, former Executive Director
1984
Kimmett Edgar, Volunteer of the Year
John Woestendiek
John Conrad, Outstanding Criminal Justice Professional of the Year
1983
Dr. Philip WithinSarah H. Shakespeare, Visitor of the Year
Kenneth A. Tervalon, Life Skills program coordinator
William J. Kennedy, Board member
1982
Chuck Stone
Dr. Anna Zeigler, Volunteer of the Year
David Rudovsky, Esq
Joseph Rhodes, Jr
1981
John Sweeny
Stepen Salisbury
Edmund B. Spaeth, Jr
1980
William G. Nagel
Paul Wahrhaftig
Rev. Richard Swartout
Albert Froy
1979
Anthony J. SciricaMarie Hamilton
1978
Frederick H. Downs Jr.
Jere Krakoff, Outstanding Criminal Justice Professional of the Year
Dave and Peggy Lauder, Volunteers of the Year
1977
The Bethlehem Globe Times and The Call Chronicle Newspapers
Gerard T. Frey, Outstanding Criminal Justice Professional of the Year
Acel Moore and Wendell Rawls, Jr.
Frances P. Kellogg
1976
Loretta SchwartzWCAU News Radio (BIll Rohrer, Steve Reed, Greg Morrison and Joel Spivak)
John Otto Reinemann
1975
John GunitherDr. Thorsten Sellin
1974
Barbara Fruchter and Constance Voynow Robert W. KotzbauerDr. Thomas W. Georges, Jr, Meritorious Service
1973
Donald L. BarlettJames B. Steele
Contact Us
helpline@prisonsociety.org
215-564-4775
215-564-1830 (FAX)
215-564-4775
215-564-1830 (FAX)
230 South Broad Street, Suite 605
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Philadelphia, PA 19102
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