Volunteer of the Year Ceremony

NCF Volunteer Sharon Leiker Receives Highest Honors

Governor Mark Parkinson honored members of the Norton community for their dedication during a ceremony at the State Capitol Building in May. Governor Parkinson recognized Sharon Leiker, Norton Correctional Facility (NCF) Volunteer of the Year nominee, Bob Husted, NCF Uniformed Employee of the Year nominee, Dian Helms, NCF Contract Employee of the Year nominee, and Teresa Kultgen NCF Non-Uniformed Employee of the Year nominee, during an awards celebration to thank Department of Corrections employees and volunteers. 

Sharon earned additional honors by being named the 2009 Kansas Department of Corrections Volunteer of the Year by Governor Parkinson and Secretary of Corrections Roger Werholtz.

Sharon, who was inducted as a “Soldier of the Salvation Army” 20 years ago, is quick to share her award with other volunteers who also dedicate their time and resources to helping others. Never having kept track of her own volunteer hours, Sharon realized that she has been volunteering at NCF for three years only after reading the award’s recommendation letter that was signed and hand delivered by NCF Warden Jay Shelton and Deputy Warden Joel Hrabe. 

Sharon began volunteering at NCF after seeing a photograph of NCF inmates who were presenting money that they had earned from holding fund raisers for Norton’s “God’s Pantry.”  She said that the group also had collected funds for a battered women’s shelter that year.  Inspired by the image, Sharon was motivated to become a part of this process of change.

One of her first volunteer assignments was to assist in the development of the Stop Violence group that is now called Reaching Out from Within, which Sharon credits SuEllen Freed for originating.

When asked how her children felt about her volunteering at a prison, Sharon quickly responds, “Proud.” Sharon has four sons: Dan and Scot, of Denver, Colo., Troy who resides in Norton and her youngest, Chris, an Iraq War veteran who lives in Seattle, Wash. Sharon said her family knows that she has always been dedicated to helping others in need.

Sharon said that her previous three-year tenure at a Salvation Army’s battered women’s shelter in California has helped provide her with a unique understanding of the behavior patterns of the inmates in the group.  Sharon pointed out how important simply changing the name of the group from the “Stop Violence” program was to the inmates.  She said that when inmates were invited to join the group prior to the name change, the inmates typically responded, “I’m not violent!”  Sharon said many of those inmates that she works with are unfamiliar with what all can be deemed violent. She said the group, now called “Reaching Out From Within,” is about learning how to cope with conflict, communicate with others and how to become better parents and husbands. 

Sharon shared how the most rewarding aspect of volunteering with this group is to see the “Ah-ha moments.” She said these moments occur when an inmate learns a new behavior or grasps an understanding about the effect their behavior has on others. 

Upon first meeting Sharon, one might perceive her as soft. However, her approach to working with inmates is anything but lenient. Sharon is not willing to let the inmates blame their situations on their upbringing. In one instance, Sharon told the group, “I don’t care that you were brought up like this. You’re an adult now!”  In moving forward, Sharon encourages the inmates to focus on what they choose to do today. 

In a testament to Sharon’s dedication, her sister, Carolyn Applegate said her sister spends numerous hours researching on the Internet for updated or additional materials to help her in her volunteer work.

In addition to volunteering at the facility, Sharon assists with numerous other community efforts. She is a member of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) and has worked with “The Haven,” Norton’s non-profit organization that provides affordable housing for families of inmates who come to visit their loved ones.  Sharon also is a co-host for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Christmas Program with Gena Frack and Jo Anne Hale of the Norton Community.

Every day, corrections employees and volunteers like Sharon work to help ensure the public’s safety - and they often do so beyond the public's view. The Norton Community thanks Sharon Leiker, Bob Husted, Dian Helms and Teresa Kultgen for helping to make Kansas a better and safer place to live and raise a family.