Jo Wynn, DaZahn Wilkerson, Jamy Koepke and Trevor Foster have been selected as recipients of the 2013 Gateway Technical College Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award.
The four will be honored at the 19th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration noon, Monday, Jan. 21, in the Madrigrano Auditorium of the Conference Center on Gateway Technical College’s Kenosha Campus, 3320-30th Ave. The four were selected for exemplifying the daily principles of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Jo Wynn, Kenosha. Jo founded and now directs Walkin’ In My Shoes, a street outreach program that seeks out the homeless in the Kenosha community to help them to safely leave life on the street and secure permanent housing. The program serves about 125 annually, with an increasing number of teens in recent years.
Wynn’s nominator calls her a “heavenly angel who has chosen to do her works of charity, grace and compassion here on earth.”
“The spirit of love, compassion and support that can be found within the four walls (of Walkin’ In My Shoes) continue to be a shining beacon of hope for any and all in search of help,” the nominator further notes.
Jamy Koepke, Salem. Jamy, a Gateway Technical College Medical Assistant student, has overseen several fund-raisers to help out the less fortunate as well as those needing medical assistance for a number of ailments. She has initiated a bone marrow drive, oversaw an effort to raise money to increase awareness for cervical and breast cancer as well as raising money to assist classmates meet the financial needs of their education.
Jamy’s nominator says she is “great with the public and loves helping anyone and everyone that she can.”
Trevor Foster, Bristol. Trevor is a junior at Westosha Central High School and is the founder of the Westosha Central Habitat for Humanity chapter, the first high school chapter in the state. He was driven to begin the chapter after discovering the number of Kenosha County children living in poverty. Trevor also serves as a youth governance representative on the Kenosha County Law and Judiciary Committee.
Trevor’s nominator says he “has inspired other students to join the mission of helping others and, because of his leadership, compassion and service-oriented focus, a group of students are making significant difference for those less fortunate locally and nationally.”
DaZahn Wilkerson, Racine. DaZahn, a Carthage College student majoring in Physics and Mechanical Engineering, is a youth mentor in the YMCA Young Leaders Academy in Racine. He mentors third through fifth-graders and works with their teachers and parents to promote equal opportunity and access to quality education. He is driven to be a leader and to teach leadership to Racine youth – much as he was mentored when a youth.
DaZahn’s nominator says he is a leader who is “dedicated to promoting education and success, while helping youth to overcome the negative stereotypes associated with African-American youth.”
The keynote speaker for this year’s celebration will be Racine Police Chief Art Howell. The 2013 theme is “Reviving the Dream Through Education.”
Doors to the event open at 11:15 a.m., the program begins at noon and a short reception will follow the program. The program is free and open to the public.
Audio and video of the event will be streamed at Gateway Technical College’s Web site www.gtc.edu. The program will be carried on WGTD on a delayed airing at 1 p.m. WGTD, based out of Gateway Technical College, can be heard in Kenosha/Racine at 91.1, in Elkhorn at 101.7 and in Lake Geneva at 103.3.
For more information, contact Jayne Herring, (262) 496-0016.
