Frankfort, KY, April 30, 2024 – The Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs (KASAP) is proud to announce the recipients of the Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) 2024 awards. These awards recognize individuals and organizations across the Commonwealth of Kentucky for their exceptional dedication and contributions to ending sexual violence and supporting survivors.
The winners of the SAAPM 2024 Awards are:
- Sexual Assault Awareness Month Award: Tisha Pletcher – Tisha has dedicated over 26 years to advocating against power-based personal violence. Her leadership roles at various agencies, including power-based personal violence state coalitions, UK and U of L, and the Green Dot program through Aleristic. Her work has positively impacted countless lives. Tisha’s advocacy and support for survivors have been instrumental in creating lasting change in Kentucky and beyond.
- Sexual Assault Awareness Month Award: Helen Brunty – Helen’s remarkable dedication to supporting survivors for over 25 years through volunteer work at the Rising Center in Hazard, KY has been invaluable. Her collaboration with community partners such as UNITE and Hazard Community and Technical College, and her commitment to raising awareness and prevention efforts make her a true advocate for ending sexual violence.
- Sexual Assault Awareness Month Award: Jill Brummett – As the lead SANE at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Jill leads efforts in Northern Kentucky to increase access to forensic exams (Sexual assault and domestic violence) and improve hospital advocacy for victim/survivors. Jill supports the growth of the department in Northern Kentucky, but also in NKY rural communities and Dearborn, Indiana. Jill also has brought increased education and training around nonfatal strangulation to improve community response for victims of nonfatal strangulation.
- Fonetta A. Elam Award: Dr. Whitney Cassity-Caywood, LCSW, PhD. – Dr. Caywood’s expertise, guidance, and wealth of knowledge have greatly contributed to the professional growth of many clinicians at Lotus in Paducah, KY. Her guidance and support motivate clinicians to enhance abilities and diversify the services and interventions offered to clients. She consistently demonstrates reliability in providing support and offers authentic and thorough clinical advice in dealing with survivors of sexual violence.
- Eileen A. Recktenwald Collaborative Spirit Award: Melissa Gilpin – Melissa’s tireless efforts in developing a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program at The Medical Center Bowling Green have had a massive local impact. Melissa an active board member at Hope Harbor, a clinical educator in the emergency department at The Medical Center Bowling Green, the primary on-call SANE at the Medical Center Bowling Green. She has also developed the area’s only recurring SANE training program. Her dedication to improving survivor services and fostering collaboration among community partners demonstrates her unwavering commitment to ending sexual violence.
- NSVRC Visionary voice award: Laura Sudkamp – Laura Sudkamp’s distinguished career at the Kentucky State Police Central Crime Lab, spanning nearly three decades until her retirement as Director of the Forensic Services Division in 2023, has profoundly impacted the fight against sexual violence. Her pivotal role in addressing the state’s Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence kit backlog, securing funding, and championing survivor empowerment initiatives including the KSP SAFE Kit Tracking Portal, showcases her unwavering dedication and groundbreaking leadership. Sudkamp epitomizes the spirit of the Visionary Voice Award, inspiring hope and catalyzing change in the movement to end sexual violence.
- Kentucky Army National Guard Charles R. Lay Victim Advocate of the Year Award – Annell Lough. Annell Lough, the Kentucky National Guard Integrated Primary Prevention Officer, was honored with the Charles R. Lay Victim Advocate of the Year Award for her exceptional dedication to supporting victims and promoting prevention initiatives within the National Guard. Lough’s innovative strategies and compassionate advocacy have significantly contributed to fostering a safer and more supportive environment for survivors of sexual violence. Her recognition underscores her invaluable contributions to the National Guard’s efforts in addressing and preventing sexual violence.
KASAP congratulates all the winners of the SAAPM 2024 Awards and extends gratitude for their continued dedication to ending sexual violence and supporting survivors in Kentucky.
For more information about the SAAPM Awards and the work of KASAP, please contact Executive Director Missie Quillen at mquillen@kasap.org.
