Good as Gold Ceremony Honors Local Volunteers

More than 40 volunteers, businesses and organizations from Sangamon County were recognized last week during the 19th annual Good as Gold Ceremony, held at the University of Illinois Springfield Student Union.

The event, hosted by the University of Illinois Springfield, Junior League of Springfield and United Way of Central Illinois, was established in 2008 to honor individuals and groups who contribute their time and talents to improve the community.

Distinguished Volunteer Award

Shirley McCandless received the 2026 Distinguished Volunteer Award. After retiring from a 37-year teaching career and more than 20 years in retail, McCandless became involved with Compass for Kids, initially volunteering as a dinner provider before expanding into additional roles.

Her work has included assisting with office projects, supporting Camp Compass assessments and contributing to youth programming. Through her service, she has gained a deeper understanding of community needs, including food insecurity, and has encouraged others to volunteer, often bringing people together to serve.

Finalists for the award included Les Carlson, Roger Schlichting and Bill Thomas.

Star Student Award

Melissa Jackson, a UIS student, received the Star Student Award. Since joining the Leadership for Life program as a freshman, Jackson has completed service hours each year both on and off campus.

Her volunteer efforts have included community cleanups, food packaging, donation drives and support for foster families. On campus, she serves as president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Upsilon Rho Chapter; vice president of the Black Student Union; vice president of the Greek Affairs Board; and treasurer of the WiCyS Student Chapter.

Jackson has also worked closely with the Volunteer & Civic Engagement Center and helped launch a new student organization during her final semester.

Star Staff Award

Craig McFarland, a UIS senior academic advisor, received the Star Staff Award. McFarland is active in the community through leadership roles at The Muni and participation in local productions.

He also contributes to NPR Illinois through the Front Row Network, producing podcasts that highlight regional creative talent. In addition, he has supported NPR Illinois’ Community Voices initiative by identifying and producing segments that feature local residents and their stories.

Youth Service Award

Stella Lopp received the Youth Service Award. In 2023, she participated in a medical mission trip to rural Panama, assisting healthcare professionals in underserved communities.

Locally, Lopp serves as president of Student United Way, where she coordinates service opportunities, recruits members and organizes community efforts such as food drives, outreach initiatives and neighborhood improvement projects. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and a varsity athlete.

Finalists included Maryam Hafiz, Aiden Roberts, Caroline Scherschel and Ella Shin.

Heart of Gold Community Awards

Twenty-nine individuals and organizations were recognized with Heart of Gold Awards. Honorees included Sophia Bartletti, Cathy Boerke, Shaun Brady, Sister Ritamary Brown, Patricia Carley, Wayne Carlson, Lisa Cotton, Mary Cronin, Adrienne Dalenberg, Kris Gates, Jeff Gebauer, MaryAnn Gebauer, Christie Goleman, Amy Green, Shauna Hayes, Joy Hayes, Lexi Hezlep, Jerry Hirstein, Karen Hirstein, Penny McCarty, Ali McCue, Chandana Nandi, Gilbert Opferman, Julie Sherren, Brandon Stricker, Cheryl Tate, Beth Waldman and Debbie Williams.

Organization of the Year

5th Street Renaissance received the 2026 Organization of the Year Award. The Springfield-based nonprofit provides health and housing services to individuals and families affected by HIV, homelessness, trauma, substance use, mental health challenges, domestic violence and justice involvement.

For more than 40 years, the organization has offered community-based services, including transitional shelter, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, homelessness prevention and veterans housing programs. It also provides public health outreach and harm-reduction services in partnership with healthcare providers and local agencies.

Other nominees included Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland, Asian Indian Women’s Organization and Cathedral Church of St. Paul the Apostle.

Business Honor Roll

Six Sangamon County businesses were named to the Business Honor Roll, which recognizes companies for community service and engagement.

Among businesses with 1–10 employees, SmarTcoaT was named the winner, with ChangeBridge Consulting recognized as a nominee. In the 11–50 employee category, Express was named winner, with Small Business Growth Corporation as a nominee. KEB was recognized among mid-sized businesses (51–150 employees), and Bank of Springfield received top honors in the 150+ employee category.

Organizers said the businesses recognized demonstrate a commitment to supporting the community through service, partnerships and philanthropic efforts.