MDCV Elementary School Principal Honored with Statewide Award

Coalition awards Community Ally of the Year Award

For Immediate Release:  Thursday, February 18, 2016

KCSDV Media Contact:  joyceg@kcsdv.org; o: 785-232-9784, c: 785-231-8933

Topeka, KS, 2/18/2016 – Twila Wollenberg, MDCV Elementary School Principal, received the Community Ally of the Year Award from the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV).  The award was presented during KCSDV’s 13^th Annual Safe Homes, Safe Streets event at the Sunflower Safety Luncheon and Awards Ceremony last week in Topeka.

Since 1995, KCSDV has been recognizing outstanding advocates and allies who are working to enhance victim safety, to increase perpetrator accountability, and to prevent and eliminate sexual and domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking in Kansas.

Wollenberg was nominated for the award by SOS, Inc., the sexual and domestic violence advocacy agency serving Chase, Coffey, Greenwood, Lyon, Morris, and Osage counties.   “In a community with depleted resources, Twila has played a critical role in addressing sexual and domestic violence within her community,” said Danielle Armitage, the SOS, Inc. advocate who works closely with Wollenberg and put forth her name for the nomination.  “Twila is committed to making her community safer and is one of the most dedicated and caring individuals that I have worked with in the 8 years at SOS,” said Armitage.

As the MDCV Elementary School Principal, Wollenberg has supported prevention programming led by SOS, opening up the school during the summer for programs, volunteering her time, and serving as a role model among students and parents alike.  “It is critical for students to learn about healthy relationships and behaviors at a young age,” said Joyce Grover, KCSDV executive director.  “KCSDV is honored to award Ms. Wollenberg for her outstanding support and partnership in ending sexual and domestic violence in Kansas,” said Grover.

Other award winners at this year’s event included Sadie Madden from LARC, the sexual and domestic violence advocacy program located in Liberal, for the Juliene Maska Outstanding Advocate of the Year Award; Safehouse Crisis Center, Inc. and Pittsburg State University’s Students for Violence Prevention, and Dung and Paul Kimble of Wichita, for the Project of the Year Awards; and Officers Lori Kimrey and Darrin Williams of the Wichita Police Department West Patrol Station for a Community Ally of the Year Award.

Photos available upon request.