Porter Award Recipients

2025
The Herrick District Library provides opportunities for continued learning and civic engagement to every member of the community. They have shown their support by providing printed voting and candidate information, access to computers, and supported 58 hours of face-to face-helpdesk-style support for voters before the 2024 general election.
2024

Johnny Rodriguez, president and CEO of LAUP, Latin Americans United for Progress. Johnny has included the League in the work LAUP does with their citizenship class and invited the League to attend events and offer voter registration and information. He has made it a top priority to increase voter participation among Latin Americans in the Holland area.

2023

Mike Daitch and Don Sheill, Holland Area League of Women Voters, for their work to rebuild the LWVHA Observer Corps. Their hard work and hours of observation of local governmental meetings  have inspired others to join them, observing and reporting on issues and decisions that impact us close to home.

2022

Cathy Brockington,, Holland Area League of Women Voters, for her many years of work on Allegan County's VOTE411 and her support of Voter Services activities to inform voters and encourage voter participation.

2021

Barb Ferguson, Website and Social Media Director, Holland Area League of Women Voters, for her work on the League website and social media platforms to increase the visibility of the LWVHA.

2020

Christina (Tina) Pawlak, Voter Service Chair, Holland Area League of Women Voters, for going above and beyond to carry out the League's mission of voter engagement via candidate forums, voter registration etc. in the face of a global pandemic.

 2019

Steven Diatch, Ottawa County Elections Coordinator, for his outstanding support and training on Michigan's newly revised election laws. His enthusiasm and readiness to support the League's efforts to increase voter registration was exceptional.

2018

Martha Winsche and Deirdre Toeller-Novak received the 2018 Porter Award for their enthusiastic and very successful local leadership of the petition drive for “Voters Not Politicians” which was then placed on the Michigan ballot (and won voter approval!)

2017

Margaret (Peggy) Boyce, a long-time LWVHA member served in many capacities, most notably her tireless efforts to bring LWV-sponsored candidate forums to the Saugatuck-Douglas political arena.

2016

Jessica Fuentes, a staff member at LAUP (Latin Americans United for Progress), who went “above and beyond” to assist with the Hispanic Youth Leadership workshop hosted by LWV-HA. 

2015

Angelica Ross and Diana Hernandez, Holland High students and youth members of the Human Relations Commission, for their voter registration drive. 

Shannon Garrett, for her efforts as Co-founder of VoteRunLead, a national organization that supports and encourages women to become involved as political leaders.

2014

Justin Roebuck, Elections Coordinator, Ottawa County and Jean McFadden, Holland LWV member, for their efforts to increase voter registration opportunities and to train election observers.

2013

Hope students LaShawn Donelson, Iliana Garcia, Jasmine Harris, and Bonnie Jansma, who assisted with voter registration, translation of ballot proposals, and outreach with LAUP.

2012

JoAnne Brooks, Helena Winter & Kay Donnelly, founders and early members of the Holland Area LWV.

2011

Carol McGeehan, Suzanne Dixon & Sara Leeland, Holland Area LWV members for their tireless efforts on behalf of environmental issues.

2010

Arlene Sherman, long time LWV member who was very active in a host of civic activities in the Saugatuck area.

2009

Shannon Craig & Nicole VanDerKolk, Hope students who assisted with voter registration and candidate forums.

2008

Lindsey Boeve, West Ottawa student, who organized a voter registration drive which registered many new high school voters.