OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy is accepting public nominations for 13 awards recognizing individuals, organizations and businesses whose work has contributed to the health, safety, education and well-being of children across Oklahoma.
The awards cover child advocacy, education, healthcare, journalism, public service, philanthropy and community leadership. Recipients will be selected by OICA’s Board of Directors and recognized during the organization’s annual Fall Forum luncheon.
Awards Recognize Contributions Across Oklahoma Communities
Among the honors is the Steven A. Novick Child Advocacy Award, which recognizes an “unsung hero” in child advocacy. Novick served as legal counsel for children involved in the “Terry D” lawsuit against the State of Oklahoma.
The Laura Choate Resilience Award honors an advocate who overcame difficult circumstances during youth. Choate was a plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit that contributed to significant changes in Oklahoma’s juvenile justice system.
Young Oklahomans are represented through the Jasmine and Melvin Moran “Kidizenship” Award, which recognizes youth philanthropy involving residents under age 18. The award honors Melvin and the late Jasmine Moran, founders of the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum in Seminole.
The H.E. “Gene” Rainbolt Corporate Citizen Award recognizes a business that has undertaken significant efforts to benefit children beyond its normal operations. Rainbolt, founder of BancFirst, was a prominent Oklahoma banking executive and an advocate for economic development, education, healthcare, infrastructure and access to capital.
The Burnes/Lichtenstein Award for Excellence in Journalism is named for Karen Burnes and Bill Lichtenstein. Their reporting on child abuse within the Oklahoma Department of Human Services in the early 1980s contributed to reforms in the state’s juvenile justice system and the creation of OICA as an independent watchdog organization.
Community, Education and Public Service Among Award Categories
The Ray & Pat Potts Community Leader Award recognizes an Oklahoman in business who has made an exceptional contribution to children outside their professional responsibilities. Pat Potts, who died on Aug. 20, 2025, co-founded the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits and focused on leveraging resources “to address root causes and build the human potential of the people of our state one child and one organization at a time.”
Other honors include the Judy Eason McIntyre Inclusion Award, recognizing efforts to break down racial barriers affecting youth, and the Sandy Garrett Educator Award, presented to an educator who has made a significant contribution to Oklahoma children.
The Jari Askins Justice for Children Award recognizes outstanding work by someone in Oklahoma’s legal community on behalf of children. The Jon Hansen Public Servant Award honors a member of law enforcement, the fire service or emergency medical services who has gone beyond regular duties to help children.
Healthcare contributions are recognized through the Dr. Dwight Sublett Healthcare Award, which honors an individual or organization that has improved children’s health through an exceptional act or cause.
OICA will also present its Volunteer of the Year Award to an individual who has contributed time, talent and resources toward the organization’s mission of “Creating awareness, taking action, and supporting policy to improve the health, safety, and well-being of Oklahoma’s children.”
The CEO’s Award in Child Advocacy provides recognition for advocates whose contributions do not fall within one of the other established categories.
OICA Encourages Public Participation in Nominations
“These awards will allow us to further express our gratitude to those working in different sectors, and who are positively impacting children through their efforts,” said Joe Dorman, chief executive officer of OICA. “We hope this recognition will bring attention to the wonderful advocates who are selected and hopefully provide further encouragement for Oklahomans to do good acts which benefit our children.”
Dorman said members of the public can nominate qualifying Oklahomans across the award categories.
“All one has to do is go to our website at oica.org and fill out the nomination form for a suitable nominee,” he said. “Each year, we receive a tremendous group of nominees who embody what is best about Oklahoma. I look forward to seeing the suggestions and presenting those to the OICA awards committee who will determine the recipients.”
Nominations are scheduled to close at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11. Winners will be announced during OICA’s annual Fall Forum luncheon on Wednesday, Oct. 14.
The Fall Forum brings together advocates and state officials and supports development of OICA’s annual “Children’s Legislative Agenda,” which guides the organization’s policy work at the Oklahoma State Capitol.
