The UIS Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center, the Junior League of Springfield and United Way of Central Illinois hosted the 18^th annual Good as Gold Springfield volunteer ceremony on April 20, 2026. This event honored more than 60 nominees in categories including Business Honor Roll, Heart of Gold, Star Staff, Star Student, Youth of the Year, Organization of the Year and the Distinguished Volunteer, which honors one exceptional lifelong volunteer for their dedication to service.

Each year, the Star Student Award recognizes one UIS or Lincoln Land student for their hard work and dedication to their campus and the Springfield community. This year’s winner was UIS student Melissa Jackson, who has consistently shown a passion for service and engaging with others on campus since her first year at UIS, when she was part of the leadership for life program.

“I feel really appreciated because I put in a lot of effort in my four years, and it’s nice to be finally recognized,” Jackson said.

Since her freshman year, when Jackson dedicated 50 hours of community service, she has continued the trend by organizing events, participating in food packaging and supporting foster families.

UIS students volunteered their time in a multitude of ways this year, including the September 11th National Day of Service event, where more than 100 volunteers came together to make care packages for military members, creating 1,000 kits.

Students collected over 8,000 canned goods for the Springfield community as part of the Trick or Treat for Canned Goods event. UIS Students also provided District 186 students with weekly tutoring, grocery shopping for foster families, making holiday cards for veterans, and organizing multiple blood and food drives.

Some students spent their spring break on a service trip to Virginia to help make a home safer for a family in need. Finally, UIS students also helped make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for homeless shelters across Springfield.

Kathy Smith, the 2025 Distinguished Volunteer Award winner, shared a personal story of what motivated her to establish a program that supplies more than 3,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the homeless in Springfield every week. She once encountered a homeless man on the street in need of food, water, and a blanket. Smith emphasized how, when she was able to supply the man with these items, the look of hope in his eyes was something she would never forget.

“This could be my son or my daughter living on the street, or it could be yours. A job loss, a huge medical bill, any catastrophic injury, life event, eviction, or mental health issues can send someone into homelessness,” Smith said.

The 2026 Distinguished Volunteer nominees were Les Carlson, Roger Schlichting, Bill Thomas and Shirley McCandless. Carlson has been volunteering since he was 12 years old.

Schlichting, who has been a volunteer at Midwest Mission in Pawnee, Illinois, since 2017, quickly became a shop leader and aided in transforming materials into desks, helping students around the world to have a place to learn and grow.

Thomas, who began volunteering as a freshman in high school in 1969, has felt a sense of satisfaction in helping a group accomplish something meaningful.

“I like helping good people do good things for good causes, and you don’t need to have all the answers. Just bring your willingness to learn and contribute,” Thomas said.

McCandless, who won the title of Distinguished Volunteer, assembles supply kits for students, wraps holiday gifts, and prepares monthly dinners for the community. She also served her church for over 40 years as the choir director.

UIS students, staff, and others among the Springfield community can find information about future volunteer opportunities and events through the Volunteer Civic Engagement Center on UIS Connections, as well as the Good as Gold Volunteer Awards Ceremony returning for its 19th year in April of 2027.