Utah AmeriCorps VISTA of the Year recognizes an outstanding AmeriCorps member serving in a Utah AmeriCorps*State program. The member's efforts must go beyond standard expectations.

For more information or to nominate an AmeriCorps member please contact the Utah Commission on Volunteers at 1-888-755-UTAH (Toll-free in Utah) or 1-801-538-8700 (Outside of Utah) or Download the nomination form.

2007 Winner

Judith A. Lang

A prowler around a house in Colorado started her experiences with the Neighborhood Watch program and she continued it when she moved to Utah.   She started a Neighborhood Watch in her town of Huntington that bloomed into a countywide program.  After eleven years of cooperation with the Emery County Sheriff’s Department, Judy has done finger printing, bicycle safety, and visited schools using McGruff, the Crime Dog.  After three years as a VISTA member, Judy has found that people with special needs have become important to her volunteer efforts.  She says, “If we have a disaster hit here, those are the ones that are going to need our help.” Judy loves what she is doing in Emery County and hopes to continue making a difference.  She says hard work has paid off, so she must be doing something right.

Past Winners

2006 Winner

Susan Dexter

Accepting for Susan Dexter

After a serving as an AmeriCorps Volunteer in the state of Maine, Susan came to the Bluff, Utah area to do a year as and AmeriCorps VISTA and through her tireless efforts has enabled many programs to be offered to the children of Bluff, Utah that would otherwise have been unavailable.

            The Bluff Kid Kamp, a two week summer camp, was developed by the Vista Supervisor, Georgiana Simpson.  This 4 week morning camp had 20 attendees its first year, but after 5 years the attendance was over 100 children from around the region.  Susan developed funding for the camp from many sources which increased a $250.00 budget to a $35,000 budget and secured permanent funding for years to come which includes local county government and Navajo chapters.

            After bringing her energy and concern to the after school program at Bluff Elementary school, conditions improved for this much underserved population of children.  The program includes physical activities and healthy snacks.  The Bluff Elementary School projects also benefit from her love of nature and outdoors as she developed a curriculum related to the native plant garden and gave the Bluff Children sculpture project needed momentum.

            She works tirelessly and independently with a level of commitment and attention to excellence.  She has completed her VISTA year with much success and continues to devote her time to those same programs she helped develop as a VISTA member.  She is an example of true sustainable service.