1. How long have you been a CASA volunteer?

I have been a CASA volunteer since the fall of 2020. I recently also started serving CASA as a CVM.

2. What brought you to apply to become a CASA volunteer?

I first learned about CASA through an early sorority recruitment event during my freshman year, as Kappa Alpha Theta (which has CASA as its national philanthropy) was founded at my alma mater. At that time, I was only 18, so I was not able to volunteer as a CASA yet. I was drawn to CASA because I remembered the GAL that I had as a child after my parents passed away. Also, I previously worked at a group home for teenage girls, which was a mix of DCS placements and girls given one last chance before being sent to a juvenile detention facility. Helping children in the foster care system has always been a passion of mine. I actually applied and interviewed to be a CASA three years before I was able to go through training because my previous job was not compatible with the training schedule.

3. Besides being a CASA volunteer, what do you like to do in your spare time?

In my spare time, I volunteer for The Society of Professional Journalists, where I currently serve as the Assistant Region 5 Coordinator, serving Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. In addition, I also enjoy being walked by my two black labs, Piper and Stanley.

4. What do you love the most about being a CASA?

To me, the best part of being a CASA is seeing the direct impact that you have in the lives of the children you advocate for and building the relationship with them. I’ve always wanted to help promote change in the foster care system to better the lives of children, and I know that I am making a difference in the lives of the kiddos I advocate for. No one person can make a huge impact, but collectively, the CASA organization is making a difference. It’s equally rewarding to be part of a collective group working to advocate for children.

5. What’s a hidden talent or unusual fact that most people don’t know about you?

When I was in middle school, I sang the national anthem at a Fort Wayne Komets game and was one of two students selected from my school.