Ben Slinkard-Ratliff has been awarded the PALS Volunteer of the Year Award for his outstanding work ethic as horse leader and side walker. Also, his willingness to help others.

Ben Slinkard-Ratliff, still attending Bloomington High School North, has the maturity and work ethic of any adult. Wise beyond his years, Ben actively seeks out ways to help around the barn without being asked or told and by doing so indirectly leads by example.

Ben has been volunteering for PALS since May of 2008 and continues to do so several days a week. Seeing more than 15 riders weekly, Ben has been described as patient, gentle, and professional.

His knowledge of horses and the special needs population has allowed him to stand out among the PALS volunteers. So much so, that the PALS staff nominated him last year for the Be More… Energized Youth Award for the City of Bloomington. His profile was featured under the volunteer section on the City of Bloomington’s website.

Ben’s cheerful attitude, attentiveness, and communication skills are greatly appreciated among the riders, their families, the PALS staff, and other PALS volunteers.

Elisa Duncan has been awarded the PALS Volunteer of the Year Award for her work as the PALS stable manager, mentor to the riders, and overall passion.

Elisa Duncan has been volunteering for PALS since June of 2007. Her more than two-year commitment has proven to be extremely helpful to the riders, their families, the staff members, and volunteers.

With more than 20 years of experience as a mental health counselor, Elisa is a highly skilled mentor to riders in need of more emotional support as well as a highly skilled therapist to the staff and volunteers.

The PALS staff also nominated Elisa last year for the City of Bloomington’s Be More… Bloomington Award.

Her efforts can only be described as immeasurable. In the past, she has provided scholarships for PALS rides in need of financial support as well as serving as a PALS ambassador for the community. She is greatly appreciated by the PALS community.

Becky Earle has been awarded the PALS Volunteer of the Year Award for her dedication and selflessness.

Becky Earle has been volunteering for PALS since January of 2007 where she started out as a side walker for riders during their lessons. Becky’s great abilities with horses quickly lead her to become horse leader then stable manager. She has been the Monday stable manager for more than a year and still continues to do so. She is also on the FUN Show planning committee-making it extremely difficult not to tell her the “winners” of this years volunteer of the year awards.

Becky is described as going above and beyond the call of duty on a daily basis. She participates in all volunteer training, helps out with special groups and visitors, as well as her especially important ability to fix almost anything and be very organized. PALS staff describes her as the “barn gadget woman.”

The riders, their families, the staff, and other volunteers at PALS appreciate her continuous donations, cheerful attitude, and enthusiasm. No job is too small for Becky Earle.

Congratulations Ben, Elisa and Becky!

With a core of 150 volunteers, it was very difficult to again choose two volunteers so deserving of the Volunteer of the Year award, but the honors went to Kara Szabo (Left) & Heili Tomusk (Right).

This is an award has been a long time coming for Kara Szabo. Kara began working at PALS as a side-walker and horse leader in January of 2006. The fact that she decided to begin volunteering in an outdoor environment when the weather was at its coldest is typical of Kara’s work ethic.

PALS Head Instructor, Jennifer Lung said she and Kara always joke that Kara gets stuck with all the “man jobs” around the barn because she is such a “work horse.”

Kara is currently working at Farmstead Veterinary. She came to Bloomington to attend IU, and was initially drawn to PALS through her love of horses.

Since she began volunteering Kara has done it all. She began by side-walking and leading in lessons, has been and is currently a stable manager while at the same time she is working as an intern to become a certified NARHA instructor. (We hope that once she completes her hours and passes the certification, she will work for PALS in the future!)

Jenn said Kara has been right at home at PALS since the day she began volunteering. “She was one of the volunteers that quickly became friends with everyone and completely ‘fit in,’” Kara has become a regular face to many PALS riders, volunteers and guests. She is a “rock” for PALS, always willing to help out, never afraid to get her hands dirty, and ready to fill in for anything at a moment’s notice.

Kara is an irreplaceable member of the PALS community.

Heili Tomusk is a volunteer extraordinaire at PALS. Heili is not only very good with horses, but she is also a very patient and easy-going person, which makes her the perfect PALS volunteer.

Currently a senior at Bloomington High School North, Heili began volunteering at PALS the summer of 2007, as a side-walker and horse leader. Heili was encouraged by her mom to begin volunteering at PALS. After years of horse experience it seemed like a natural fit.

Her experience at PALS since then has influenced her career and life aspirations.

Heili has been a peer tutor in the special education department at Bloomington North for two years. This year she is also participating in a special education internship at Fairview. She plans to go to college to become a special education teacher, but she may delay college in order to work for a year in the Monroe County School Corporation as a special education aide.

In her volunteer work at PALS Heili has gone from a volunteer horse leader and side-walker, to her current position of Stable Manager. Head Instructor Jennifer Lung said Heili is a fantastic horse person, and is a favorite at the PALS barn.

Heili is very dedicated to her work at PALS, she is an incredibly reliable and energetic volunteer; her presence at PALS has had a positive impact on the entire program.

Congratulations Kara and Heili!

With a core of 150 volunteers, it was very difficult to again choose two volunteers so deserving of the Volunteer of the Year award, but the honors went to Dale Knuteson & Ashley Larason.

Dale Knuteson has been a PALS volunteer for 7 years. At 6'4", Dale is always in demand as a sidewalker assisting the riders who need extra trunk support and those who ride the 'taller' horses. Dale has many riders who request his help as they enjoy his sense of humor and his encouragement. One of Dale's riders, Justin, always looks forward to his weekly riding, not just because of the horses but because of his time with Dale.

Dale is a role model for the other volunteers and attends many PALS activities outside of lessons. The last 20 years of Dale's 'employment life' were as a chaplain at Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis. When Dale retired in 2000, he was the director of the chaplain's program. Dale has a unique insight into people, and he is a gracious, caring person. Dale and his wife, Becky, live in Monrovia and both have been a valuable part of PALS volunteering since it's inception.

Ashley Larason has been a PALS volunteer for 4 years and is a senior at Bloomington High School South. Ashley is a 4.0+ student in honors classes and plans on getting her bachelor's degree in nursing, perhaps at Purdue. She would like to specialize in Obstetrics/Pediatric care. Ashley is a Eucharistic minister at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church and is very involved in Youth Ministry. Ashley has been employed by Chick-Fil-A at the College Mall for 3 years. Along with numerous activities at school, Ashley plays in the Marching Band, Concert Band and Jazz Band and has been named a Young Achiever through 4-H (horse and pony club). She was also chosen as Leader of Tomorrow for Monroe County in 2007 and Monroe County Youth of the Month. Ashley highly regards Fern Bonchek and Jennifer Lung for their direction of the PALS program.

Congratulations Dale and Ashley!

With a core of 150 volunteers, it was very difficult to again choose two volunteers so deserving of the Volunteer of the year award, but the honors went to Susie Carter and Amy Purvis.

Susie is a PALS Board of Director member. She is a Registered Nurse and a Manager of HEARTEAM Cardiopulmonary Rehab, Congestive Heart Failure Clinic and Pacemaker Clinic at Bloomington Hospital. Susie has been a PALS volunteer for 4 years and she is a tireless volunteer who always shows up for her shift early. Her specialty is mucking stalls! Susie also enjoys volunteering at PALS as it combines her love of horses with being able to help individuals.

Amy Purvis has been a PALS volunteer since the summer of 2001. She is currently a Stable Manager on Monday evenings, edits and puts together the PALS Post newsletter and Annual Report, and assists with other PALS publications. Amy is employed at the Indiana University School of Law where she serves as the Director of Stewardship. Amy is always in awe of the amazing things that PALS riders and horses do on a daily basis.

Congratulations Susie and Amy!

Jan Gavin and Kirie Powell were recently recognized as the PALS Volunteer of the Year award recipients. Their names have been added to a plaque that you will be able to view in the waiting area for years to come. Both volunteers’ dedication to the program is unmatched; here are a few words about each of these outstanding volunteers.

Jan was at the first PALS training session in 2000. Putting in more hours at the barn than any other volunteer, Jan trains new volunteers, serves as a Stable Manager, is the Volunteer Shift Coordinator and organizes the Horse Buddy program. In addition, she plays an important role in coordinating special events. In the fall of 2005, Jan was hired as the Director of Development for PALS. Jan is involved with every aspect of the PALS program and she will do anything that needs to be done in order to further the success of the organization. She loves the riders, volunteers, and horses. Jan embodies the spirit of volunteerism and PALS is so lucky to have her.

Kirie as been volunteering at PALS since 2003. While still in high school, Kirie manages to volunteer for three hours a week during the school year. Though Kirie did not have prior horse experience when starting at PALS, she immediately became involved in caring for the horses and keeping the stable clean. Recently, she volunteered at the Special Olympics/Indiana Youth Challenge, traveling with PALS to the event. In addition, Kirie is applying her experience at PALS to her academics by tying it to her senior project at Harmony School. Kirie is the perfect example of a volunteer who not only steps in and does anything that is asked of her, but also independently finds chores that need to be done around the barn. She is enthusiastic, loyal, dedicated, and committed to the PALS program and greets everyone at the barn with a warm smile. Kirie also traveled to the UPHA show with PALS riders, staff, volunteers, and horses.

Congratulations, Jan and Kirie—you are amazing volunteers!