Egolf has been a secretary at Churubusco Elementary school for 21 years. Her principal, Nicole Singer, an IASP member, nominated Egolf for the award.
Egolf often goes above and beyond the call of duty by reaching out to children and families in need. Not only does she take the time to complete her daily duties as school secretary, but she always has time to listen to each student who visits the office during the course of the day.
Whether they are complaining of feeling ill, sad about an event that happened at school or at home, offering excuses for being late, looking for a lost mitten or hat, crying because they missed their ride home or just wanting a friend to talk to – Egolf is there.
And Egolf’s compassion and extra effort does not stop at the end of the school day.
Every winter she coordinates coat and winter clothing drives, as well as several food drives during the school year. Egolf organizes and delivers the collected goods and delivers them to local food pantries and the Christmas Bureau.
One of the founders of the Churubusco Back-to-School Works program, Egolf works during her summer vacation, purchasing school supplies, coordinating donations and packing dozens of new bookbags for students in grades K-12.
The program offers all kids a fresh start in school – no matter what their parents’ financial situation may be. This year Egolf and other volunteers packed new bookbags with needed school supplies and handed them out to 125 children in grades K-12.
Egolf also works with her husband, Mel Egolf, who is the Green Township trustee, as well as the Smith Township trustee, Patty Amber, to ensure dozens of area children and their families have presents under the tree and food on the table during the holidays. Mel and Susie Egolf often deliver many of the holiday dinners and gifts themselves, with Mel sometimes dressing as Santa Claus.
Egolf and her husband have two children and three grandchildren.
