2022-2023

Outstanding Volunteer Award – Ayesha Martin

Ayesha is a graduate of Dillard University where she received a Bachelor of Science in Public Health – Health Systems Administration/Management and a Master of Science in Healthcare Management/Administration from the University of New Orleans. She is the Lead Trauma Registrar of the Trauma Services Department at Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center.

Her greatest community achievement: “My role as a coach with Junior League of Lafayette’s Girls on the Run Community Program. I feel a sense of pride working with and providing young girls with the skills to help enhance and inspire the many facets of their well-being and self-esteem.”

Outstanding Volunteer Award – Emily Hamner

Born and raised in Lafayette, Emily graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Business Administration. After receiving her education, Emily began work at her family’s real estate business, Mike Donlon Real Estate. She is also the Executive Director for the Pinhook Foundation, which allows her to interact with and help many of the charitable organizations serving Lafayette.

Emily’s philosophy of giving is to partner with nonprofits to help make our community stronger, healthier and a happier place to live. Emily has a giving heart and a passion for her community.

Nedra Andrus Award Winner – Eric Searcy

The Nedra Andrus Award recipient demonstrates a profound volunteer spirit and has made an immense impact on state and local government, community partners, and especially teens in the Lafayette community during his lifetime.

Eric Searcy is a long-time resident of Baton Rouge. An outstanding athlete, Eric was a member of the 1998 Ragin Cajun baseball team. His career was cut short when he was paralyzed by a seven-time DUI offender. Eric credits family, friends, and most importantly his relationship with Christ, for the ability to rebuild his life from a wheelchair.

Following his crash, Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from LSU in 2004 and a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from LSU in 2006. He had the honor of working with former Gov. Mike Foster and state legislators to draft laws to strengthen penalties for offenders with multiple DUI convictions in Louisiana. Through this work, the Eric Searcy Foundation was founded with the goal of helping others living with spinal cord injuries.

Eric has made an immense impact on the lives of more than 15,000 high school students in Lafayette over the past 20 years through his keynote address on impaired and distracted driving at the League’s NO FEAR NO FUTURE program. To quote Eric: “I don’t want my legacy to be defined by the challenges I faced, I want it to be defined by how I faced the challenges.”

Nonprofit of the Year Award – Parish Proud

Parish Proud’s mission is to connect people to places, and places to possibilities. Parish Proud has an unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life in our community. With a focus on environmental sustainability, civic engagement, and community beautification, Parish Proud has significantly impacted the region through various initiatives, including litter cleanups, tree planting, and community outreach programs.

Parish Proud made a major impact on community collaboration by involving more than 3,500 volunteers from various organizations to create lasting community change and safe environments for safe play. The organization’s projects resulted in over $152,000 in cost avoidance to taxpayers . Parish Proud held over 400 volunteer-powered events not just in Lafayette but also in St. Martin and Iberia parishes. Their volunteers collected nearly 41 tons of litter and illegally dumped items from over 200 miles of roadways that would have otherwise ended up in our waterways. Thank you Parish Proud for the amazing impact you are making and will continue to make in Lafayette.