Hunter Advocacy Award
This award is reserved for an individual who have shown outstanding devotion in supporting Family Child Care Providers in Kansas and whose leadership has promoted quality standards in the field. It is given annually at our professional event in April.
The Hunter Advocacy Award was established in 1998 in recognition of the critical role Kharon Hunter played in the formation of the state organization for family child care providers and her continued advocacy efforts. Kharon was well known throughout the State as a dedicated trainer and advocate, and an ever-present source of knowledge and information to all who knew her.
Kharon lost her battle with breast cancer after a 14 year struggle and passed away in December 2000. However, she left behind a legacy including many family child care providers who were proud to call her a mentor and friend.
This award serves as a continuing tribute to her life and untiring efforts on behalf of children, families and the profession of family child care.
2024 Hunter Award Recipient
Logan Stenseng is Thrive Kansas's Policy and Strategic Initiatives Coordinator, overseeing the development of the organization’s public policy program and building relationships with partners statewide in support of early childhood education and building a family-friendly future in Kansas. He has led the creation of the Zero to Thrive coalition and has been recruiting advocates and fostering support for early childhood investment, with the goal of growing the social movement of Child Care Champions. Logan also provides policy research and advocacy/organizing trainings to community members, as well as serving as a lobbyist.
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Logan graduated from the University of Kansas in 2021. During his time at KU, he served as the Government Relations Director to the Student Senate, as well as working for voting rights for several non-profits. He is originally from El Dorado, Kansas.
Why does Logan deserve the Hunter Award? He has worked tirelessly to advocate for children, families and providers in Kansas. Logan has served in many positions over the years and has made time on evenings and weekends to meet with providers to hear their concerns and needs, in addition to his professional commitments. He has testified on behalf of both providers and children in Kansas to ensure that dangerous legislation was not passed. He has also served on numerous committees across the state, working closely in the communities to advocate for health and safety in childcare. Logan is not only well spoken and informed; he has a talent very few have, to work with people in a non-partisan way that allows for issues to be seen from many sides.
As a community we are so very grateful and proud to be able to call him an advocate and ally of children, families and providers
Thank you, Logan, for all you do for family child care providers across the state of Kansas!
Past Hunter Award Recipients
1998 Kharon Hunter
1998 Leadell Ediger
1999 Bill Anderson
2000 Becky Woerz
2001 Reva Wywadis
2004 Laurie Pigg
2005 Carolyn Weinhold
2006 Jane Wieler
2008 Janet Newton
2012 Beth Reeder
2013 Audra Kennison
2014 Mary Murphy
2015 Maureen Kitzi
2016 Carlos Gomez
2017 Bev Long
2018 Rachel Sisson
2019 Dawn Brown
2020 Caroline Teter
2021 Mary Baskett
2022 Marie Treichel
2024 Logan Stenseng