Parent volunteers were recognized November 8 by the Eastern Upper Peninsula Great Start Parent Coalition at the first parent appreciation day. Pictured are Parent Coalition Advocate of the Year nominees and winners (from left, back row) Kristie Chambers, Linda Forgrave, Tonya Adair, Chuck Forgrave, Tristen Harrison, Dayna Tremblay, Jill Kachur, Megan Belanger, Susan Jewell; (front) Carrie Novak, Chasidy Keyser, Heather Bird, and Wendy McCluskey. Not pictured are Melanie Greenfield and Rachael Mackenzie. (Photograph courtesy of Great Start Parent Coalition) Wendy McCluskey of St. Ignace was named the first Mackinac County Parent Coalition Advocate of the year by the United Way of the Eastern Upper Peninsula Volunteer Center November 8. Her commitment of advocating for children's needs, specifically young children and families coping with autism, earned her the distinction.

"You try to do what you can," she told The St. Ignace News. "You don't expect an 'atta-boy.' You do it because it means something to you. It means something to me."

Her 14-year-old son, Jordan, has Aspergers autism.

Ms. McCluskey also is a fulltime nurse assistant in Long Term Care at Mackinac Straits Hospital and the mother of two other children, including eight-year-old Preston and three-year-old Kyra.

Nominated for the award by her sister, Tracey McCluskey, she was one of three considered for the honor.

"Wendy is always looking at ways to use experiences she has learned through the years dealing with Jordan to lend a helping hand to anyone needing help," wrote Tracey McCluskey in her nomination. "Sometimes she gets frustrated due to lack of participation, but she never stops trying. She just keeps putting out the information, and answers questions, with hopes someday more parents will come together and things will get easier for these children."

During the last year, Ms. McCluskey has advocated for her son and she has worked to educate the community, including giving a presentation to students about autism, a brain development disorder.

She has volunteered time recruiting parents for the fundraising autism walk, and attending meetings with other parents. She has participated in a downstate autism walk and sent correspondence to legislators about autism issues. She also has donated her time to the parent coalition at community events, including information booths and the Fourth of July parade. She has recruited new parent members to the group.

To earn the recognition, nominees were required to be part of an advocacy group and show they extended support to the Parent Coalition. Mackinac County Parent Coalition is a branch of the Eastern Upper Peninsula Great Start Collaborative.

"She has been a good advocate for her children, other people's children, and educated the community about autism," said Heather Bird, the facilitator for the Mackinac County Great Start program.

The Great Start Parent Coalition is a network of parents throughout the EUP that focuses on improving awareness about the importance of early childhood in learning. The support group helps families with special needs children.

Jill Kachur was awarded the Chippewa County Parent Coalition Advocate of the year and Magen Belanger received the top honor for Luce County.