Indiana State University Newsroom

As part of her duties at Indiana State University, Teresa Exline has often been called upon to write or speak about the university's commitment to public service.

Now, she has been recognized as someone who doesn‘t just talk about community service but also walks the walk. The Sullivan resident is the inaugural recipient of the Sullivan County Community Foundation's Volunteer of the Year Award.

Exline was selected for the award from among 15 nominees. She earned the recognition for providing leadership to the Sullivan County Community Kitchen since it began 10 years ago. The kitchen has served an estimated 15,000 meals to needy residents since it opened.

"Ten years. Week in and week out; not a meal missed, never failing to provide for those in need," Rev. Paul McGlasson of Sullivan's First Presbyterian Church said in a letter nominating Exline for the award.

McGlasson called Exline the "most amazing organizational genius" he has met. She designs all of the menus, makes sure the food is laid out in order each week and provides workers with detailed instructions in how to proceed. When she's not volunteering herself, she "calls to make sure everything is going fine," he wrote.

The community kitchen is just one of many organizations that have benefited from Exline's work and the recognition from the foundation is the only the latest in a series of awards she has received for her service, McGlasson said.

The award came with a $2,500 donation to the kitchen from the foundation, which is affiliated with the Terre Haute-based Wabash Valley Community Foundation.

"There are so many people who really deserve this and I am so in awe of everything you accomplish every day," Exline said following the presentation, in comments reported by the Sullivan Daily Times.

Bradley has experienced Exline's commitment to her job first hand. As the president's executive assistant for internal relations, she routinely puts in long hours to ensure he has the background and materials needed for meetings or public appearances, he said.

"I'm not surprised that Teresa would receive an award for her volunteerism. It is a privilege to work with someone who is so dedicated not only to her job and to the university but to the Wabash Valley community," Bradley said. "ISU has many faculty and staff members who share her commitment to public service and serve as great role models for our students."

Writer: Dave Taylor, media relations director, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3743 or dave.taylor@indstate.edu