Wiggans wins Sandy Thompson Award

Friday, Jan. 10, 2003 | 11:13 a.m.

When juvenile probation officer Darnell Wiggans realized a brother and sister assigned to his caseload couldn't count on their drug-addicted mother to provide regular meals, he stocked their kitchen cupboards himself and taught the 15-year-old twins how to cook.

That example, combined with other instances of standout dedication, has earned Wiggans this year's Sandy Thompson Award of Excellence from the Children's Advisory Council.

The award, now in its 10th year, was renamed this fall in memory of Sandra Lee Thompson, a Las Vegas Sun executive who was killed in a car wreck in August. Thompson was a longtime advocate on behalf of children and families, whose reporting spurred reforms to the state's guardianship laws and family court procedures.

Recipients are the "unsung heroes" who do extraordinary work on behalf of children, said Donna Coleman, the alliance's spokeswoman.

In her letter nominating Wiggans, Sally Huncovsky, his supervisor of two years, described his determination to help every child and family he encounters. Wiggans regularly rebuilds computers for the low-income families he encounters and serves a mentor to dozens of children outside of those assigned to him, Huncovsky said. The award, which was presented today, includes a plaque and check for $1,000.