James Madison University - Index

James Madison University - Madison Magazine - Summer 2008 - Index

2008 WNBA
draft choice Tamera
Young (’08)
credits “Coach
Brooks, family
and close friends”
for successes on
and off the court.
young photograph by nba photos,
nba entertainment
[Stanley Stewart]
in true JMU Be the Change spirit,
stanley stewart (’78) is giving back
to Virginia’s young people — one
youth at a time.
The Virginia Juvenile Justice
association named stewart
the 2007 administrator
of the Year for his work as
a supervisor in the Loudoun
County Juvenile and
domestic Relations Court
service Unit.
stewart began service as
a probation officer for the
Loudoun County court
system 29 years ago. He
became a supervisor in 1984.
His dedication to the field is
unmistakable as he says, “it
is absolutely true that the
youth are our future. equipping
them with the tools
they need to be better citizens
is a benefit to all of us.”
stewart says, “i have a
degree in marketing and
management. You wouldn’t
think that would add up to
a job in the field of juvenile probation.”
However, the summer before his senior
year, he explains: “one day while sitting in
the office, out of the window i saw a juvenile
prisoner being escorted across the street
to jail. i became a witness to an assault
as the juvenile hit the [officer] escorting
him.” stewart was subpoenaed to testify in
the case. This experience sparked his interest,
and when he graduated from JMU one
year later, the probation officer involved in
that skirmish offered him a job. The officer
that stewart saw assaulted, Mark Crowley,
is now his director.
Crowley doesn’t hesitate to compliment
stewart. “With his steady work ethic and
ability to relate to people, stan leads by
example,” he says.
in fact, the interaction keeps stewart in
this field. “simply working with people
is the most gratifying part of my job,” he
says. “i’ve always been a people person.
Working with youth has always been a
pleasure for me; even those who from
BRIGHTLIGHTS
Virginia administrator of the year
By Ginny Ficker (’08)
Marketing management
major Stanley Stewart
(’78) is the 2007 Virginia
Juvenile Justice Association’s
Administrator
of the Year.
time to time would do things that would
require me to have them detained. now,
in a supervisory level, it’s more of a day-today
working relationship with employees
that occupies my time.”
apart from the positive impact he has
on Loudoun County youth,
stewart has also been effective
as a certified aerobics
instructor for more than 20
years. “it provides me with
an opportunity to see and
influence another kind of
change in people,” stewart
explains. “it’s also how i met
my wife.”
also, stewart has appeared
on esPn as a three-time
regional medalist in the
national aerobics Championships.
stewart answered Madi-
son’s call to Be the Change.
He cherishes the opportunities
he has in bringing new
hope to families. “god has
blessed me with the gift of
being able to get along with
people and, oftentimes, seemingly to make
a difference in their lives. The good news is
that most of the kids are positively affected
and manage to get out of the system relatively
quickly. in a lot of ways, all i really
try to do is give back a little bit, just like
people helped me when i was growing up.
My Mom instilled that in me. My wife
and i often say … we just try to make a
positive difference in the world, sometimes
one person at a time.” M
‘It is absolutely true
that the youth are
our future. Equipping
them with the tools
they need to be better
citizens is a benefit
to all of us.’
— Stanley Stewart (’78)
sUMMeR 2008 27