AMY SZPARA

PHOTO: Stephanie “Nikki” Wilking beams at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. which honored police officers and the Kids for Kops program founded by Wilking. LAPLACE – It has been six months since Paula Wilking had to face what no mother can imagine unless it happens to her, something that tore her world in two and shattered her heart to pieces. She buried her oldest child, a light who had not only made her parents proud, but who also accomplished more in her 17 years than a lot of people do in their entire lives. Stephanie “Nikki” Wilking died suddenly of meningitis in February, and for her mother, the only thing that keeps her going half a year later is her other two children and the drive to carry on her eldest daughter’s dreams. “StephaNikki,” as the teen was affectionately known to friends, a high school junior at Reserve Christian Church School, founded Kids for Kops when she was only 12. For the five years she ran the organization, the group flourished, raising money to purchase bullet-proof vests for police officers in St. John the Baptist Parish. Silent Partner of Gretna sold the vests to the group for $350 each, though they were $1,000 vests. Now that the founder of Kids for Kops is gone in body, her spirit lives on and her mother is intent on never letting her organization fizzle out. Her daughter had found out in January that the canine unit in St. John Parish did not have the life-saving vests that their human counterparts wore. The dogs, who go through intense training and who serve the sheriff’s office by patrolling with deputies and helping sniff out narcotics and suspects on the run, did not have the protection that could save them from gunfire. The dedicated teen decided shortly before her death that raising money for the canines would be her next project, but her unexpected passing kept her from that dream. A mother struggling with the devastating blow of losing her daughter, Paula Wilking is focusing a large part of her time to Kids for Kops, along with her younger children, Ashley, 12, and Kyle,10, other children in the parish and adults who have become involved. One of the five canines received a donated vest from Brian’s Towing a few months ago, and the other four recently received theirs from Kids for Kops and other groups affiliated with the organization. When Kids for Kops went to Dupont Kevlar Advanced Fibers Systems with $1600 to see if they could get four dog vests for $400 each, they instead, were given the vests at no cost in memory of Nikki Wilking, in exchange for the organization saving the money to create a memorial for the loved girl. Classmates of Nikki Wilking’s at Reserve Christian expressed an interest in keeping the organization alive after she died, and her best friend, Reneé Delaneuville, said that she wouldn’t let Kids for Kops stop. Paula Wilking, who was excited to hear that kids wanted to continue the organization, remained a director, along with Brenda Badeaux and Sandy Lambert. Kids for Kops has plans to replace the vests that the organization bought for the officers five years ago and buy vests for the incoming officers, who do not yet have theirs. The next softball game at Reserve Christian following Nikki Wilking’s death brought proceeds that added to a fund set up in her name for Kids for Kops. Nikki Wilking caught a fly-ball that gave the opposing team their final out and won the game for Reserve Christian at her last game, and at the next game – after she passed away – her team members elected to leave the position of center field open, and take an out every time Wilking’s name was called to bat. They still won the game, and donated all proceeds to Kids for Kops. In the six months following her death, others have donated to the account in her name at the Louisiana Federal Credit Union. The trophies, plaques and pictures, including a poster of Nikki Wilking on the capitol lawn in Washington, D.C., adorn the Wilking home, letting any visitor know that her spirit is very much alive there. The girl who went to Space Camp twice, played softball, volleyball and basketball, earned a black belt in karate, served as a life guard, maintained an A’ average, held a job and founded an organization that has now been chartered by students in Tennessee and Florida, is talked about daily by her family. “I visit her daily (at the cemetery), and I always talk to her like she’s still here. Kyle writes to her nightly,” said Paula Wilking. According to Paula Wilking, Ashley wants to earn her black belt before her sister’s birthday in late September, and Kyle aspires to be a great swimmer like his sister. “I think my other children use her death as their inspiration,” said Paula Wilking. A friend of the family has even sent a Kids for Kops video to Oprah Winfrey, in hopes that the organization might receive the Angel Network award, a monetary gift that allows non-charitable organizations to continue their work. If Kids for Kops were to win the award, it would be the first time an organization whose founder has passed away received the donation. “The last year she really blossomed,” said Paula Wilking. “The hardest thing is missing her. I listen for that garage door at night, for her to come home from work.” Ashley has moved into her sister’s old room, because she feels closest to her there, and the spare bedroom has been turned into a room that holds some of the things that were dearest to Nikki Wilking – pictures, a volleyball, a softball glove and other items that she adored. “There were a lot of times I’d just go in her room and lie on her bed, hold her glove. The other room is just her room now. It’s all her things. I can go in there to be close to her,” said Paula Wilking. “The worst thing is knowing she’ll never walk down the aisle. She wanted that. She had plans. But, it was God’s will.” Paula Wilking said keeping her daughter’s dream alive gets her out of bed sometimes in the morning when she is having a hard day. Kids for Kops has plans to have pencils, mugs and book covers with the logo on them made to sell for fund-raising. They also plan to continue doing demonstrations to educate kids on the dangers of drinking and driving by using Fatal Vision goggles that show people what being intoxicated is like. Kids for Kops will continue, and the Wilking family will continue to be proud of Nikki. Her presence is everywhere, as anyone visiting her home can see. From the framed picture on the front door to the messages of “We love you” printed into the cement that holds their basketball goal, the evidence that the family continues to show their love for the missed daughter and sister is everywhere. And the community will surely remember the devoted girl each time Kids for Kops accomplishes another goal.