Starla Criser dabbled in a number of careers before finding what may be her true occupation — volunteering with seniors.
“They’re good people and I’ve enjoyed them all these years,” Criser said.
In May, Criser was recognized as the 2025 Irene Hart Award winner. The award, named for a former director of Central Plains Area Agency on Aging, recognizes excellence in service to seniors.
Much of Criser’s volunteering has involved helping seniors put down their stories in writing. She’s a published author herself, with children’s books, romances and other genres to her credit.
On her website, Criser recounts her past as a a coffee shop owner, legal secretary, receptionist and “mediocre waitress.”
She tried college several times before finally graduating with a gerontology degree from Wichita State University.
That led to an internship and job with Senior Services, Inc., as coordinator of the Neighborhood Connection program. She then transitioned to three decades of volunteer work.
Criser is president of the Linwood Senior Center advisory council and also leads the Seniors Exploring Cultural Arts group. She established Writing Craft groups at four senior centers: Linwood, Downtown, Derby and Haysville. That’s led to five published collections of work by senior center writers and a community cookbook.
“Most people are really wanting to write their memoirs. We’ve toyed around with writing fiction, but that’s not what they’re really after.”
Cherise Langenberg, director of the Linwood center, said Criser is invaluable, planning, decorating and helping sponsor various events like a Senior Carnival and a holiday bus trip to Kansas City.
“Her mentorship, ideas and encouragement have been priceless to me as a director and to the seniors we serve,” Langengberg said.
A founding member of the Kansas Writers Association, Criser has also volunteered with the Sedgwick County Zoo, Botanica and Music Theatre Wichita. She’s married to Steve Criser, a member of The Active Age’s board of directors.
Criser has quite a few other interests as well, from travel and scrapping to gardening and quilting. And she’s tried kayaking, deep-sea fishing and ziplining. “Age doesn’t define me…I am a firm believer that age is not a restriction to learning and taking a chance at doing something outside your comfort zone.”
