Submitted
Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas hosted its annual awards luncheon in Hays on October 21st. Awards were given throughout the afternoon to staff, persons served, and community members. The first awards of the afternoon were given to employees of DSNWK for their years of service. Those staff recognized and listed by location, were:
Atwood - Amber Barnett, Martina Urban
Hays - Robert Begler, Janet Bolander, Derek Crabtree, Tammy Dreiling, Terri Farrington, Timothy Gohl, Jeremy Goodale, Michael Greene, Kathrine Hampton, Hazen Hance, Timothy Herman, Magdalen Housman, Madeline Hutchins, LeAnne Kroeger, Vanessa Moore, Cheryl Morgan, Jared Normandin, Alicia Preston, Leah Schlyer, Terry Schmeidler, Lance Sprick
Hill City - Cynthia Bauer, Kelly Granger, Dawn Powell
Norton - Deirdre Nelson
Russell - Tamara Lynch, Sandra Nietzke
Recognition was made to six people who retired from DSNWK over the past year. They were; Connie Fross, Dale Haag, Deanna Leiker, Denise Stritt, Audrey Ummel and Paul Wildeman.
Special recognition was also paid to three staff members for their outstanding work with persons with disabilities. April LeJuene of Atwood, Dilene Reinhardt of Hays, and Dawn Rose, of Russell were each presented with the Employee of the Year Award.
A $100 scholarship award was presented to Alyssa Cole who is attending Fort Hays State University. This award was given from the Jerelyn Becker Memorial Scholarship Fund for employees studying in higher education in a field related to serving people with developmental disabilities.
Several awards were given to individuals served by DSNWK for achievement through employment. Those receiving awards and listed by location were:
Atwood - Kelly Fisher, Judy Leiker
Hays - Jimmy Brungardt, Matthew Green, Jacob Houghton, Olivia Hueneke, Anthony Morgan, Derrick Morton, Dallas Rupp, Asia Schonthaler, Tyrone Schumacher, Trenton Uhl
Hill City - Alyssa Logue, Val Stradel
Plainville - Haley Ciarallo
DSNWK’s newest awards recognized contractors through its Shared Living program. Those receiving awards for one year were: Kiera Goodwin, Kimberly Griffith, Gloria Johnson, Tabitha Madden, Casey Whitley and Landon Williams of Goodland.
DSNWK presented two Individual Achievement Awards to individuals served by DSNWK. AeraAna Austin Oder of Lucas and Jared Barnes of Hill City were presented these awards which go each year to one youth and one adult who have shown tremendous individual progress throughout the year.
Awards were presented to community individuals and businesses. Master Cleaners in Hays received DSNWK's Employer of the Year Award for their outstanding support of people with disabilities in the workforce. The Community Support Award was presented to U-Save Pharmacy of Hays for their support of DSNWK’s Employment Connections. Recognition was made to Martin Jimenez of Hays with DSNWK’s Good Neighbor Award for his outstanding volunteerism.
Finally, DSNWK recognized two long-time advocates of DSNWK for their support with its Vision of Hope Awards. The Scheopner Family of Goodland and Connie Weber and the late Allan Weber of Oakley were honored. DSNWK paid tribute to them for their outstanding support over the years for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
DSNWK is a 501c3 nonprofit serving 18 counties in northwest Kansas with a mission to advocate for persons with disabilities and those who care about them by planning and supporting a life of dignity, interdependence, and personal satisfaction in the community
For more information contact:
Steve Keil
785-625-5678