Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas
Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas (DSNWK) hosted its annual awards luncheon in Hays on October 6th. 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 - Dalton League, Denni Rehmer
Hays - Sara Biggs, Debra Braun, Carrie Brungardt, Lea Bush, Cherece Coen, Alyssa Cole, Trevor Engel, Tanner Flynn, Sandra Garner, Courtney Gumtau, Randy Housen, Christopher Jones, Amanda Lawson, John Kreutzer, Dalton League, Jerry Michaud, Paige Niernberger, Genevieve Newsom, Julie Quakenbush, Jeanie Sacia, Michelle Seib, Sue Stephens, Christopher Sticker, Lance VanKooten, Aurora Walters, Andrew Wishon, Andrea Young, Nathan Young
Hill City - Darryl Clark, Kris Jacobs
Hoxie - Linda Pope
Stockton - Michelle Storz
Recognition was made to three people who retired from DSNWK over the past year. They were Roseanne Benabdallah, Emily Jackson, Leanne Kroeger.
Special recognition was also paid to three staff members for their outstanding work with persons with disabilities. Josh Balman, Hazen Hance and Aurora Wolters of Hays were each presented with the Employee of the Year Award.
A $100 scholarship award was presented to Amaya Munoz and Jennifer Ramirez who are 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:
Goodland - Donnie Binder, Derek Moreland
Hays - Taylor Barrett, Camryn Beauchamp, Danielle Bourland, Don Furrey, LaVerne Gitchel, Riley Green, Duane Gross, Tyler Jones, Josh Leiker, Tyler McQueen, Myriah Penrod, Jeremy Pugh, Brian Rietcheck, Alan Roberts, Christian Rogers, Will Ryan, Kurtis Steckline, Angela Winder
Hill City - Jenny Cronn, Rebecca Rohr, Dustin Splattstoesser
Hoxie - Kade Zimmerman
Norton - Justin Bainter
Osborne - Brayden McNeal
Russell - William Dornan
DSNWK’s newest awards recognized contractors through its Shared Living program. Those receiving awards for one year were: Jane Bunker and Emily Tinkler of Goodland.
DSNWK presented two Individual Achievement Awards to individuals served by DSNWK. Jennifer Bartlett of Hill City and Elizabeth Toulaboe of Hays 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. Big Creek Crossing 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 Truss Craft of Kansas of Hays for their support of DSNWK’s Employment Connections. Recognition was made to Mike Braxmeyer and Tyler Britt of Atwood with DSNWK’s Good Neighbor Awards for his outstanding volunteerism.
Finally, DSNWK recognized two long-time advocates of DSNWK for their support with its Vision of Hope Awards. Rick and Rita Billinger of Goodland and the Robert and Patricia Schmidt Foundation of Hays 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.