DSNWK
Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas hosted its annual awards luncheon in Hays on October 17. 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 - Jamie Diggs, Zelda Merz
Hays - Eric Barrett, Matthew Basgall, Roseanne Benabdallah, LaVonne Giess, Kyle Kreutzer, Ruth Lang, Jacqueline Lattin, Dawn Marlett, Jan Nosekabel, Dustin Olsen, Norma Tripler, David Whalen, Rod Windholz
Hill City - Marla Baker, Gertrude Deges, Gina Nichol
Hoxie - Nicole Brocklehurst
Norton - Teresa Garcia, Troy Haney, Rene Readle, Kimberly Richard, Laquita Smith, William Underwood
Russell - Joseph Cole, Mellissa Holloway, Breanna White, Angelina Younger
Stockton - Gimmie Jo Jansonius
Recognition was made to seven people who retired from DSNWK over the past year. They were Marsha Eastep of Atwood, Jeannie Komarek, Patty Littrel, Ron Staab and Valarie Strobel of Hays, and Sherri Jackson and Kelly Miller of Hill City.
Special recognition was also paid to three staff members for their outstanding work with persons with disabilities. Jessica House and Kirsten Pfleiger of Hays and Keith Huntington of Atwood were each presented with the Employee of the Year Award.
Two $100 scholarship awards were presented to Destiny Bergstesser and Lisa Raudis 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:
Atwood - Betty Bieker, Kelly Fisher
Hays - Treyshawn Blackmon, Tim Brier, Preston Browning, Guy French, Olivia Hueneke, Brian Johnson, James Lynn, Melisa Mong, Nelda Owens, Bonnie Reeves, Dallas Rupp, Jeff Saindon, Robert Skeers, Brett Skinner, Trenton Uhl, Garrett Williams
Hill City - Alyssa Logue
Phillipsburg - Edward Rybeck
DSNWK presented two Individual Achievement Awards to individuals served by DSNWK. Caitlyn Merritt of Russell and Ian Collins of Norton were presented these awards which go each year to one youth and one adult who have shown tremendous individual progress throughout the year.
Recognition was also made to Patrick Hagen, individual served by DSNWK in Norton with one of DSNWK’s Good Neighbor Awards. Hagen was recognized for his volunteer efforts in the community.
Awards were presented to members of area communities during the afternoon.
Bright Minds Academy 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 Grace Kastens of Atwood for her support to individuals served by DSNWK through her Next Chapter Book Club. Recognition was made to volunteer Margaret Thompson of Norton with DSNWK’s Good Neighbor Award. Thompson volunteers her time taking an individual served by DSNWK to church each week.
Finally, DSNWK recognized two long-time advocates of DSNWK for their support with its Vision of Hope Awards. Bart Betzen of Chicago, Illinois and the late Bill and Harriet Richardon, formerly of Hoxie, 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.