Nov 01, 2021

DSNWK celebrates achievement in virtual ceremony

Posted Nov 01, 2021 10:45 AM

DSNWK

For the second time in two years, Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas held its awards ceremony as a virtual event on Oct. 19.  The event was made virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic.  Staff, individuals served by DSNWK and community people were given recognition through a live stream presentation and a special video that both appear on the DSNWK website www.dsnwk.org.   

Those staff recognized and listed by location, were:

Atwood - April Dunker, Denni Rehmer

Hays -  Greg Askins, Sara Biggs, Deb Braun, Carrie Brungardt, Leanna Carrier, Tanner Flinn, Courtney Gumtau, Dan Hecker, John Kreutzer, Amanda Lawson, Jerry Michaud, Paige Niernberger, Jake Reynolds, Michelle Seib, Sue Stephens, Christopher Stricker, Les Wilson, Lance VanKooten, Nathan Young

Hill City - Connie Yakish

Hoxie - Linda Pope

Russell - Randy Housen

Stockton - Michelle Storz

Special recognition was also paid to four staff members for their outstanding work with persons with disabilities.  Brandy Bell, Hays, Kayla Kuntzsch and Herb Shumaker, Russell and Denni Rehmer, Atwood will be presented with the Employee of the Year Award. 

Two $100 scholarship awards will be presented to Destiny Bergstresser and Anyela Valenzuela-Rosales of Hays.  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 will be given to individuals served by DSNWK for achievement through employment.  Those receiving awards and listed by location were: 

Hays - Taylor Barrett, Michail Bird, Treyshawn Blackman, Tim, Brier, Preston Browning, William Dornon, Michael Fawcett, Don Furrey, LaVerne Gitchel, Duane Gross, Wesley Higdon, Tyler F. Jones, Tyler S. Jones, Neil Kuhn, Brittany Molnar, Derrick Morton, Jennifer Paramore, Brian Rietcheck, Alan Roberts, Ed Rybeck, Ramona Schmitt, Avon Smith, Kurtis Steckline, Trenton Uhl, Garrett Williams

Hill City -  Jenny Cronn, Rebecca Rohr

Norton - Justin Bainter

DSNWK will be presenting two Individual Achievement Awards to individuals served by DSNWK. Darrell Trail of Atwood and Jeremy Pugh 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.  

DSNWK plans to recognize several members of area communities with special awards.  Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Hays will receive DSNWK's Employer of the Year Award for their outstanding support of people with disabilities in the workforce.  The Community Support Award will be presented to the Ellis County Health Department for their outstanding support to DSNWK during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Recognition will be made to a Hoxie community member with DSNWK’s Good Neighbor Award.  Tom and Leanna Sloan will be recognized for their personal support of the people served by DSNWK.

Finally, DSNWK will be recognizing Jim and Rose Blume, Aurora, CO and Jim and Sally Stansbury, Hays with the Vision of Hope Award.  This award was created to recognize those individuals who have been the guiding light along DSNWK’s 50 year history creating long lasting opportunities in services and support 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.