Awards Program

The Shenandoah Valley Regional Committee for Disability Employment Awareness (SVRCDEA) is seeking nominations for its annual awards ceremony. Awards are presented to recognize persons who have promoted the employment of persons with disabilities and for persons with disabilities who have become successfully employed. The awards will be presented at a luncheon to be held in October as part of the activities to recognize National Disability Awareness Month.

Nominations are being solicited for the following categories

• Self-Employed Employer of the Year
• Non-Profit or Government Employer of the Year
• For-Profit Employer of the Year
• Employer / Organization / Agency Training Site of the Year
• Employee of the Year in a Profession or Business
• Employee of the Year in a Service Industry
• Mentor of the Year
• Assistive Technology Award
• Pete Giesen Humanitarian Award

Employer criteria to be considered include willingness to employ person(s) with disabilities, willingness to modify the work environment, and orientation and training to sensitize co-workers. The employee criteria include positive adjustment to disability, stable employment history, good work habits and productivity, and a documented disability. The mentor award criteria include encouragement and support to assist with adjustment to disability, providing a positive role model, and work-place mentoring. The assistive technology criteria include providing an adaptive device or aid, providing training in use of such device, or providing maintenance or support for adaptive technology.

Contact person for additional information and to return completed nomination forms

Sharon Flory
Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired
620 East Beverley Street
Staunton, VA 24401
Phone: 540-332-7761
Fax: 540-332-7733
Email: Sharon.Flory@dbvi.virginia.gov

Nominations must be received by September 1, 2005

Employer or Training Site Employer of the Year Award Criteria

• Willingness to train and /or employ persons with disabilities
• Training and/or employing at least one person with a disability during 2004/2005
• Active recruitment /hiring practices
• Sensitization of other employees
• Assimilation, retention, and promotion of persons with disabilities
• Promoting the concept of employment of persons with disabilities
• Special orientation of training procedures

Employee of the Year Award Criteria

• Has a documented disability and demonstrates positive adjustment to disability
• Stable employment (full or part time); has been successfully employed for a minimum of 1 year
• Other than necessary and reasonable accommodations, does not expect special treatment
• Positive interpersonal relationships
• Good attendance and demonstrates good job safety practices

Assistive Technology Award Criteria

• Provision of an adaptive device or aid which has enabled a person with a disability to become employed or maintain employment in 2004/2005
• Providing a product which has enhanced the quality of life
• Provision of training in the use of adaptive technology
• Providing maintenance for adaptive technology and assistance with trouble shooting

Mentor of the Year Award Criteria

• Provides encouragement and support to help with adjustment to disability. Support may include assistance in the development of workplace or daily living skills
• Provides a positive role model for a variety of job related or living skills
• Willingness to provide opportunities for experiencing on-site career options
• Has provided multiple short-term mentoring work experiences over the year

Pete Giesen Humanitarian Award Criteria

An organization*, agency, business or individual (within SVRCDEA' s geographic area) that has championed the cause of equal opportunity and independence for a person or persons with disabilities by:

• Demonstrating a record of advocacy
• Showing a spirit of sensitivity and awareness
• Devoting benevolent and humanitarian service to the community at large, including a person or persons with disabilities

*Organizations, agencies, or businesses which are state and/or federally funded and whose sole function is to provide human services to persons with disabilities are not eligible.

Awards Include the following categories

• Employer of the Year
• Self employed
• Non-Profit/Government employers
• For-Profit employers
• Employer/Organization/Agency Training Site Award
• Employee of the Year
• Professional or business
• Service industry
• Provider of the Assistive Technology Award
• Individual/Company Mentor of the Year Award
• Pete Giesen Humanitarian Award

Each year October is recognized as Disability / Employment Awareness month. Locally the Shenandoah Valley Regional Committee for Disability Employment Awareness (SVRCDEA) provides an opportunity for school age youth to increase their awareness of persons with disabilities and their potential.

We do this through a number of contests for elementary, middle, and high school students, with awards in all categories and a cash prize for each level of contest winners.

Assistive Technology Contest, Middle School Division

• 1st place, Brad Hart, S. Gordon Stewart
• 2nd place, Travis Bottenfield, S. Gordon Stewart
• 3rd place, Cassie McKown, S. Gordon Stewart
• People’s Choice, Brad Hart, S. Gordon Stewart

Assistive Technology Contest, Elementary School Division

• 1st place, Christine Chandler, Westwood Hills

Art Contest, Elementary School Division

• 1st place, Billie Bradley, William Perry
• 2nd place, Kyle Chambers, William Perry
• 3rd place, LaToya Diggs, William Perry
• Special Mention, Jeffrey Placide, William Perry
• Special Mention, Tyler Briggs, William Perry

Literary Contest, Middle School Division

• 1st place, Bradley Moser, Stuarts Draft
• 2nd place, Derek Rankin, Stuarts Draft
• 3rd place, Ashley Cook, Stuarts Draft
• Special Mention, Bryan Dewitt, Stuarts Draft
• Special Mention, Robert Lester, Stuarts Draft

Literary Contest, Elementary School Division

• 1st place, Nate Craun, Westwood Hills
• 2nd place, John Plonk, Westwood Hills
• 3rd place, Emily Day, Westwood Hills
• Special Mention, Jessica Lopez, William Perry
• Special Mention, Kate Garber, Westwood Hills
• Special Mention, Catherine Morgan, Westwood Hills
• Special Mention, Julia Kappas, Westwood Hills

Schools with students participating in this year's contest were

• Wilson Memorial High School, Augusta County
• Stuarts Draft Middle School, Augusta County
• S. Gordon Stewart Middle School, Augusta County
• Ft. Defiance High School, Augusta County
• William Perry Elementary School, Waynesboro
• Westwood Hills Elementary School, Waynesboro
• Waynesboro High School, Waynesboro
• Thomas McSwain Elementary School, Staunton

Art Contest, Elementary School Division

• 1st place, Daniel Heyward, William Perry
• 2nd place, Haley Cordova, T. C. McSwain
• 3rd place, Leanna Wagner, William Perry
• Honorable Mention, Krystyna Gill, William Perry

Art Contest, Middle School Division

• 1st place, Hilary Brady, Ridgeview Christian
• 2nd place, Brittany Davidson, S. Gordon Stewart
• 3rd place, Claire Biggers, Stuarts Draft

Art Contest, High School Division

• 1st place, Emily Underwood, Wilson Memorial
• 2nd place, Lacey Elkins, Wilson Memorial
• 3rd place, Heath Riggleman, Wilson Memorial

Literary Contest, Elementary School Division

• 1st place, Diondra Lawson, Westwood Hills
• 2nd place, Lorrie Thompson, William Perry
• 3rd place, Zachary Meehan, Westwood Hills

Literary Contest, Middle School Division

• 1st place, Jacob West, Stuarts Draft
• 2nd place, Whitney Hawkins, S. Gordon Stewart
• 3rd place, Brittany Davidson, S. Gordon Stewart
• Honorable Mention, Nick Saufley, S. Gordon Stewart

Literary Contest, High School Division

• 1st place, Chris Karicofe, Waynesboro

Assistive Technology Contest, Elementary School Division

• 1st place, Daniel Heyward, William Perry
• 2nd place, Brad Lowrance, William Perry
• 3rd place, Charles Eckman, Westwood Hills

Assistive Technology Contest, Middle School Division

• 1st place, Brad Hart, S. Gordon Stewart
• 2nd place, Jessica Rohrbaugh, S. Gordon Stewart
• 3rd place, Sara Martin, S. Gordon Stewart
• People's Choice Award, Brad Hart, S. Gordon Stewart

Schools with students participating in this year's contest were

• Wilson Memorial High School, Fishersville
• S. Gordon Stewart Middle School, Fort Defiance
• Kate Collins Middle School, Waynesboro
• Westwood Hills Elementary School, Waynesboro
• A. R. Ware Elementary School, Staunton
• Thomas Dixon Elementary School, Staunton

School Participation Awards

• Westwood Hills Elementary, Literary Contest
• Thomas Dixon Elementary, Art Contest
• S. Gordon Stewart middle School, Assistive Technology Contest

Assistive Technology Contest, Middle School Division

• 1st place, Whitney Chambers, S. Gordon Stewart
• 2nd place, Keith Link, S. Gordon Stewart
• 3rd place, Joey Kline, S. Gordon Stewart
• People's Choice, Anthony Calise, S. Gordon Stewart

Art Contest, High School Division

• 1st place, Tammy Bottenfield, Wilson Memorial

Art Contest, Middle School Division

• 1st place, Kris Gilday, Kate Collins
• 2nd place, Brittany Young, S. Gordon Stewart
• 3rd place, Jaclyn Wine, S. Gordon Stewart
• Honorable Mention, Jessica Vint, Kate Collins

Art Contest, Elementary School Division

• 1st place, Cassie Hoge, Thomas Dixon
• 2nd place, Zachary Bowles, Thomas Dixon
• 3rd place, Carina Nevarez, Thomas Dixon
• Honorable Mention, Allison Lowe, Thomas Dixon

Literary Contest, Middle School Division

• 1st place, Jami DeCourcy, Kate Collins
• 2nd place, Maxine Clark, Kate Collins
• 3rd place, Jessica Ottinger, Kate Collins

Literary Contest, Elementary School Division

• 1st place, Hannah Clark, Westwood Hills
• 2nd place, Katie Hanlan, Westwood Hills
• 3rd place, Amanda Wilson, Westwood Hills
• Special Mention, Catherine Parker, Westwood Hills

Assistive Technology Contest, Middle School Division

• 1st place, Vanessa Lloyd, S. Gordon Stewart
• 2nd place, Tim Stuart, S. Gordon Stewart
• 3rd place, Reid Blosser, S. Gordon Stewart
• Honorable Mention, Megan Cook, S. Gordon Stewart
• Honorable Mention, Lauren Condor, S. Gordon Stewart
• Peoples Choice, Tim Stuart, S. Gordon Stewart