Direct support professionals honored
Three awards were presented during the direct support professional luncheon held Sept 11 at Hopewell School. The WOW! Award went to Ginger Young, the Calm in the Eye of the Storm award was given to Vicki Scott, and the Rockstar Rookie award was presented to Brittany Amore. Josie Sellers | Beacon
COSHOCTON – Direct support professional in the community were thanked for their dedication and hard work during a luncheon held Sept. 11 at Hopewell School.
The event was organized by the Coshocton County Board of Developmental Disabilities and held in honor of Direct Support Professional Appreciation Week.
“You guys change lives,” said Sherrie Simmons, provider relations manager. “You are the ones that make the difference. Thank you from everyone on the county board from the top down. We appreciate everything you do.”
The luncheon included the chance to win door prizes and the presentation of three awards: The Rockstar Rookie, WOW! Award and Calm in the Eye of the Storm.
The Rockstar Rookie award is for someone who has been in the field less than a year. This year’s winner, Brittany Amore, received six different nominations and was commended for treating her individuals like family.
“This (career) has been life changing for me,” she said. “The individuals are a blessing to me as well.”
The WOW! Award is for a direct support professional who is always amazing, warm, and goes above and beyond.
Steve Oster, superintendent of the Coshocton County Board of Developmental Disabilities, presented the awards and said winner Ginger Young has stepped in and covered shifts when others could not and has donated her time to help the people she cares for.
“I just want to say thank you to everybody,” Young said. “I’ve been with one girl 12 years. She feels like my child and her grandmother is just like my mom. I love my job.”
The Calm in the Eye of the Storm award is for someone whose feathers aren’t ruffled easily. Vicki Scott received this award because she stays calm and never seems stressed.
“I enjoy seeing my individuals smile, taking them on outings and seeing them get to do things,” she said.
Thirty-three nominations were received for these three awards and each person received a certificate of recognition.
“It was very hard to choose the winners,” Simmons said. “Everyone who was nominated could have gotten an award. There were truly some fantastic things said about all of you.”
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