Award Season Round-Up At The CPD

In addition to blooming flowers and singing birds, this spring has brought a beautiful crop of awards to our hardworking staff and volunteers. Here’s a quick look at who they are.

Award winners

Dr. Sachin Pavithran received the Utah State University Presidential Award for Civic and Community Engagement in the staff category, recognizing his leadership in advancing collaboration between USU and the greater community.He was nominated “for his tireless advocacy on behalf of persons with disabilities,” according to a press release from USU’s Center for Community Engagement. “He’s worked internationally, with federal agencies in the U.S., with individual states and countless individuals, and recently assumed the policy director role in the Center for Persons with Disabilities. His work for CPD using a data- driven approach to advocacy for civil rights and inclusion at all levels of society makes USU a leader in giving people with disabilities a voice in public policy.”

Camille Broadhead of Up to 3 received the USU Special Education and Rehabilitation award for Scholar of the Year.

Students Ryan Kwak and Anna Gale Hornburger were both nominated for USU’s Student of the Year. Hornburger was a finalist. She was nominated by Mark Innocenti; Ryan Kwak was nominated by Marla Nef.

Volunteer Mike Stokes was recognized by the CPD’s Public & School Partnership during the organization’s National Service and Volunteer Recognition Day awards, for his tireless contributions to the Utah Assistive Technology Program. He received a certificate from UServeUtah, signed by Lt. Governor Spencer Cox.

UPDN Associate Director Leslie Buchanan was honored by the Department of Special Education at the University of Utah with the "Outstanding Almuna Award." Leslie was recognized for her work in developing a Utah State Board of Education deaf-blind teacher endorsement.

Award givers

Speaking of the Public & School Partnership: the organization recognized 24 community members and one organization for their volunteer service. The ceremony at the Cache County Historic Courthouse included keynote speaker and CPD Executive Director Matthew Wappett.

Wappett remembered lessens in service that he learned from his father, growing up in Alaska. They chopped wood for neighbors, volunteered with Sub for Santa and broke trails in the snow and re-stocked wood boxes for a network of shelter cabins.

PSP Honorees included: Mark Mecham, Brittany Cox, Krystal Jeffers, Vidalia Cornwall, Kyle Hillman, Dawson Croxall, Kaitlyn Hogge, Corbin Kasteler, Jazmin Bybee, Dawna Webb, Heidi Anderson, Michael Stokes, Hailey Allison, Julie Ashcroft, Chad Olsen, Nicole Rockwood, Diana Calderwood, Kyle Hickman, Makaela Cutler, Joe Hawkes and George Atwood . Three students from Logan River Academy and the organization as a whole were also recognized.

Congratulations, honorees! You make the world a better place!