Courtney Meyer
Celebrating 37 years of ability and opportunity, the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities held its 25th annual Awards and Appreciation Reception to celebrate students, staff, and faculty of the impact and power of determination to make a positive change. Located in the MSU Union Ballroom, the event was attended by nearly 200 supporters of the center, among them donors, award winners, allies, and friends, all of whom recognized the differences made from the encouragement of, "Yes, you can." The impact of the ceremony was overwhelming, so much so that "as an audience member, you really are able to make a connection with the recipients, all of whom spoke about aspects of their lives in a way that allowed you to recognize their success through struggle," stated RCPD Chronic Health Ability Access Specialist Shani Feyen. Hearing the speeches of recipients and understanding their emotion, she said, "As a recent hire, it was the first time I felt really connected to MSU and RCPD. When you search for a job, you always hope that what you are doing has meaning...and this was overwhelming."
Beginning with the musical accomplishments of pianist and Fulbright Scholar Andrey Tikhonov remarks from the RCPD Director, Michael Hudson, attendees were then welcomed by Dr. Lee N. June, the Vice President for Student Affairs and Services and Associate Provost. The program was also graced by the presence of university President Lou Anna K. Simon, who recognized the valuable place and role that this department has played, and commended its forward-thinking abilities. Nicholas Blank, a sophomore majoring in Human Biology, and Kelly Fulks, a senior studying Nutritional Sciences, provided commentary for the event.
This year, the center was pleased to recognize the edition of two newly endowed programs: the Katrina Tagget Fellowship and the Michael J. Hudson Emerging Opportunities Endowment. Established through the generosity of her family and friends, the Katrina Tagget Memorial Fellowship memorializes the contributions and impact made by this outstanding scholar and determined servant to the community before her passing in September 2008. Meant to encourage others with disabilities to excel both academically and through service to others, the first annual fellowship was awarded to junior Communications major Jason Baumhover, who exemplified the goals of the donors, and is passionate about mentoring others, just like Katrina was. The Michael J. Hudson Emerging Opportunities Endowment honors the special needs of others like the daughter of benefactors Thomas and Ellen Maleck, who developed special needs after her service to her country as an army nurse in Operation Desert Storm. Named for the director of the RCPD, it is also meant to commend Michael's passion for campus and community partnerships to understand and overcome disabilities. The first focus will be assisting veterans returning to complete a post-secondary education after experiencing service-related disabilities.
(David Tagget with Jason Baumhover, the first recipient of the Katrina Tagget Fellowship, and his grandmother Sue Brown.)
In addition to the awards described above, the program also presented the Judy K. Gentile Award. Named for the founding director of the Office of Programs for Handicapper Students it was presented this year to Dr. Thomas Wolff, Associate Dean of the College of Engineering in recognition of his outstanding leadership in developing a spirit of ability to succeed and promote programmatic accessibility. The distinction of Outstanding Alumnus was proudly awarded to Daniel Beitz, a successful 1988 law school graduate now employed at The Erskine Law Group, P.C. Dr. Kristie Dotson (Philosophy), Dr. Pramod K. Pathak (Statistics and Probability), and Andrea Francis (Educational Psychology and Educational Technology) received Outstanding Faculty and Staff Awards for their contributions to equal opportunities and encouragement of excellence.
For their continued selfless contributions, the efforts of many warm-hearted volunteers were commended, while the scholastic efforts of several outstanding students were also recognized and rewarded. The Outstanding Volunteer Organization Award recognized the efforts and leadership of Tower Guard, a distinguished service-oriented organization whose members commit 120 hours a year to assisting visually impaired students in their learning efforts. The dedication of Samuel Drake, the Mathematics Specialist in the Learning Resource Center, was also noted, as he received the Dorothy Millbrook Staff Award. The generous benefactors of the RCPD's nine endowments allowed the center to present awards exceeding $48,000 which will assist students in reaching their educational goals and life objectives. Five students received Samaritan Scholar Awards and two determined graduate students were awarded the Decker/Muns Friendship Memorial Scholarship for educational support. Additionally, five students received scholarships to allocate toward their coming international endeavors through the Study Abroad Quality Funds Scholarship. In the words of one award winner, "Everything about me has changed since the day I was diagnosed...I am more self-assured and know that the most important thing in life is a positive outlook and willingness to persevere. I have come out stronger and more determined than ever to succeed."
In the hearts and minds of many, the accomplishments of these individuals are heroic; yet, living firsthand with a disability reminds us that nearly anything is possible with the right attitude, encouragement, and determination. It is because of all the volunteers, community members, and accommodating university faculty that in the face of adversity and obstacles, we can shout, "Yes, we can!"