Spotlight Story— 2023 Annual Award Winners
This year, we wanted to highlight the winners of our Annual Awards! These individuals were nominated by their peers for their outstanding work in the community that furthered the mission of The Arc of Bartholomew County.
Scroll down for a gallery from the 2023! Annual Award Ceremony!
Danie'l Mize — David Stambaugh Volunteer of the Year Recipient
Award Description: Recognizes a volunteer who has given generously of time and talents to accomplish the mission of The Arc in meeting the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
About Danie’l: Danie’l is the President of the local Self-Advocates of Tomorrow and a member of the Self-Advocates of Indiana’s board. She is very active in both groups and is a dedicated and out-spoken Self-Advocate. Danie’l loves spending time serving in the community and spreading awareness of disability-related matters. She is actively engaged in planning events but also in supporting all The Arc-related events. She is a role model to other Self-Advocates as she encourages involvement in our community.
Beth Finke — Educator of the Year Recipient
Award Description: Recognizes an educator/teacher/person who works in the educational arena and has demonstrated excellence in teaching and assisting students with special needs.
About Beth: Beth Finke is a local speech therapist who is great with students and is well respected by fellow therapists and co-workers. Beth is forward thinking in her approach to teaching students how to use communication devices. She mentors graduate students as they prepare to enter the field of Speech Language Pathology, as well as first year therapists when they are working in the schools. Beth also works closely with occupational therapists, physical therapists, autism coordinators as well as UDL facilitators to make the school setting a better place for all students, not just those with disabilities. Beth is known to ALWAYS go above and beyond to help students and staff! She is very passionate about her job and the the students that she services.
Wendy Kirts — Professional of the Year Recipient
Award Description: Recognizes a person employed in the field of serving individuals with developmental disabilities and whose work has resulted in improvement in supports and services for people with disabilities and their families.
About Wendy: Wendy is dedicating her career towards assisting individuals with disabilities. Wendy helps over 60 individuals in the Columbus community receive Direct Support services through the Indiana Medicaid waivers. Wendy employs over 50 Direct Support Professionals (DSP's). Wendy has worked tirelessly in matching individuals with disabilities with well-trained caregivers. Wendy’s person-first philosophy has been contagious among her employees, who now advocate wholeheartedly for individuals with disabilities.
Toyota Material Handling — Friend of The Arc Recipient
Award Description: Recognizes an individual or organization that has performed outstanding service on behalf of people with developmental disabilities and their families.
About Toyota Material Handling: Toyota Material handling has always been an active participant in our community, but over the past year they have supported the Arc and the disability community. They have provided endless hours of volunteer support from assembling appeal letters to specific skills based talents, such as finance and legal services! They have gone out of their way to host service providers for tours of the facility and are actively exploring avenues to employment for people with disabilities.
Josh Holley — Self-Advocate Award Recipient
Award Description: Recognizes an outstanding individual who is an achieving, inclusive member of his/her community.
About Josh: Josh Holley is a very driven Self-Advocate for himself and others with disabilities, a Special Olympic athlete with enormous potential, and serves as an example and a coach for others. He is a long-distance runner and ran in the Boston Marathon in 2022! Josh earned 3 associate degrees from Ivy Tech Community College was designated as an outstanding student by Ivy Tech. He continued his education by enrolling at Purdue University through Purdue Global Online, where he earned a Purdue business degree. Josh now works locally for Cummins, Inc. and continues to advocate for himself as he learns to work in the corporate world.
Allison Craig — Youth Recognition Award Recipient
Award Description: Recognize a youth or group of youths/organization that has performed outstanding service on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
About Allison: Allison is a 2023 graduate of Columbus East High School. For her senior project, she conducted an inclusive soccer club that allowed students with intellectual disabilities be a part of a team, learn soccer skills, and participate in an awesome sport! Allison is a member of many clubs at Columbus East and is an advocate for individuals with disabilities.
Tom Milvert — President's Award Recipient
Award Description: The President’s Award is chosen by The Arc of Bartholomew County’s President for someone who they believe deserves to be recognized for their work in the community and advocacy for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
About Tom: Tom is a leader of The Columbus Area Down Syndrome Support Group. Tom, with the help of the support group’s members, has developed programs and activities that not only has supported families, but has also led persons with Down Syndrome to find their own strong advocacy voice. Tom’s leadership with the Buddy Walk has resulted in a true partnership between the support group and The Arc, of which he is a Past President and Board Member.
Riley Schumm — Ben Baker Memorial Scholarship Recipient
Scholarship Description: The Ben Baker Scholarship celebrates the strives that have been made to include and advocate for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our community, as well as create opportunities to further the improvement of their lives. Recipients demonstrate an interest in assisting or advocating for individuals who have disabilities and/or plan to pursue an education/career related to assisting or advocating for individuals who have disabilities.
About Riley: Riley is a 2023 graduate of Columbus North High School and has been involved with Best Buddies, unified sports teams including Unified Track and Field, Student Assembly, and many more groups/clubs. For her senior project, Riley organized a group called “Unified” which consisted of 40 general education students that spent time with and developed friendships with students in the Life Skills program at Columbus North through games, activities, and other interactions. Riley plans on attending Indiana University and becoming a Speech Pathologist.
Leah Bachmann — Ben Baker Memorial Scholarship Recipient
Scholarship Description: The Ben Baker Scholarship celebrates the strives that have been made to include and advocate for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our community, as well as create opportunities to further the improvement of their lives. Recipients demonstrate an interest in assisting or advocating for individuals who have disabilities and/or plan to pursue an education/career related to assisting or advocating for individuals who have disabilities.
About Leah: Leah is a 2023 graduate of Columbus East High School and has been involved with the basketball team and Student Assembly. For her senior project, Leah worked with children with disabilities and assisted/shadowed an Occupational Therapist at a local elementary school. Leah plans to be an Occupational Therapist and is motivated by her desire to serve children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She hopes to have a practice where she can work with a Speech Pathologist and/or a Physical Therapist.
Stephen Hines — CAN Scholarship Recipient
Scholarship Description: The Columbus Autism Network is proud to provide scholarship funds to an individual on the autism spectrum seeking postsecondary options. If you qualify, please click below to get more information and apply.
About Stephen: Stephen attends Hauser High School.
