Instructions and Criteria
Due Date for Submissions
February 28, 2021
Eligibility
• Nominees are eligible in ONE category only.
• Nominees must have served in the past year in the capacity for which they are being nominated.
Nomination Information
• Each nomination must include the Nomination Form.
• Each nomination must include a Letter of Support – maximum one page.
• Photos or videos of the volunteer activity or event are welcome.
• Judges may know nothing about the nominee or organization, so “sell” the judges on why your nominee should win. Give specific examples, personal comments and include quotes.
• Receipt of the Nomination Form will be acknowledged via email.
• Incomplete Nomination Forms and/or incorrect Letters of Support will not be judged.
AWARENESS
This award reflects work that has increased the public’s awareness of PWS from distributing PWS brochures at a garage sale, to having PWS displayed on a sports arena Jumbotron, to writing articles that are published or widely distributed, etc.
FAMILY SUPPORT
This award reflects work that has provided some type of support to one family or a hundred families.
RESEARCH
This award reflects work that has in some way progressed research efforts.
EDUCATION
This award reflects work that has in some way educated families, professionals, or persons with PWS.
ADVOCACY
This award reflects advocacy work such as in the school, residential, or work setting, to passing legislation.
FUNDRAISING
- INDIVIDUAL This award reflects work that has raised funds for PWSA (USA)
- CHAPTER This award reflects work that a PWSA (USA) Chapter or Affiliate has done to raise funds for PWSA (USA)
OUTSTANDING CHAPTER
This award reflects work that a PWSA (USA) Chapter or Affiliate has done that is worthy of special recognition.
Jennifer Bolander has been serving as a Special Education Specialist for PWSA (USA) since October of 2015. She is a graduate of John Carroll University and lives in Ohio with her husband Brad and daughters Kate (17), and Sophia (13) who was born with PWS.
Perry A. Zirkel has written more than 1,500 publications on various aspects of school law, with an emphasis on legal issues in special education. He writes a regular column for NAESP’s Principal magazine and NASP’s Communiqué newsletter, and he did so previously for Phi Delta Kappan and Teaching Exceptional Children.
Evan has worked with the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA) since 2007 primarily as a Crisis Intervention and Family Support Counselor. Evans works with parents and schools to foster strong collaborative relationships and appropriate educational environments for students with PWS.
Dr. Amy McTighe is the PWS Program Manager and Inpatient Teacher at the Center for Prader-Willi Syndrome at the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh. She graduated from Duquesne University receiving her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education with a focus on elementary education, special education, and language arts.
Staci Zimmerman works for Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Colorado as an Individualized Education Program (IEP) consultant. Staci collaborates with the PWS multi-disciplinary clinic at the Children’s Hospital in Denver supporting families and school districts around the United States with their child’s Individual Educational Plan.
Founded in 2001, SDLC is a non-profit legal services organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the legal rights of people with disabilities throughout the South. It partners with the Southern Poverty Law Center, Protection and Advocacy (P&A) programs, Legal Services Corporations (LSC) and disability organizations on major, systemic disability rights issues involving the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the federal Medicaid Act. Recently in November 2014, Jim retired.