Bright Star Awards
Liberty Hicks, 2023 Extraordinary Advocate Award Winner
The Bright Star Extraordinary Advocate Award recognizes exceptional performance by individuals identified by their peers and community as having had an impact in advocacy at the local, state, or national level.
Application PDF version: CLICK HERE
Application Doc version: CLICK HERE
Eligibility:
The award is given to individuals making distinguished contributions toward creating more inclusive communities for people with developmental disabilities, and demonstrates personal efforts that support people with developmental disabilities and their families at the local, state, or national level. Please note: award winners from previous year(s) are ineligible.
This person must demonstrate proficiency in at least one of the following areas:
Leadership in advocacy
Public awareness and education
Public policy/legislation
Championing a cause
Deserving of recognition for merit
Lisa Fluckiger, 2023 Coleen Pillion Family Member Award
The Bright Star Colleen Pillion Family Member Award recognizes outstanding individuals identified by their peers and community as having committed work in the field of developmental disabilities.
Application PDF version: CLICK HERE
Application Doc version: CLICK HERE
This person must demonstrate proficiency in at least one of the following areas:
Excellence in leadership, advocacy, and/or education
Public policy/legislation
Championing a cause
Mentorship
Litigation
Deserving of recognition for merit.
Canyon Hardesty, 2023 Distinguished Educator Award Winner
The Bright Star Distinguished Educator Award recognizes outstanding performance by individuals identified by their peers and community as having consistently excelled in the field of disabilities within the education system.
Application PDF version: CLICK HERE
Application Doc version: CLICK HERE
Eligibility:
The award is given to individuals making remarkable, evident and specific contributions in the disability community and proactively supports people with developmental disabilities and their families at the local, state, or national level. Please note: Award winners from previous year(s) are ineligible.
To qualify for this award, a person must:
Worked as an education professional and in the education field for at least two (2) years.
Have sustained involvement within the field of disabilities and a strong commitment to the mission and values of their educational organization.
The nominee must demonstrate at least one of the following:
Excellence in leadership in education at the local, regional, state, or national level(s).
Outstanding achievement in the education field
Excellence in teaching
Excellence in curriculum development
Excellence in research
Champion a cause
Mentorship
Excellent performance
Ingenuity and/or innovation
Justina Fonseca of Achieving Greatness, 2023 Exemplary Professional Award Winner
The Bright Star Exemplary Professional Award recognizes Individuals whose contributions are largely unheralded yet worthy of the spotlight and who are identified by their peers and community as having consistently excelled in the field of disabilities. This person demonstrates integrity and a strong commitment to the mission and values of their organization.
Application PDF version: CLICK HERE
Application Doc version: CLICK HERE
Eligibility:
The award is given to individuals making remarkable, evident and specific contributions in the disability community, and proactively supports people with developmental disabilities and their families at the local, state, or national level. Please note: Award winners from previous year(s) are ineligible.
This award is limited to persons who have worked in the field at least two (2) years and have a noteworthy and outstanding achievement in the field.
This person must demonstrate at least one of the following:
Excellence in public awareness and education
Excellence in public policy/legislation
Championing a cause
Litigation
Deserving of recognition for merit.
Excellence in service; innovative services
Ingenuity
Jamie Forrester of Taco John's Store 1003, 2021 Outstanding Employer Award Winner
Outstanding Employer
The Bright Star Award for Outstanding Employer recognizes the important role organizations play in employing people with disabilities. This award is presented to companies or employers successful in demonstrating inclusive culture within their organization, empowering people with disabilities, and providing opportunity for growth and choice within the business.
Application PDF version: CLICK HERE
Application Doc version: CLICK HERE
Eligibility:
The award is given to businesses/employers who have demonstrated a direct impact on the lives of people with disabilities and exhibit the strongest commitment to support the full and active participation of employing individuals with a disability within the company.
This business/employer must demonstrate at least one of the following:
An inclusive work environment
Implement and maintain best practices in the workplace
Deserving of recognition for merit
Excellence in service; innovative services
Ingenuity
Please note: Award winners from previous year(s) are ineligible.