OUTSTANDING EFFORT AWARD

In 1995, Resources for Disabled Students created the "Outstanding Effort Award" to give public notice of the efforts of individuals and departments who have worked to an exceptional and noticeable level on behalf of students with disabilities. Many endeavors are often overlooked or taken for granted in the day to day bustle of educating students. Most of us see what we do daily as part of our ordinary responsibilities. The staff of Resources for Disabled Students recognizes, however, that we could not do what we do without the cooperation, time and energy of others who are apparently "doing their job." This award gives us a chance to publicly give our thanks to the many individuals and departments who join with us in making this a better environment, especially for students with disabilities.

Nominations are solicited from students and other individuals on campus as well as from office staff members at the beginning of each Spring semester. The staff of RDS reviews and then selects the individuals and department they feel has demonstrated outstanding effort. All nominees are notified and invited to attend the ceremony in which the awards are given to the winners for that particular year. This ceremony normally takes place during the annual Disability Awareness Days sponsored by RDS in the month of March. Winners are also recognized by the university at the annual Celebrate CSU event held during the Spring semester.

There are 4 on campus categories of nominees: Outstanding Department, Outstanding Faculty member, Outstanding Staff member, and Outstanding Student. There are also 3 types of Outstanding Volunteers: those from the community at large, those who are students, and those who are CSU community. Each of these types of volunteers are unique in terms of how much they give to us and to students with disabilities.

The individual categories of outstanding effort has special meaning for us because without each of these distinct areas of support, Resources for Disabled Students would not be able fulfill its own mission to the university and to students with disabilities.

In recognizing an individual department on campus, we are acknowledging efforts that support students in a variety of ways but with the emphasis that students with disabilities are the university's students and that Resources for Disabled Students does not have the sole responsibility for what they need as students.

Faculty, the most influential factor affecting a student's education, are often as challenged by students with disabilities as the students are challenged by course material. Without faculty patience, understanding and cooperation, many students would not be as successful as they have been or will be in the future. The

Staff of the university are an essential element to the way this system runs and are often "overlooked" simply because they appear to be doing their "job." However, we have not forgotten them and realize how much harder our work would be without them.

Students play a major part in changing the environment by advocating not only for their own needs but for their fellow students who have disabilities. They are great role models in the present and their potential to contribute to the world only starts at CSU. We are hopeful leaving the future in their hands.

Volunteers are essential to the overall operations of the office. Without them we would not be able to accomplish as much as we do. Their efforts are often unknown to the rest of the campus but these individuals play a vital role in individual student lives. It is recognized and greatly appreciated that each volunteer gives his or her time in addition to leading very full and active lives as community members, as students, and as CSU employees.

All the nominees deserve recognition for their individual efforts and it was a very difficult decision for the office to select only one from each category. Each and every one of the nominees helps us fulfill our mission and we publicly extend our sincere appreciation and gratitude for their support. If it were possible, each would receive an award every year. But by honoring one, we hopefully honor all.

Many individuals and departments are repeated nominated. Winners are also frequently re-nominated but are not eligible to win in consecutive years. To nominate a person or department, all that is required is the name of the person/department and a description of the demonstrated efforts the individual/department has undertaken on behalf of students with disabilities. Send this information to Rose Kreston, director, RDS, 100 General Services or email to: rkreston@lamar.colostate.edu.

The following dates will give you the names of nominees and the recognized efforts of winners for the past years:

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