Parents, students, staff and families gathered the evening of May 6 to celebrate the announcement of the fifth annual CURO Awards, which is sponsored by the Special Services Advisory Committee. The award recognizes the dedication and commitment of individuals who touch the life of an LPS student with a disability. "CURO" is the Latin word which means "to care for or to pay attention to."  

Nominees were chosen by parents, students and colleagues. The nominators expressed true, heartfelt gratitude through their written comments, such as: “She has a heart to help her kids succeed, even when they no longer believe that they can” and “She looked past our son’s diagnosis and regarded him as an individual with different capabilities and unique potential for success, and he is now thriving without supports in a fully inclusive classroom.” Another parent wrote about their nominee: “She is loving, kind, generous and she gives children like mine the strength to find their voice, no matter how challenging it may be!”

Award-winner Diane Brown with Kieran K.M.

Congratulations to the 51 nominees and 11 award winners: Kim Ash*, Kristin Bergman, Lisa Bodek, Diane Brown*, Nan Butler, Heather Byers, Janet Castleton, Nancy Cozart*, Theo Crews-Yearick*, Luis Dominguez-Paris, Paulette Dorseif, Krissy Dorwin, Debra Draus, Jasmin Fling, Jordan Fredericks*, Mary Hargreaves, Karen Kazemi, Anne Keely, Sara Knoblock, Cydney Lanning, Stacy LeDuc, Gregory Lipscomb, Margaret Lopez-Nelson*, Karin Mayer-Abt, Malachi Mason*, Andrea Mertz, Carolyn Moretti, Naiomi Nemkov, Alyssa Neugeboren, Suzy Olsen, Carlos Pacheco*, Linda Parry, Kimberly Pendleton, Alison Rangell, Barb Ritchie, Colleen Rondinelli, Adam Schneiderman, Lois Sheehan, Jenny Shoen, Sarah Slaght, Tom Stavig, Rachel Stockbridge*, Gretchen Storm*, Elizabeth Szilagyi*, Team Samuel, Melinda Travis, Denise Vedovelli-Whitlow, Carrie Williams, Deborah Williams, Alan Young, Yantze Zastrow.

* denotes CURO award winners

Featured photo: Award-winner Nancy Cozart (center) with Willow P. and her mom.