Disability Resource Center Honors Students, Employees With Scholarships and Awards

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 22, 2016) — The University of Kentucky Disability Resource Center (DRC) held its annual awards ceremony Friday, April 8, at The 90. Several students, as well as faculty and staff, were honored at the ceremony with scholarships and awards.

Kennedy L. Richardson, a junior communication sciences and disorder major from Louisville, Kentucky, received the Paul Meyer Award, an award intended for students with learning disabilities. Richardson is an active member in the Kappa Kappa Gamma leadership and mentoring program, UK’s Sign Language Club and the National Student Speech, Language and Hearing Association. Richardson is working toward becoming a pediatric speech and language pathologist. Upon winning the award, Richardson received a $500 scholarship.

Lauren A. Otte, a pre-journalism freshman from Lexington was awarded the Brent Scholarship, a scholarship endowed in memory of Michael Brent, a former UK student who suffered a spinal cord injury and passed away at the age of 18. Otte is a survivor of a boat accident in which she was struck by another boat whose driver was under the influence of alcohol. The accident left her with significant injuries including the amputation of her leg below the knee. Otte currently works as a photojournalist for UK football, working for a local well-known sports columnist. She also talks to other young people with amputations and is a national representative for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Otte received a $500 scholarship.

Christopher Stewart, a third year law student from Owensboro, Kentucky, was awarded the Adelstein Award. The Adelstein Award is given to a UK student with a disability who has exhibited excellence in academic achievement, leadership, extracurricular activities, and social and personal qualities. The award was established by Michael Adelstein in honor of his wife, Carol Adelstein, an polio survivor who never allowed her disabilities to impair her ability to lead a successful life. Stewart was nominated by UK College of Law faculty, who lauded his outstanding academic achievement and natural curiosity regarding law that has led him to pursue his interests. Stewart has participated in the writing and editing process of the Kentucky Law Journal and has been an officer in the American Constitution Society. Stewart received a $1,000 award.

The DRC also presented “Breaking Barriers” certificates of recognition to faculty and staff whose efforts related to academic and physical access allowed students to fully participate in their classes and the UK community.

April Richardson Hatcher, a faculty member in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, who provided tactile and other non-visual methods to teach anatomy to a student with a visual impairment as a supplement to her classroom instruction. Hatcher noted this experience has helped her rethink how she approaches the teaching methodology of all of the students in her classes.

Peter Mirabito, a biology faculty member, also received a “Breaking Barriers” certificate. Mirabito has been an early adopter and constant advocate of the utilization of universal design principles in the development of online and in class courses activities. Mirabito was recognized for his proactive approach to accessibility and his tireless pursuit of providing an equal opportunity for all students, including students with various disabilities, to be successful in his courses.

Parking and Transportation Services (PTS) was also recognized for their partnership with the DRC regarding the development and implementation of a door-to-door service in which students with temporary and permanent mobility impairments were provided with scheduled transportation to their classes and other campus activities. As the campus continues to grow, students with mobility impairments face greater challenges traversing university grounds, especially during inclement weather. Through their efforts, PTS was able to assist more than 20 students by providing a dependable, safe and comfortable transportation option that allowed them to complete their coursework with minimal interruption. Esther Wilcox and Wayne Garner accepted the “Breaking Barriers” certificate on behalf of PTS.

For more information about the Disability Resource Center, visit their website.

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, go to: uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue

MEDIA CONTACT: Blair Hoover, 859-257-6398; blair.hoover@uky.edu