To celebrate their recent adoption of their daughter Maya through Summit County Children Services, Amanda and Vanessa Burke of Kent held a “Gotcha Day” party for family and friends to meet and celebrate Maya. Rather than buying gifts, guests were encouraged to bring school supplies, which were donated to Summit County Children Services’ annual School Supplies Program. “We had hoped to get 15 filled backpacks, but got twice that and boxes of additional supplies,” Amanda Burke said. “We feel great about Maya’s contribution. She will be able to make a lot of school-aged children smile.”
Goodwill Industries serving Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland and Richland counties recently recognized 60 outstanding employees in the community at its 15th Annual Employee of Distinction Awards Luncheon.
This year, 26 area organizations nominated employees for the top honor.
The 2016 Employee of Distinction Award Winners include: Stacey Custer, school-based case manager, Child Guidance & Family Solutions; Marvelle Ramsey, residential aide, Community Support Services Inc.; Denise Ronk, treatment services community rehabilitation specialist, Community Support Services Inc.; Jeff Sturmi, recovery court program coordinator/deputy chief probation officer, Akron Municipal Court; and Jennifer Walls, math teacher, Firestone High School, Akron Public Schools.
About 300 children participated in the second annual Soap Box Derby Kids Day presented by Move It Now Akron earlier this month. Children from all around Northeast Ohio — and some from as far away as Florida — stepped up for the opportunity to race down the world famous Derby Downs track in a Soap Box Derby car. They also were able to enjoy inflatables, a mini Soap Box Derby car station, food from the Retro Dog, presentations by Summit Metro Parks and the Akron Police K-9 unit as well as appearances by Pozzie from the Canton Charge and the Blue Heron from the Akron Waterways Renewed.
Hannah Urbach and Nathaniel Caporini represented Portage Lakes Career Center during the National Skills USA Competition during the summer. Urbach, a visual design and imaging student from Springfield, placed second in the nation in Advertising Design. She was awarded a $8,000 scholarship to Sullivan College of Technology and Design and other prizes.
Hartville resident Bradley Dunn has been named as the regional director of the Akron region of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. The commission receives and investigates charges of discrimination in employment, housing, places of public accommodation, credit and higher education on the basis of race, color, sex, age, ancestry, religion, national origin, disability, military status and families with children.
Dunn is a graduate of Coventry Local Schools, the University of Akron and the University of Akron School of Law, where he graduated cum laude and was a member of various honor societies and a past president of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
Dunn has been employed by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission for 20 years.
Keep Akron Beautiful recently awarded Daniel Zampelli the Board Member of the Year — Dan Weisenbach Spirit Award and Tom Deuri the Volunteer of the Year Award.
University of Akron professor Gary Doll has been awarded a Royal Academy of Engineering Distinguished Visiting Fellowship. The fellowship will allow him to improve his interactions with the United Kingdom’s research base in tribology and surface engineering, and to facilitate collaborative research at the University of Manchester, one of the top research universities in the U.K.
Six St. Hilary School students were grade-level winners for the Northeast Ohio region in the 2016 Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness Poster Contest. Four were also state grade-level winners in the contest. State winners included Julia Arnold, grade 2, for her poster depicting winter weather safety; Elizabeth Nester, grade 3, for her poster about winter weather safety; Andrew Siefker, grade 5, for his poster addressing winter weather safety; and Clara Hoffert, grade 6, for her poster depicting flooding safety. Region winners from St. Hilary also included Alexxis Schmitt, grade 1, for her poster showing thunderstorm safety; and Caelan Stefancik, grade 4, for his poster depicting a weather safety kit.
Jessica and Steve Garton recently raised $675 for Akron Children’s Hospital with a one-time, nine-inning softball game. Players committed to donate at least $20 via cash, check or PayPay at GartonCharity@gmail.com. Many others who were unable to play still chose to make donations, from as far away as California.
The weekly Good News column features awards and recognitions, military and scholastic achievements, civic accomplishments and other good works. Please fax information to 330-996-3033, email it to goodnews@thebeaconjournal.com or send it to Good News, Akron Beacon Journal, 44 E. Exchange St., Akron, OH 44309. Include a photo if one is available.