This year, AWARE received an incredible 158 nominations, recognizing 119 unique nominees across 13 award categories and recognition areas. Each nomination reflects the care, teamwork, leadership, resilience, compassion, humor, and commitment our employees bring to AWARE every day.
At the heart of this celebration are AWARE’s Unconditional Care Principles, which guide how we support the people we serve, work alongside families, collaborate with our communities, and show up for one another.
Before award recipients are announced at the 2026 UCC Awards Banquet, we want to celebrate every individual and team who was nominated. Being nominated is a meaningful recognition from peers, supervisors, and colleagues, and a reminder that the work happening across AWARE does not go unnoticed.
158 nominations. 119 nominees. 13 recognition areas. One incredible AWARE team.
2026 UCC Nominee Roll Call
Building on strengths is the key to success
The best way to address challenges is to build upon strengths. AWARE’s strength-based services are individualized for each person and family to help meet their goals. We focus on people’s strengths by providing responsive, flexible, and individualized care.
Nominees:
Briana Pena • Steffani Bleken • Ashley Baugus • Abigale Snow-Peck • Renz Team • Danica Lemcke • Molly DeMarco
We take on—and stick with—the hardest challenges
AWARE welcomes all to come and stay, especially those who may challenge us the most. We believe people are not defined by their problems; rather, we value them as individuals. We don’t give up on individuals and families, and we use the resources available to support them in their time of need.
Nominees:
Amberlee Jorgenson • Andrea Bourn • Audrey Matick • Jennifer Peter • Derrian Green • Taylor Watne • Celeste Willis • Tawney Massey • Dawn Lucero-Palmer • Jennifer DArcy • Rick Hamblin • Sandra Todd • Tracey Fontaine • Brianna Vesco • Sage Eastman • Samantha Latray • Lindsay Trainor • Jenna Comin • Liberty Place Teams • Taylor Watne • Heather Olsen • Brianna Vesco • Eric Crouch • Lindsay Trainor • Emily Pake • Leslie York • Jill Buck
We are agents of change
Creating conditions that make change possible is our responsibility. AWARE views each interaction as an opportunity for growth. We learn from the people we serve, our co-workers, and others in the community while teaching new skills, supporting practice, encouraging competence, and celebrating success.
Nominees:
Kari Frank • Lindsay Trainor • Naomi Holcomb-Garrison • Summer Stotts • Tammie Joseph • Cathy Waldman • Kelsey Harland
Everything is normal until proven otherwise
AWARE offers services in the least-restrictive and most normalized setting possible. We encourage those we serve to experience everyday life, just like friends, family, and neighbors. We believe that focusing on success helps overcome aspects that are not working as well.
Nominees:
Kelsey Halvorson • Jessica Kreitinger • Karli Hansen • Samantha Latray • Danica Lemcke • Karli Hasnen • Kaitlyn Louvar • Brad Marquez • Nikki Hamilton • Jade Bogard • Lisa Huber
Families are our most important resource
Families are the major influence and primary support for the people we serve. AWARE believes family is the base on which individual strengths are built, and our role is to help families recognize and use their strengths, values, and assets as part of the team process.
Nominees:
Audrey Matick • Cecilia Chapel • Stephanie Phillips • Summer Stotts • Dee Green • Miranda Carson • Tammie Joseph • Katy Bugni
I’m OK, you’re OK
Each individual and family has personal and cultural values. AWARE believes the diversity of personal and cultural values is a cause to celebrate, and recognizing individual differences helps build on basic strengths.
Nominees:
Danessa Kuck • Amanda Kraiter • Kenzie Griffin • Kevin Cummings • Dee Green • Alexis MacDiarmid • Ashlie Williams
It takes a team
AWARE believes in and supports a team approach. The most important team members include the individuals we serve and their families, along with valuable community resources and AWARE staff. The team focuses on the strengths and skills of individuals and families, and strives for consensus in decision-making.
Nominees:
Karli Hansen • Zachary Kirby • Vicky Neighbor Rowling • Charles Tree • Abigail Snow-Peck • Josiah Silva • Faye Johnson • Derrian Green • Brittany Challinor • Owen Neilson-Dension • Libby Team • Rick Hamblin • Karli Hansen • Dawn Lucero • Sara Laurandeau • Samantha Latray • Kim Crisuolo • Elizabeth Eastman • Lily Hagel • Audrey Bashor (Swisher) • Kimberly Mcconnell • Brian Joseph, Hannah Griffin, Serena Schultz, Petie Davis, Stephen Brown, Josh Clark, Lydia Gillespie, Danielle Lozon • Serena Shultz • Brandon Moss • Doug Jackson • Jacob Smith • Patricia Kelleher • Brittany Challinor • Nikki Hamilton • Tammie Joseph • Kim Macarro • Hong Shen Lee • Leigh Torcoletti
Our connection with our communities is vital
AWARE understands that individuals and families are part of their communities, and that their connection with them is vital. We rely on the support and strengths of these communities to help the people we serve reach their goals, and we strive to be full partners with others in our community.
Nominees:
Meg Maclean • Nathan Watts • Dawn Lucero-Palmer • Allison Buist • Dawn Palmer-Lucero • Samantha Latray • Jon Cammack • Danica Lemcke • Eric Crouch • Krista Trudgeon • Danica Lemcke • Brad Marquez • Kate Wandel • Cheyenne Romaine • Dawn Knowles • Joseph Seitzinger • Hanna Carlson
We strive to the highest quality of care
AWARE values providing the best services possible and strives to use the most effective approaches. Quality is defined by the recipients of our services and those who interact with us, and we do our best to be viewed as competent, responsive, and trustworthy.
Nominees:
Danessa Kuck • Cyrus Montoya • Bessie Joiner • Cory Destein • Noah Bourn • Residential Teams and Those They Serve • Shari Mattice • Audrey Matick
Lighten up and laugh
AWARE’s work is responsible, serious in nature, and requires tremendous commitment. However, it is important to take time to see the joy in life, laugh, and have fun. Laughter with others and amongst ourselves always helps.
Nominees:
Noah Bourn • Alisha Liljegrenolsson • Milani Burk • Danica Lemcke • Jacquie Peterson • Paul Ashmore • Erica Lawrence • Thane Thompson • Renee Chavez • Kevin Cummings • Erica Lundin • Kacey Knight • Nichole Jeffery • Kindra Parks
Special Recognition Award Nominees
Independent Spirit Award
AWARE’s Independent Spirit Award recognizes a person with outstanding achievements. It is awarded to someone who has surpassed goals in independence, education, employment, recreational, family engagement, and more. This person has excelled beyond all standards and stands out as an example for others by demonstrating strength, commitment, and resilience.
Nominees:
Melissa Fulton • James Nolan • Milani Burke
George Groesbeck Award
AWARE’s George Groesbeck Memorial Award is bestowed on a community partner that has made a difference in people’s lives. The award recipient has the respect and admiration of stakeholders, staff, and the people we serve. They earn this honor by serving as a role model with the best interests of everyone in mind. They treat all fairly; setting high expectations for our systems of care and are consistent with knowledge, commitment, and inspiration. The individual bestowed with this award goes above and beyond, with humor, wit, intelligence, and “long term” thinking – just like George Groesbeck himself.
Nominees:
Brianna Vesco • Brianna Vesco • Brianna Vesco • Doug Jackson • Nikki Hamilton • Ann Geiger, Gail Gunderson, Sharon Armold, Dorothy Solyst and Tom Harrington
Employee of the Year
AWARE’s Employee of the Year Award recognizes an employee who demonstrates outstanding service to AWARE and to the clients, residents, students, and families we serve.
This award honors someone who embodies AWARE’s UCC Principles and reflects our mission through their daily work, attitude, and commitment.
The Employee of the Year:
- Consistently performs high-quality work
- Goes above and beyond their regular job responsibilities
- Demonstrates a willingness to work with others and assist wherever needed
- Maintains a positive and professional attitude
- Shows exceptional dependability
- Volunteers for special projects and contributes creative suggestions
- Helps create a positive work environment
- Strengthens the image, culture, and impact of AWARE
Each of these nominees reflects AWARE’s mission and UCC Principles in meaningful ways. Their dedication, compassion, and excellence help strengthen the work we do every day.
Nominees:
Danessa Kuck • Jenna Munkres • Dawn Lucero-Palmer • Molly DeMarco • Brandon Wild • Michael Launes • Alexis MacDiarmid • Renae Jones • Nikki Hamilton • Katie Hess-Campbell
Join Us for the Announcement
Award recipients will be announced during the 2026 UCC Awards Banquet, and employees, family members, friends, and supporters are invited to celebrate with us.
Tune in through AWARE’s Facebook Live to help us recognize this year’s nominees and award recipients.
Watch the UCC Awards Live on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/876464318059782/