Meet our 2022 Annual Award Winners…

2022 Award

Congratulations to our 2022 Award Winners! 

  • Joseph O. Thomas Volunteer Award goes to Tom Round – For extraordinary volunteer service to Down Syndrome of Louisville.

“Tom’s son Brady was born in 2021 and he has hit the ground running for us! Videos, photographs, and any other media related content we need he has come through with incredible and professional results. We are so grateful!”

  • Diana Merzweiler Commitment Award goes to Katie Zurkuhlen- – For a DSL employee who has made an extraordinary commitment to DSL.

“Katie has taken on a leadership role in so many different areas. She works tirelessly to help everyone!”

“She does everything for everyone all the time. She is always available, always willing to help.”

  • Mary Carter Award goes to Margarita Edelen Outstanding service and contribution resulting in the improvement of the quality of life for people with Down syndrome

“Margarita volunteers weekly at DSL and is always willing to do any task asked of her. Margarita has put labels and pictures on the kitchen cabinets so our members can easily find items at lunchtime. Also, along with organizing several areas at DSL, she has helped the development team with fundraising tasks, helped staff prepare for programs, and has covered the front desk on many occasions. She does all this every Tuesday and then stays after hours to help with Book Club and Boogie Down practice. She is truly a blessing and an asset to DSL.”

“She is here in the building every Tuesday helping out in any way we need her. Any time we need something fixed through her sewing talents and crafting skills she fixes it. She has helped to label everything in the kitchen with picture words to help members with vocabulary skills. She does a lot.”

  • Citizen’s Award goes to Macy KnightsOutstanding Achievements Enhancing the Value and Dignity of Persons with Down syndrome.

“Macy serves on the BIC committee as a DSL advocate, she also works at the DSL Summer Program, SEE, assisting teachers with children with Down syndrome. She also has a job at Bennet and Bloom as well as the Shine Cafe. Macy is an all around advocate for friends and classmates in the Academy. She is a wonderful example of what it means to be a Kindness Warrior in our community”

  • Youth Volunteer Award goes to Trisha Paily Extraordinary Service to Down Syndrome of Louisville, Inc.

“Trisha took over teaching all of our virtual Bollywood classes when her brother Romith went to college. She is fantastic with our members and they LOVE her class. Thank you, Trisha!”

  • President’s Award goes to Susan Dever The President selects this award to present to a current board member who has gone above and beyond for DSL.

“Susan has been a dedicated Board member for Down Syndrome of Louisville and is consistently giving of her time to our organization and she is often a behind the scenes support who is always willing to listen.”

Tagged Items:

Similar Articles

New DSL Committees

DSL Families, We are launching NEW DSL Volunteer Committees and we are excited to have our families participate. Please scroll through these photos to see the new committees forming and if you are interested in any of them fill out the form below. These committees will meet 4-6 times a year (some in-person/Some virtual) but […]

Read More

Glamming for Gala 2024 Recap



Read More

DSL Visits the Capitol!

Three members of the Adult Developmental Academy got to go to Frankfort to participate in the Sunny Pages program. They also got to make an informational video about World Down Syndrome Day, and the Rock Your Socks movement.  Sam, Joe, and Connor got to be honorary pages on the Senate floor for the day. They […]

Read More

DSL’s David DeSanctis Honored in New York

A star-studded event was hosted in New York City and it was a night of celebration to raise funds to support the Down syndrome community. This impactful evening will honor trailblazer and Life Goes On actor, Chris Burke, and others who have helped expand representation for our community in film and television.     Follow […]

Read More

Board Staff Support Spotlight – Meet Cameron

Cameron Fontes DSL Staff—Executive Assistant DSL has been part of my family’s life since my brother Bailey was born in August 2002. I didn’t know what Down syndrome was at the time, I was just irritated that whoever was in charge at the hospital wouldn’t let my brother come home right away. I thought his […]

Read More

Board Spotlight – Meet Dwight

Dwight Newton Reason for Being Part of DSL: Since I was 9 years old I have had the amazing experience of spending time with and around individuals who help me understand compassion and caring. These are not natural traits of mine. When I was 9 I got introduced to a class at the Stewart Home […]

Read More

Board Spotlight – Meet Jennifer

Jennifer Schinke Kendrick “[She] was not about to leave the game and go over and stand against the wall where a loser would stand. She intended to participate, wherever Mermaids fit into the scheme of things. Without giving up dignity or identity. She took it for granted that there was a place for Mermaids and […]

Read More

Board Spotlight – Meet Chad

Chad Hennessey I’m a lifelong Louisvillian (aside from my 4.5 years in Bowling Green attending Western Kentucky University).  I’m a proud partner at Insuramax, a locally owned independent insurance agency. I’ve been at Insuramax since August of 2000. My wife Cindy and I are high school sweethearts and will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this […]

Read More

DSL Setting the Standard!

DSL leadership spent this past week/weekend at the annual Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action Leadership Conference in Dallas! The conference is an opportunity to learn and grow by sharing best practices with other Down Syndrome Associations across the country. DSAIA’s Accreditation program helps organizations achieve excellence in nonprofit management and honors best practices. The DSAIA […]

Read More

Welcome Suzanne!

Please welcome the latest member of the Down Syndrome of Louisville team, Suzanne Johnson! Suzanne joins DSL as a new Academy Teacher. Suzanne was born and raised in Louisville.  She is a former elementary school teacher who found DSL at the perfect time in her career.  “I couldn’t be happier to be working in such […]

Read More

Sacred Heart Academy & Trinity High School Supporting DSL!

Sacred Heart Academy and Trinity High School held their 13th Annual Rock the Heart charity lacrosse game in the fall. This year, both teams chose to raise money for Down Syndrome of Louisville due to personal connections they have with our organization. Morgan Keesaer, who plays for Sacred Heart, has a younger sister who has […]

Read More

Celebrate WDSD at the Big Four Blue & Yellow Bridge!

Celebrate World Down Syndrome Day on March 21st with your DSL family!   Thanks to the Smothers Family, the Big Four Bridge will be lit blue and yellow on Thursday, March 21st to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day. Join your DSL family for dinner that night at Pig Beach BBQ from 5-8. Pig Beach BBQ […]

Read More
Translate our Site »