Nominations are accepted for the Michael Prestera Award of Excellence through February 7, 2014. This prestigious award recognizes individuals whose contributions have resulted in improvements in mental health and/or substance abuse in Cabell, Mason, Lincoln, Wayne, Kanawha, Clay, Boone and Putnam counties in West Virginia. This is the 18th year this award has been given. Criteria for nominees include a person who may have:
Improved health care and the lives of individuals with mental health and/or substance abuse related difficulties.
Promoted advancement in education and technology in mental health and/or substance abuse.
Developed community networks and systems that ultimately improve the lives of individuals with substance abuse difficulties, severe mental illness and other mental health difficulties throughout the community.
Worked to de-stigmatize mental illness.
Previous winners of the Michael Prestera Award of Excellence include Mildred Bateman, M.D. (1996), Joan E. Ross (1997), Betty Barrett (1998), William Dotson (1999), Delegate Margarette Leach (2000), Francie Roberts-Buchannon (2001), William Wright (2002), Maurice Cooley (2003), Senator Robert Plymale (2004), James Weiler (2005), Delegate Don Perdue (2006), Scott Finn (2006), Linda Pleasants (2007), Jack Clohan (2007), Debby Hibbard (2008), Dr. Ron Duerring (2008), Frank Markun (2009), Karen Yost (2010), Dan Hedges (2011), Delegate Jim Morgan (2012) and Bob Hansen (2013). This year’s winner will be honored at the Prestera Annual Board of Director’s meeting to be held on Tuesday, March 25, 2014.
If you know of someone worthy of this prestigious award, please visit www.prestera.org and return the completed nomination form to Karen.Yost@Prestera.org no later than February 7th. Nominations may be faxed to 304-697-1251, or mail them to Prestera Center, 5600 U.S. Rt. 60 East, Huntington, WV 25705
