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PRESS
RELEASE
October 10, 2006
Special Olympics Montana
Distinguished
Service Awards
(Great
Falls,
Montana) Special
Olympics Montana
recently honored recipients of the prestigious statewide
Distinguished Service Awards during its annual Fall
Leadership Conference September 29 - October 1 in Great
Falls. The Montana State University - College of
Technology/Great Falls hosted the event. Other support was
provided by the Joseph N. Blankenbaker Charitable
Foundation; Burlington Resources Foundation; the Charlotte
Y. Martin Foundation; and the Oro y Plata Foundation.
Individuals, organizations and businesses from across the
state were recognized for their outstanding contributions to
Special Olympics Montana.
The recipients were nominated statewide by volunteers,
coaches, sponsors, families and supporters of Special
Olympics Montana and selected by a committee representing
the organization's various constituents such as athletes,
coaches, Board of Directors, families, Area Directors and
staff. More than 225 guests assembled at the Great Falls
International Airport's Panorama Room to celebrate the
spirit of Special Olympics with dinner, music and
recognition of the award recipients.
Following are the statewide recipients of the 2006
Special Olympics Montana Distinguished Service Awards:
Special Olympics Montana 2006 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR -
Vivienne Shockley, BILLINGS
 Vivienne Shockley, Special Olympics athlete from
Billings, was recently named the 2006 Special Olympics
Montana Athlete of the Year. During the organization's
annual Distinguished Service Awards banquet in Great Falls,
Shockley was held up as the athlete who epitomizes the
spirit of a true winner by a willingness to help others and
give her very best while displaying outstanding courage and
sportsmanship.
Shockley is a participant in multiple Special
Olympics sports, including basketball, bowling, powerlifting.
In 1999, she was a member of the US Special Olympics team
and competed in bowling events at the World Summer Games in
Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina.
Shockley is also a Law Enforcement Torch Run Athlete
Ambassador where she represents other Special Olympics
athletes and contributes her time as a member of the Torch
Run executive committee and as an active fundraiser for that
organization. She says, "It's an important job to tell
people what LETR does - we raise awareness about Special
Olympics Montana and we raise money so more athletes can be
involved."
Shockley
is also a Special Olympics Global Messenger trained in the
art of public speaking. Known for her poise and confidence,
she has dozens of speaking appearances to her credit.
(For a complete transcript of Special Olympics Montana
President/CEO Bob Norbie's remarks about Vivienne
Shockley, please contact Vicki Dunham at 800-242-6876.)
Special Olympics Montana HALL OF FAME - The Oakland
Family, GREAT FALLS
The Special Olympics Montana Hall of Fame Award notes
lifetime achievement by a person or persons who give the
highest service to the mission of Special Olympics. In 2006,
the award was given to the Oakland family of Great Falls -
Bob and Gladyce Oakland; Leslie Oakland Thomas; and Kris
Oakland Houtonen. They were honored during the
organization's annual Distinguished Service Awards Banquet
in Great Falls recently. A recipient of the Hall of Fame
award demonstrates strength of character that inspires
athletes, volunteers, parents and all others.
Owners of City Motors in Great Falls, the Oakland
family has contributed to Special Olympics Montana for
decades as volunteers, donors and supporters. They were
instrumental in start-up of the Bresnan Communications/Chevy
raffle, an annual statewide fundraiser for Special Olympics
athletes that began in 1994, and continues today as one of
the organization's most successful fundraising efforts.
Additionally, Leslie Oakland Thomas served as a member of
the Special Olympics Montana board of directors. The family
and their business have also regularly stage social events
at Special Olympics competitions where athletes enjoy their
efforts at dances and carnivals.
Cited for tireless generosity, enthusiasm and a
modesty about what they do, the Oakland's were awarded the
elite Hall of Fame status.
THE SPIRIT OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS - Pete Kelly, MISSOULA
 Pete Kelly, sales manager at Karl Tyler Chevrolet in
Missoula, has been awarded the 2006 Spirit of Special
Olympics Award by Special Olympics Montana. Given during the
organization's annual Distinguished Service Awards Banquet
in Great Falls recently, the award is reserved for an
individual volunteer who, through his or her long term
commitment to Special Olympics Montana, best exemplifies the
dedication and unselfish efforts associated with the true
spirit of Special Olympics.
 Outstanding
FAMILY OF THE YEAR - Cindy, Les, Asa and Josh Anderson, of
TROY, MT
The Anderson family of Troy makes unique and lasting
contributions to the lives of individuals with intellectual
disabilities through Special Olympics Montana and was
honored for doing so during the organization's annual
Distinguished Service Awards Banquet in Great Falls
recently.
When they began Special Olympics a few years back,
they discovered right away just how valuable the experience
was for their son, Josh. They were so thrilled about the
opportunities that they got seriously involved right away.
Now, they are certified coaches, Unified partners and
creative fundraisers. They travel many Montana miles for all
area and state games events. The entire family went to the
USA National Games in Ames this last July as athlete,
Unified partners and coach. A dozen extended family members
traveled to Montana to celebrate the award.
 Outstanding
COACH OF THE YEAR - Virgil Bullshoe, BROWNING
Virgil Bullshoe of Browning was recently honored as
the Special Olympics Montana Outstanding Coach of the Year
for 2006 during the organization's annual Distinguished
Service Awards Banquet in Great Falls. He is recognized as a
volunteer and certified Special Olympics coach who
demonstrates the technical skill, commitment and compassion
needed to train athletes for competition and for life.
Currently, his program has 16 active athletes and 10
coaches. With his guidance, all 10 coaches are certified in
their sports. He himself is certified in bowling,
basketball, track & field, and Principles of Coaching.
Due to his remote location, has had to travel to Whitefish,
Shelby and Great Falls for the certification. He cares about
the program and his athletes, and wants to be the best coach
he can. In coach training sessions, he listens carefully so
he understands all the nuances of coaching. He is always a
thoughtful contributor to the discussion.
Outstanding ADULT VOLUNTEERS - Cyndi Huempfner,
BOZEMAN
Cyndi Huempfner from Bozeman was recognized at the
Special Olympics Montana Distinguished Service Awards
Banquet recently as Outstanding Adult Volunteer in 2006
whose work serves to further the quality of Special Olympics
program at the local, area or state level.
She volunteers at Area Games, solicits advertising
from local media and gets involved in dances for the
athletes. There's really nothing she is not
involved in. She manages the finances in a busy Special
Olympics area, keeping the books for about a dozen local
programs. That includes all the tallying of Bresnan/Chevy
raffle tickets - a job involving thousands of tickets.
Others say she is always the first to step up, never
complaining, to help with the tasks that are thankless and
overlooked.
Outstanding YOUTH VOLUNTEER - Taryn Jones, BILLINGS
 Taryn Jones of Billings received the 2006 Outstanding
Youth Volunteer award during Special Olympics Montana's
annual Distinguished Service Awards Banquet in Great Falls.
The award is given to the youth volunteer who is the best
example of volunteerism by a youth that improves a Special
Olympics program during 2006.
She has been a volunteer since 3rd
grade. Her nomination states, 'This young lady has a gift
with the athletes. She treats them with respect, empathy and
no matter what, gives them encouragement to continue. Her
devotion is unconditional with no expectations for herself. For the last three years, other volunteers say
she has put the athletes first, right next to her school
studies where she is in honors classes. Taryn helps coach
swimming, bowling, track and field, along with cycling and
gymnastics. In fact, she is also certified as a Special
Olympics coach.
Outstanding LOCAL SPECIAL OLYMPICS PROGRAM -
Havre Public Schools and Havre Day Activities, HAVRE
The
Havre Public Schools and Havre Day Activities were recently
named the Outstanding Special Olympics Montana local
programs during the organization's annual Distinguished
Service Awards Banquet in Great Falls. As the programs that
best exemplify the Special Olympics spirit and that provides
a well-developed program for athletes, coaches, volunteers
and families, the combined programs received the award for
2006.
For
the last two years, these programs have led fundraising
efforts by selling the socks off the Bresnan/Chevy raffle
- reaching 156% of their quota. In these programs,
athletes are being trained by certified coaches, with new
opportunities in bowling and aquatics. The emphasis is on
training for both athletes and coaches. Program volunteers
are also key to growth at the Great Northern Area Games,
meaning more fun for everyone. The 2006 games included
celebrities and great media coverage. The two programs work
so well together, youth and adults, that they were nominated
together for this award.
Outstanding ORGANIZATION - Park High School, LIVINGSTON
Park
High School in Livingston was honored during Special
Olympics Montana's annual Distinguished Service Awards
Banquet as the Outstanding Organization that has made
significant contributions to Special Olympics Montana in
2006.
Here's how it happened. While MSU in Bozeman was
under construction, Special Olympics could not hold Area
Games there as they usually do. When volunteer Penni Kolpin
called Athletic Director Jim Benvenga about holding the
games at Park High School, Jim volunteered before even being
asked. That's because Park High has a history with the Big
Sky Area Games. They sent 40 student volunteers in 2005 to
help out, and they were the best kind of volunteers. Jim and
his staff really took hold of the Games with many helpful
suggestions - they made equipment available, the jazz band
played the national anthem, and they made opening ceremonies
a school assembly.
When Special Olympics athletes paraded into the gym,
it was packed! Students from the entire school system
cheered. The athletes loved it! The entire day was like that
- students helping athletes - making it a great
competition. One long-time volunteer said it was absolutely
the best Area Games he had ever attended.
Outstanding BUSINESS - Pizza Huts, GREAT FALLS
The Pizza Hut outlets in Great Falls, part of the
High Plains Pizza Corporation, were honored during Special
Olympics Montana's annual Distinguished Service Awards
Banquet as the Outstanding Business for 2006. The award is
given for a business that has made big contributions to
Special Olympics Montana.
When athletes come together for the CMR Area Games,
they travel from Browning, Cut Bank, Choteau, Fairfield and
right here in Great Falls. The four Pizza Hut outlets in
Great Falls prepare enough pizzas to serve more than 250
athletes and volunteers. It's their gift to the Area
Games, courtesy of managers and employees who are gracious,
courteous and generous. Pizza Huts across Montana are great
friends of Special Olympics. They help with fundraising,
too, by selling Bresnan Communications/ Chevy raffle tickets
from their stores. This award is specifically for the stores
in Great Falls, however, because local volunteers and
athletes nominated them and are so grateful for what they
do.
Outstanding PRINT MEDIA SUPPORT - Havre Daily News,
HAVRE
Havre
Daily News in Havre received the Outstanding Print Media
Support Distinguished Service Award for 2006 at the Special
Olympics Montana Distinguished Service Award Banquet in
Great Falls recently. The award is given to the print media
outlet or individual who, through media support, has made
significant contributions to Special Olympics Montana. Nikki
Carlson and Angela Brandt of the Daily News staff were on
hand to receive the award.
Havre
Daily News has supported Special Olympics for a long
time, including free advertising for fundraising events. But
in 2006 two people really stepped it up with full support
from their editors. Full page, color coverage of Area Games
was the fine work of outstanding reporter Angela Brandt and
talented photographer Nikki Carlson. An online front page
composite photo included great images of athletes in action,
along with logos and a Special Olympcis torch, so that on
that day, readers could not miss seeing the Special Olympics
spirit at first glance. Both did in-depth work before,
during and after the Great Northern Area Games in April of
this year. Angela's feature-writing skill brings together
multiple angles on a story, where her factual representation
and sensitive quotations combine for an in-depth look at
Special Olympics. Nikki Carlson's eye for good photo
content is obvious, and her creative graphic ability shines
in her work.
Outstanding BROADCAST MEDIA SUPPORT - KRTV, GREAT
FALLS
KRTV
in Great Falls received the Outstanding Broadcast Media
Distinguished Service Award for 2006 at the Special Olympics
Montana Distinguished Service Award Banquet in Great Falls
recently. The award is given to the broadcast media outlet
or individual who, through media support, has made
significant contribution to Special Olympics Montana. Heath
Heggem, KRTV Sports Director, was on hand to receive the
award.
As
a major force in television journalism right here in central
Montana, KRTV Great Falls gave all the athletes
tremendous coverage before, during, and after State Summer
Games. They aired commercials, did athlete spotlights,
staged remotes all over the Games. They have also produced a
3½ minute highlight of the Games that Special Olympics will
use many times into the future. Viewers of regional news in
central Montana will recognize the names of those who are
key to this broadcaster's success: Bill Preston, Art Taft,
Cindy Cieluch, Heath Heggem, Nicole Boyd, Molly Rosenblatt.
They are real friends of Special Olympics.
PRESIDENT'S
KEYSTONE AWARD - Bresnan Communications, STATEWIDE
Bresnan Communications received the President's
Keystone Award during the Special Olympics Montana
Distinguished Service Awards Banquet in Great Falls
recently. Given at the discretion of the president, the
Keystone Award has been given only three times in Special
Olympics Montana history. It is presented to the
organization or individual who is a cornerstone of support
for the Special Olympics mission.
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About
Special Olympics
Special Olympics
is an international organization that changes lives by promoting
understanding, acceptance and inclusion between people with
and without intellectual disabilities. Through year-round
sports training and athletic competition and other related
programming for 1.4 million children and adults with intellectual
disabilities in more than 150 countries, Special Olympics
has created a model community that celebrates people's diverse
gifts. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special
Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities
continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop
physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy
and friendship. There is no cost to participate in Special
Olympics. Visit Special Olympics online at
www.specialolympics.org
Contact:
Vicki
Dunham, VP Field
Services
vdunham@somt.org
Special Olympics Montana
PO Box 3507
Great Falls, MT 59403
1-800-242-6876
406.216.5327
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