Happiness is…..

Take a look at the terrific photos below. They document a very special field trip that 41 students from the Y’s Before and After School Enrichment Program at Shipley’s Choice Elementary in Millersville took to the Naval Academy recently. The kids were treated to a veritable sea of fun and games with the 35 impressive volunteers from the Midshipman Action Group, the Navy Sprint Football Team, the Naval Academy Endurance Club and the Academy’s STEM Club.  The experience included physical fitness activities, interactive robotics demonstrations and talks about mentoring and civic engagement. Also included was a service activity called ‘Cards for Vets,’ in which the Midshipmen explained the importance of recognizing our military veterans and then the elementary students wrote thank you cards for the vets.

Thanks go to Midshipmen Megan Rosenberger and Reese Mathis for their leadership and organization, the Y’s Arundel County Community Leadership Board volunteer Miriam Stanicic, who is the Community Relations Director, Office of Public Affairs and the Faculty Representative for the Midshipman Action Group at the United States Naval Academy. Thanks also goes to local board chair Brian Meck (who worked with Miriam to establish this wonderful partnership with the Naval Academy), the parent and grandparent volunteers who served as chaperones during the day and to a number of Y associates who helped make this engaging, educational and eye-opening experience possible for these young people: Ruby Adams, Dana Ashley, EJ Amyot, Rhea Butler Nathaniel Gonzalez, Caroline Strozier, Alex Stuz, Neeya Wilson Ruby Adams and Eric Somerville.

While we are on the topic of Y associates who are making great things happen, I want to also congratulate two people who were recently recognized as being outstanding in their respective fields.

Executive Director of Senior Experience & Associate Well-being Diana Beeson has been named one of the country’s top 50 Health Promotion Professionals by the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA)!  This is well-deserved recognition for Diana, who is relentlessly focused on finding and promoting ways for our associates and senior members to achieve greater levels of health and well-being. I am so proud that this important work is in the hands of such a nationally recognized pro!  This award is unique to the field in that scoring is based not only on votes from  peers, but also by the empirical review of a distinguished judging panel. Being recognized both by industry experts and peers as the best of the best in health promotion is one of the highest honors a professional can receive.

I am also extremely pleased to announce that Chief Financial & Administrative Officer Sherrie Rovnan has been selected as a winner for the 2017 SmartCEO Baltimore Executive Management Awards in the Chief Financial Officer category!  While those of us who work with Sherrie have always known that she’s one of the best there is, it’s great to see that she’s being recognized for her stellar skills, experiences and endless contributions to our organization.  Sherrie is one who will constantly deflect praise and recognition, but this time she has to accept that we all celebrate her outstanding achievements and thank her for everything she does for our Y and for all of us!!

Congratulations Diana and Sherrie!

All the best,

John

John K. Hoey
President & CEO