Darlington County Resident is Honored as

SC’s Direct Support Professional of the Year

    Verniell Hannibal of Hartsville was honored in Columbia on June 1 by the South Carolina Human Service Providers Association (SCHSPA) as South Carolina’s Direct Support Professional of the Year from nominees across the state.  Verniell is employed with Darlington County Disabilities & Special Needs Board as a House Manager for Reagan House, an Intermediate Care Facility home for medically challenging and intellectually disabled adults.  She works directly with eight female residents who live at Reagan House.   According to DCDSNB Executive Director Ruth Thomas, who submitted the nomination, “Verniell is patient, compassionate, and kind with all the consumers that we serve.  She has spent the last nine years enhancing the lives, developing the abilities, and promoting the independence of people with disabilities.  She has demonstrated patience and generosity that is so rarely seen in the world today.  On a daily basis, Verniell never fails to bring a smile to at least one person’s face, no matter what adversities the day has brought her.  She is very gentle and always concerned about the comfort and dignity of our consumers.  Verniell communicates well and often with the families of our consumers and keeps them abreast of any changes or needs in their loved one’s lives.  Verniell is a role model for any DSP and she is a true leader who leads by example.” 

    Verniell received honors from DCDSNB for her dedicated service earlier this year during Darlington County DSN Board’s Annual Employee Awards Luncheon.  She received the inaugural Vonoka Kind Award.  The award was named for a longtime beloved employee of DCDSNB who passed away last year.

All 2010 Employee Award photos are courtesy of Mr. Sidney Josey.

NEWS   RELEASE

     Recently, Darlington County Disabilities & Special Needs Board (DCDSNB) held its annual Employee Awards and Recognition Ceremony to award employees' achievement under two categories:  Service Awards and Recognition of Excellence.  Service Awards are presented to employees who have demonstrated agency loyalty for five or more years of service. 

     Recognition of Excellence awards are bestowed upon employees who are nominated for the award.  These awards consist of the Employee of the Year Award, the Vonoka Kind Award, and the Lou Scott Award.  The DCDSNB Staff Support Team sponsors the Employee of the Year, the Vonoka Kind Award, and the Special Recognition of Excellence.  The DCDSNB Staff Support Team (SST) is a volunteer organization of DCDSNB staff whose purpose is to provide a direct link between the employees and administration of DCDSNB and to provide morale-boosting activities for employees.

     The Employee of the Year honoree is chosen from Employee of the Month award recipients from the previous 12 months.  The Employee of the Year Award was presented to Ann Lighty.  She was nominated for the April Employee of the Month by her supervisor Rose Brown.  Ann is a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at the Bridging the Gap Adult Day Program.  Other 2009 Employees of the Month are Tammy Johnson, Gwen Sansbury, Evelyn Harkless, Winnie Arnold, Shirley Myers, and Reagan & Bowen staff.