LOCAL DEAF WOMAN HONORED      Joene Nicolaisen received the Utah State Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service on June 3, 2008 in a ceremony at the State Capitol. Joene was nominated by co-worker, Jennifer Storrer, both of whom are employed by the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) in Taylorsville, Utah. Governor Jon H. Huntsman Jr. gave the opening remarks and signed a Proclamation making June 4th Utah Public Employees Appreciation Day. Jeff Herring, Executive Director, DHRM, introduced the winners. A Department of Rehabilitation (USOR) Program Director Bill Gibson presented Joene with the award, substituting for Marilyn Call (DSDHH Director) who was out of town at the time.      Joene Nicolaisen has worked for the State of Utah for several years. She has been a mental health counselor and case manager with DSDHH for six years. For the last eight years, Joene has donated much for her free time as a volunteer Executive Director for the Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf (SLCAD). SLCAD is a unique agency in Utah that supports Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing victims and survivors of abuse. During the last year, Joene was able to secure a large Federal Grant from the Department of Justice, Violence Against Women. This grant will serve Deaf and Hard of Hearing victims and survivors of abuse in rural areas of Utah and has allowed SLCAD to hire paid staff for the first time. ! Utah Interpreters Recognize Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf Board and Staff      Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf Board staff was presented an award by the Utah Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (UTRID) during the UTRID Unite Conference Awards Banquet held on June 13th at the Sanderson Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The award was given to the SLCAD Board and staff to recognize their outstanding community service in providing support to Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing victims and survivors of abuse. The SLCAD Board and Staff are Kim Thornsberry, Jennifer Kelly, Karen Kelley, Eli McCowan, Linda Berness, Cherie Hodson, Mark Jones, Sari Williams, Stephanie Mathis and Joene Nicolaisen. Congratulations!   This website was last updated on February 17, 2009 Any problems/suggestions? Send email to the Webmaster This is a public service provided by the Utah Association for the Deaf, Inc. Most information is copyrighted © by SLCAD.