PFLAG Awards Ceremony Honors Local Activists and Allies

PFLAG Boulder County’s May 21 Annual Awards Ceremony featured a huge potluck dinner, over fifty guests, a screening of the introductory video for Creating Change, and awards presentations to community activists.

• 2009 Education Award: Rose Lupinacci, in gratitude for her long-term and caring support of LGBTQ students at Fairview High School, and her work as a skilled Intervention Specialist and dedicated Gay-Straight Alliance sponsor
• 2009 PFLAG Business Ally Award: Randy Dilkes, Manager, McGuckin Hardware: in gratitude for his generosity and gay-friendly attitude providing service to PFLAG and other LGBT organizations in Boulder County
•  2009 PFLAG Community Service Award: Stephanie Wilenchek, LGBTQIA Activist, Director of University of Colorado GLBT Resource Center: in gratitude for her perseverance and dedication to offer support, education and advocacy to LGBTQIA students at the University of Colorado at Boulder and for her collaboration with PFLAG in our common missions
• 2009 PFLAG Community Ally Award: Carol Grever, Activist and Author: in gratitude for her insights as an author to support straight spouses in our community and across the world, her work has increased our understanding of the straight spouse experience
• 2009 Legislative Ally Award: Brandon C. Shaffer, Colorado State Senate President: in gratitude for his leadership in our state to co-sponsor legislation that moves equality forward for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender citizens
• 2009 PFLAG Outstanding Youth Award: Cole Atcheson, GSA Activist and Peer Educator: in recognition of his contributions to equity and diversity at Fairview High School as a GSA and Link Leader who educated his school community about gender variance by being himself
• 2009 PFLAG Service Award: Deborah Blankenship: in gratitude for her service to provide all PFLAG participants with delicious refreshments at every meeting and special event this year, her conscientious and steady care as a volunteer are much appreciated 
• 2009 PFLAG Rookies of the Year Board Members: Susan Hofer and Kit McChesney: in recognition of their partnership of enthusiasm, their innovative ideas and conscientious efforts as effective communicators, community networkers and cheerleaders at the Farmers’ Market to further the mission of PFLAG 

PFLAG also recognized the National PFLAG Youth Scholarship awardee from Niwot High School, Marley Hamrick. Marley was one of a handful of students nationwide who was honored with a youth scholarship to further her studies as she enters Colorado College in Fall 2009.