At an April 7 Statehouse ceremony during Prevention Day 2022, Prevention Works! VT bestowed its annual Champion Awards on nine individuals and organizations for their work on behalf of substance-misuse prevention in Vermont.
Three individuals — Sharon Koller, coordinator of the Getting to "Y" program at UP for Learning in Montpelier; Lori Uerz, retired prevention services manager at the Vermont Department of Health; and Jackie Borella, financial director at The Collaborative in Londonderry — were presented with Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Two others — Tom Fontana, alcohol, cannabis and other drugs initiatives manager at the University of Vermont, and Shelley Park, tobacco partner at Deerfield Valley Community Partnership in Wilmington, received Prevention Colleague Awards.
Other honorees were:
- Bennington Regional Planning Commission, Community Partner Award.
- Michael Schaeffer, a seventh- and eighth-grade math and science teacher at The Dorset School in Dorset, Volunteer Award.
- Kelly Pajala, independent state representative of the Windham-Bennington-Windsor district, Decision Maker Award.
- Kate Lewton, an intern at Healthy Lamoille Valley in Morrisville, Youth Award.
Prevention Works! VT is a network of community coalition leaders, prevention consultants, service providers and individuals with an interest in and a commitment to substance-misuse prevention across the state.