By Kathy Mansfield
kathy.mansfield@education.ky.gov

10-13-16 LIBRARY KASL logoThe Kentucky Association of School Librarians (KASL) gives awards every year to Kentucky school librarians, administrators, students, teachers and Kentucky-related media. The 2016 award recipients were honored at a luncheon and ceremony Sept. 24 at the Galt House in Louisville. The winners included:

2016 Barby Hardy Lifetime Achievement Award: Becky Nelson
The Barby Hardy Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual who has given continuous, sustained support to the school library profession throughout his or her lifetime. This year’s recipient, Becky Nelson, is a recently retired school librarian from Hearn Elementary School (Franklin County), where she worked for 15 years. Nelson also served as librarian for The Council of State Governments in Lexington, Saint Patrick High School in Maysville, and Burkhead Elementary (Hardin County) during her 41-year career.

2016 Outstanding School Media Librarian: Heidi Neltner
The Outstanding School Media Librarian award recognizes the school librarian who has made outstanding contributions to the profession on local, district and state levels. This year’s recipient, Heidi Neltner, most recently served as librarian at Johnson Elementary School (Ft. Thomas Independent). She also was named the Kentucky Society for Technology in Education Outstanding Teacher for 2016.

KASL Service Award for School Administrators: Kimberly Young
The Service Award for School Administrators recognizes and honors administrators who have made worthy contributions to the operation of effective school library media services. This year’s recipient, Kimberly Young, has been principal of Westridge Elementary School (Franklin County) for four years. Young works each year to continue an open/flexible library schedule to ensure students and staff have access to certified school librarian Jessica Holmes and the library facility and resources throughout the school day.

KASL Award of Merit: Carl Wells
The Award of Merit honors those who, through individual leadership, have advocated for effective school library media services. The award recognizes the responsible and influential role of those other than local school building administrators in developing successful school library media programs. This year’s recipient, Carl Wells, is a district technology specialist for McCracken County public schools.

The Kentucky Association of School Librarians (KASL) recognized school librarians, administrators, students, teachers and Kentucky-related media at a luncheon and ceremony Sept. 24 at the Galt House in Louisville. Among those who were recognized included, from left, Kimberly Young, KASL Service Award for School Administrators; Heidi Neltner, 2016 Outstanding School Media Librarian; Carl Wells, KASL Award of Merit; and Becky Nelson, 2016 Barby Hardy Lifetime Achievement Award. Photo by Kathy Mansfield, Sept. 24, 2016

The Kentucky Association of School Librarians (KASL) recognized school librarians, administrators, students, teachers and Kentucky-related media at a luncheon and ceremony Sept. 24 at the Galt House in Louisville. Among those who were recognized included, from left, Kimberly Young, KASL Service Award for School Administrators; Heidi Neltner, 2016 Outstanding School Media Librarian; Carl Wells, KASL Award of Merit; and Becky Nelson, 2016 Barby Hardy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Photo by Kathy Mansfield, Sept. 24, 2016

Eleanor W. Simmons Memorial Grant: Joanie Alexander, Lee Ann Shearon
The Eleanor W. Simmons Memorial Grant encourages participation in the field of library science by awarding scholarship funds to individuals who are involved with a Kentucky school library or who desire professional training in the area of school librarianship. This year’s recipients are Warren County school librarian Lee Ann Shearon and Western Kentucky University student Joanie Alexander.

KASL Student Technology Award: Morton McIntyre
The Student Technology Award recognizes an outstanding Kentucky K-12 student who has demonstrated leadership through technology activities coordinated with the school curriculum. This year’s recipient, Morton McIntyre, is a 6th-grader at Bondurant Middle School (Franklin County), where he continues to provide the type of technology leadership and support he began at Westridge Elementary (Franklin County) under the tutelage of librarian Jessica Holmes.

Donna Hornsby Joint Technology Project Award: Matt Kresslein and Renee Hale
The Donna Hornsby Joint Technology Project Award promotes the use of technology in the library media center by teachers and students and seeks to increase cooperative planning among library media specialists and teachers to enhance student information skills. This year’s award recipients, Renee Hale (school librarian) and Matt Kresslein (technology education teacher), collaborated on a project called “Google Help Desk” while they taught at Henry Moss Middle School (Warren County) during the 2015-16 school year.

Outstanding School Library Website Award: Dee Dee Webb
The Outstanding School Library Website Award recognizes an outstanding school library media website created by a librarian who is a member of the Kentucky Association of School Librarians. This year’s recipient is Dee Dee Webb, school librarian at Jody Richards Elementary School (Warren County). Visit the website here.

Also honored at the Kentucky Association of School Librarians (KASL) Sept. 24 ceremony were, from left, Lee Ann Shearon, winner of the Eleanor W. Simmons Memorial Grant; Morton McIntyre, KASL Student Technology Award; Matt Kresslein, Donna Hornsby Joint Technology Project Award; Dee Dee Webb, Outstanding School Library Website Award; and Renee Hale, winner of the Donna Hornsby Joint Technology Project Award. Not pictured was Joanie Alexander, winner of the Eleanor W. Simmons Memorial Grant. Photo by Kathy Mansfield, Sept. 24, 2016

Also honored at the Kentucky Association of School Librarians (KASL) Sept. 24 ceremony were, from left, Lee Ann Shearon, winner of the Eleanor W. Simmons Memorial Grant; Morton McIntyre, KASL Student Technology Award; Matt Kresslein, Donna Hornsby Joint Technology Project Award; Dee Dee Webb, Outstanding School Library Website Award; and Renee Hale, winner of the Donna Hornsby Joint Technology Project Award. Not pictured was Joanie Alexander, winner of the Eleanor W. Simmons Memorial Grant.
Photo by Kathy Mansfield, Sept. 24, 2016

Charlie Baglan

Charlie Baglan

Jesse Stuart Media Award: KY Afield Radio/Charlie Baglan
The Jesse Stuart Media Award recognizes individuals or organizations that have made major contributions to the development of media relating to Kentucky. This year’s recipient, Charlie Baglan, has been host and producer of the long-running Kentucky Afield Radio Show since 1997. Show topics include wildlife conservation, habitats and nature-related recreation. The following episode was submitted as part of the nomination process and can be heard by clicking on the title: “Make-Believe Animals in Early Childhood Learning.”

More information about KASL awards, including links to applications, can be found here.