Awards and Recognitions
SOKS Annual Awards
Each year Special Olympics Kansas recognizes outstanding individuals who contribute to the organization. As a non-profit we couldn’t do what we do for individuals with intellectual disabilities in Kansas without the support of thousands of volunteer coaches, event management teams, and partner organizations throughout the state. Winners for each category are recognized at the Summer Games opening ceremony each year.
Annual awards are given for the following categories: Family of the Year, Coach of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Law Enforcement Torch Run Champion, and Organization of the Year. In addition, one athlete is selected and recognized as the Most Inspirational Athlete at summer games. Each year a group of outstanding athletes are also selected for induction in the SOKS Athlete Hall of Fame, and a law enforcement officer is chosen for the Richard LaMunyon Hall of Fame.
Nomination forms for awards are available in November of each calendar year.
Nomination Forms Coming Soon
Deadline to submit: Feb. 28, 2020
2019 Coach of the Year
2019 Volunteer
2019 Organizations
2019 Family of the Year
2019 LETR Champion
2019 Hall of Fame
Questions? Email Heather Waters; watersh@ksso.org
HALL OF FAME
Athletes inducted into the Hall of Fame are selected based on participation, sportsmanship, training hours and attitude towards the Special Olympics program. Nominations are accepted each year, and announcements are made at the Opening Ceremonies of the Summer Games. Click HERE for a listing of athletes from 1977-present inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Special Olympics Kansas Hall of Fame is located at the Headquarters office in Mission.
2019 Hall of Fame Inductees:
Blake Docking
Olathe Trailblazers
Click HERE to learn about Blake
Jeff Emrick
James Hermann
David Hunter
Eric Kling
MOST INSPIRATIONAL ATHLETE
The Most Inspirational Athlete is selected at the state Summer Games each year. Athletes are nominated by their coaches at the competition and then selected by an independent panel of judges. Judges evaluate the athletes attitude and sportsmanship displayed at the games. The winner receives recognition at the Summer Games banquet and dance the year they are selected and is recognized during the following year’s Summer Games opening ceremony.
The 2019 Most Inspirational Athlete
is Jesus Marquez of the Dodge City Dodgers team.
Click HERE to learn about Jesus.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE AWARD WINNERS
It is an honor to recognize outstanding service to our organization. These individuals and groups have made a significant difference in the lives of our athletes in our programming and in our mission. SOKS is proud to recognize their accomplishments.
2019 Award Recipients:
Coach of the Year
Vicki Lozenski
Leavenworth County
Click HERE to learn about Vicki
LETR Champion
Jon Pirie
Shawnee PD
Click HERE to learn about Jon
Volunteer of the Year
Beth Carl
Wichita
Click HERE to learn about Beth
Family of the Year
Ed & Tonia Lee
Topeka Shawnee
Click HERE to learn about the Lee family
2018 Metro Region
Organization of the Year
Heartland Winter Games Committee
2018 SE Region
Organization of the Year
PSU Health & Human Performance Dept.
2018 SC Region
Organization of the Year
DeVore & Sons
2018 NC Region
Organization of the Year
Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity
2018 West Region
Organization of the Year
Hays Medical Center
RICHARD LAMUNYON HALL OF FAME
The Richard LaMunyon Torch Run Hall of fame was created to recognize outstanding individuals who have significantly contributed to the statewide success of the Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run benefiting Special Olympics. The winner’s involvement must demonstrate a sustained and significant contribution to the achievement of the goals of the Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run. The minimum requirements for this award are at least five (5) years of participation with the Kansas Torch Run, outstanding achievement in program development, organization and fundraising success.
Congratulations to the 2018 Richard LaMunyon Hall of Fame winner Corporal Jeremiah Waters from the Merriam Police Department. Cpl. Waters has been involved with the Torch Run for 15 years and is the co-organizer for two fundraising events in the Metro – the Heroes Pull and the Memorabilia Auction. He is also the LETR liason for his department which runs the annual Popcorn Standoff at Cinemark and a Cover the Cruiser event at IKEA. Cpl. Waters attends several state competitions each year to cheer for athletes and award medals. He also attends and assists with several Polar Plunge events throughout the state and he has helped with the Truck Convoy for Special Olympics Kansas.
Don’t see the name of someone you think deserves to be recognized and thanked? Then please consider nominating them for an award this year. For questions and/or to submit nomination forms contact Heather at pr@ksso.org or by fax 913.236.9771. Nomination Forms and Awards Criteria are available under the Nominations Forms tab at the top of the page. Please download and save to your computer before completing the forms. Nominations can also be mailed to the headquarters office at Special Olympics Kansas, 5280 Foxridge Drive, Mission, KS 66202.