Black Hills Works Gala honorees an inspiration to others

Black Hills Works loves to celebrate people who live their best lives. The upcoming 2016 Recognition Gala will honor four clients, two volunteers and an employer who are making their communities brighter.

Black Hills Works supports more than 630 individuals who live with a variety of disabilities, including cognitive, physical, brain injury, autism and more.

"Our mission is to create a community where everybody participates to achieve a life of full potential," said Dorothy Rosby, community relations director for the Black Hills Works Foundation. "We're always working to assist people (to be) ? good neighbors, valued friends, productive workers, respected leaders and caring volunteers."

Winners are chosen by Black Hills Works staff "based on how they're living up to their potential," Rosby added. "With that many people (we help), to be chosen one of those four is a coveted award. ? It's our Oscars night."

Two of this year's Outstanding Achievement Award winners are vastly different, yet remarkable in their own ways.

Aspiring actress

Emerson Olsen, 18, is a budding actress and speaker who suffered a brain injury as a result of a brain tumor.

Emerson, who prefers to be called Emmy "because I could win an Emmy," currently works at Holiday Hills serving lunch and planning activities two days a week. Because illness disrupted her education, she's now working toward her GED. She recently passed her driver's test, which required a year of preparation to overcome vision problems resulting from the brain injury. "She got the highest score of anyone who ever used the Black Hills Works driving simulator," Rosby said.

Emmy's brain tumor was discovered when she was 11, and 80 percent of it had to be removed during a 14-hour surgery. She's been in remission for four years, but her illness made her a target of bullying and left her with few friends outside her adored younger brother. Emmy said she prefers not to think of herself as a hero, but she does want to enlighten others.

"I speak to public schools about bullying and mental illness and my journey through everything. I want people to understand why people are the way they are. You don't know what they've been through or why they act the way they do," Emmy said. "Try not to judge them by how they act or look."

Emmy plans to earn a public speaking degree. "I think it would be cool to do a TED Talk," she said.

She also wants to go to New York City to earn a degree in acting and special effects makeup and design. Her ultimate dream is to be an actress. During a Make-A-Wish trip to New York City, she took an acting class, worked with an agent and sang on Broadway. Emmy wants to act on television, in the movies, and she likes comedy. "I like to think I'm pretty funny," she said.

"I want to act," Emmy said. "I've never been afraid to go in front of people. Just being able to step into someone else for a little bit, it's just fun to play someone else and then go back to yourself."

Winning the Black Hills Works award surprised her. "I feel honored and I think it's really cool because of what I went through that I was able to get better and inspire other people," Emmy said.

'A very gentle soul'

Ordean Stevenson, 70, inspired the story of "OSITY, An Adventure into a Cabinet of CuriOSITY," the most recent mixed-ability dance performance by Flutter Productions. He also had a starring role in it.

"OSITY," is the story of one individual rejected by society and another who is left behind, and the unlikely friendship they develop. "One of the reasons Ordean was selected for an award was because he performed in this theater production," Rosby said. "It was very loosely inspired by Ordean's life. He grew up in an institution, then came here, and now he's in our retirement center."

Ordean is "the sweetest, kindest, most gentle person you will ever meet," Rosby said. "People are drawn to him instantly. He is a very gentle soul."

He is known for his memory and attention to detail, especially birthdays and anniversaries. "God gave me a calendar in my head. ? I'm pretty good at those numbers," Ordean chuckled. "I call people on their birthday. Anybody I know, I call."

Ordean volunteers for projects such as filling Christmas stockings for those in need, he said. "I like to go out in the community. I go to nursing homes, to have Bible studies. I meet all different types of people at restaurants like McDonald's, Culver's, places like that," Ordean said. "I try to love people."

For fun, Ordean said he likes movies, especially Christian movies and Westerns. He said he enjoyed his role in the Flutter Production "OSITY."

"I'm happy to get this award, mmhmm," Ordean said of his upcoming honor. "I'm happy they chose me to be the best one."

Outstanding Achievement Awards also are being presented to:

? Briana Wangsness, who honed her food-service skills at the Raider Café and is now living her dream as the bakery assistant at Black Hills Works' new bakery, BakeWorks, on Mount Rushmore Road.

? Mike Braden, who is employed in housekeeping at Granite Nissan where he is known for his memory of music trivia. He is working with our technology team to learn more about researching that and other interests online.

Marguerite Reyelts and Rhonda Grant will receive Volunteer of the Year awards for their service and dedication to Flutter Productions.

Xanterra Parks & Resorts is being honored as Employer of the Year for providing jobs for people with disabilities.

The theme for this year's Gala is "Stars of Sahara." Special entertainment will be provided by Flutter Productions, a division of Black Hills Works, and Prima School of Dancing.

The Gala is the Black Hills Works Foundation's biggest annual fundraiser. Proceeds support operating costs and help Black Hills Works carry out its mission.