NEWS RELEASE
For more information, contact: KYSHAPE Executive Director Jamie Sparks, 606-315-3737 or kentuckyshape@gmail.com
Kentucky SHAPE Inaugural Mary Ann Miller Thrive Awards
Mary Ann Miller was a recipient of the 2017 KAHPERD/KYSHAPE Merit Award for her contributions to student health and wellness policy in Kentucky. Mrs. Miller passed away in May 2021, Kentucky SHAPE is honoring her legacy and contributions by naming an annual Thrive Award in her honor. The Thrive Award will be given annually to a Kentuckian(s) for the recognition in advancement of student wellness and whole child focused policy at the federal, state or local level.
The Kentucky SHAPE Executive Committee extends a congratulations to the inaugural recipients of this award:
- Governor Andy Beshear
- KBE Teacher Representative Allison Slone
- KBE Student Representative Solyana Mesfin
Governor Andy Beshear was instrumental in appointing Kentucky’s first teacher and student representative to the state board of education. Student and teacher voice in policy decision making are always critical, but that voice at the table became even more essential during the COVID19 global pandemic. Kentucky SHAPE wants to recognize these three individuals with this important policy work as the inaugural recipients for the Mary Ann Miller Thrive Award.
In her roles at the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and for the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE), Mary Ann Miller was a tireless champion for kids and an advocate for students. KDE has one of the longest running federally funded Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) healthy school’s teams due to Mary Ann’s passion. She was critical in the development and sustainability of the inaugural KBE school health subcommittee, now named the KBE Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) subcommittee. That collaborative work helped sustain CDC funding at the Department of Education from 2013-2018 when all other states funded only state public health. Countless numbers of Kentucky teachers and students benefited through this infrastructure which was the original Kentucky SHAPE Network. State level school health committees are now part of the required infrastructure for all CDC Department of Education funding agreements. We are proud that Mary Ann’s leadership and guidance via the National Association of State Boards of Education in 2010 began and sustained that infrastructure to this day.
The inaugural Mary Ann Miller Thrive Award will be presented at the KYSHAPE Summer Conference in downtown Louisville on July 19th. The award presentation will be at 10:15 AM at the Kentucky International Convention Center during the keynote presentation by 2020 Superintendent of the Year, Dr. Brian Creasman.
About Kentucky SHAPE
Kentucky SHAPE formerly KAHPERD, is a state affiliate of SHAPE America (Society of Health and Physical Educators). KYSHAPE is committed to ensuring students become healthy adults, and healthy adults make for a better world. We give students the tools they need to shape, construct and adapt to the world around them with conviction and pride. Students know how to stay well when schools prioritize health and can use that knowledge to thrive for life.
For more information, visit www.kyshape.org
