YCEA Announces 2021 Spirit of YoCo Award Recipients!

The York College Community Opportunity Scholarship Program (YCCOSP) began in 1989 seeking to identify promising and deserving York City scholars from William Penn Senior High School. This unique, locally-founded leadership development scholarship program is guided by York College of Pennsylvania, in partnership with the School District of the City of York.  YCCOSP provides opportunities for committed scholars to attend York College regardless of financial circumstances and prepares them as future business, professional and civic leaders for the York community.

Non-profit Community Impact Award Winner, sponsored by Pennsylvania American Water – York Day Nursery

York Day Nursery’s mission is to establish and maintain York Day Nursery as the agency of choice for high-quality early childhood education and care to children of working families of all income levels throughout York County. This year, they opened a second facility at York County School of Technology to meet their mission, and continue to advocate for affordable childcare for all.

Education/Workforce Development Advocate of the Year Award Winner, sponsored by York Academy Regional Charter School – Demietra Middleton, Harley-Davidson

.Demietra Middleton is the Field HR Manager for the Harley-Davidson York Vehicle Operations plant. In her role there, she is also the leader of the site STEAM+ program and site Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. For the past 10 years, she has worked at the H-D plants in York and in the former KC plant in HR. She is a Board member for the YWCA, member of the York Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Welcoming Workplaces Council, and Crispus Attucks workforce development board member.

Appointed Official of the Year Award Winner– sponsored by Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of York – Nan Dunford, Hanover Borough

Nan spent the early part of her career leading non-profit organizations, including the Crime Victims Center of Berks County.  For the last fifteen years, Nan has served as a municipal manager in both Pennsylvania and Massachusetts communities. Following her time in New England, Nan was happy to return to Pennsylvania to manage the Borough of Hanover with its unique opportunities for development and its strong community spirit.

Elected Officials of the Year Award Winner, sponsored by Glatfelter Insurance Group – York County Board of Commissioners: Julie Wheeler, Doug Hoke, Ron Smith

The York County Board of Commissioners is the legislative and executive branches of county government. Led by President Commissioner Julie Wheeler, Vice President Commissioner Doug Hoke, and Commissioner Ron Smith, York County’s Commissioners oversee all functions of county government, over half a billion dollar annual operating budget and over 2,200 employees. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commissioners launched the YoCo Strong Recovery Task Force, and charged its members with assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the current response, formulating recommendations for recovery, and providing input on lessons learned to inform recovery from future economic and public health crises. This holistic approach to recovery planning became a best practice adopted by other counties across the state.  The task force work guided the decisions for allocating the $40.5 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding and $68 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to high priority areas including small business and nonprofit relief. This Task Force also led to the establishment of the YoCo Fiber Broadband Task Force, which is overseeing implementation of the Commissioners’ $26.5 million investment in broadband and wireless infrastructure intended to bridge the digital divide in York County, which was highlighted as a vital concern for online learning and telehealth. Often unbeknownst to many, county government interacts with the life of every York Countian on a daily basis, not limited to our bridges, parks, emergency response, our judicial system, health and human services, to affordable housing.
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.Volunteer of the Year Award Winner, sponsored by LocaliQ, part of the USA Today Network – John Tile, Susquehanna SCORE

John is a retired executive with 42 years’ experience in the Defense industry and now leads his own consulting company (LITE Advisors, LLC), is a board member of several companies, is an Adjunct Business Professor at Elizabethtown College, and is the Chapter Chair/President of the local Susquehanna SCORE small business mentoring non-profit/”for-impact” organization.  John has been vital to the success of the recent small business & nonprofit grant programs including YoCo Strong Restart grants in 2020 & 2021, YoCo Bloom grants, and the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Relief Program (CHIRP), as well as the Bloom Small Business Development classes.

Non-profit/Government Employee of the Year Award Winner sponsored by M&T Bank –Anika Jackson, Family First Health

Anika Jackson works as Family First Health’s Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.  In her role, Anika collaborates with leaders within the organization to set and implement an overarching vision of diversity, equity and inclusion, both at the administrative and programmatic levels.  Her work spans internal stakeholders as well as the community.  Anika is passionate about “meeting people where they are” to understand and support how to meet individuals’ needs.

Diversity Impact Award Winner–sponsored by York County Community Foundation – Rosa Luz Catterall

As a Latina immigrant from Peru, Rosa Luz Catterall expresses a curiosity to understand people, cultures and community. She completed her graduate education at N.Y.U. and practices as a bilingual licensed social worker and a registered art therapist.  Rosa Luz has an art studio/gallery at MarketView Arts where she paints, plans community art projects and coordinates art wellness groups.  Her artwork in the community as well as her clinical work focuses on themes that address trauma, cultural diversity, self esteem, and grief, as well as creating safe spaces that promote support, hope and healing. The unique qualities that she brings to her practice help connect with people on a human level.