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Scottsdale Leadership Announces
2024 Spirit of CommunityAward Winners

PRESS RELEASE
October 9, 2024

2024 Spirit of Community Leadership Award Recipients Announced

 

Scottsdale Leadership Honors Community Leaders through the following awards: Hodges Alumni

Achievement, Drinkwater Leadership, and Jenkins Youth Leadership, and announcing our new award:

The Frances Young Trailblazer Award.

 

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – October 9, 2024 – Scottsdale Leadership proudly recognizes Peter Rusin, President of Health World Inc, and Brian Bednar, Strategic Account Manager for Salt River Project, for their commitment to our community through two annual awards – The Drinkwater Community Leadership Award and the Hodges Alumni Achievement Award.  It also recognizes outstanding student, Brick Schultz of Saguaro High School, as the recipient of the Bill Jenkins Youth Leadership Award. 

 

We are also proud to announce a new award: The Frances Young Trailblazer Award. The first person to be recognized for this award is, Erica Tatum-Sheade, Owner of Integrated Mental Health Associates. 

 

The 2024 Drinkwater Leadership Award winner is Peter Rusin.  Peter is the President of Health World Inc. and he epitomizes many of Mayor Drinkwater’s values through his community advocacy and the positive impact in Scottsdale. He has provided countless hours of support for the mission of Community Celebrating Diversity (CCD) Board is to enhance the perception and understanding of diversity and to seek respect for the values of others and the oneness of humanity. He is a true champion of children and community. Peter is a big supporter of the SUSD Service Learning Program and led the charge for their “How Do You Serve?” campaign and provided volunteers opportunities to assist students in achieving their goals.  Peter is the co-creator of Horsense, a youth equestrian camp, now in their 24th year. 

 

This year’s Hodges Alumni Achievement Award recipient is Brian Bednar.  Brian is the Strategic Account Manager for Salt River Project. He served on the Board of Directors for the Fiesta Bowl since 1996 and is currently on the Charitable Giving Committee, among others. Since becoming a member of the Yellow Jacket Committee with the Fiesta Bowl he has been involved with nearly every facet of the organization and has served as chair for numerous events. In 2017 he was awarded the “Frank Snell Lifetime Achievement Award”. Brian is a Scottsdale Leadership Class 20 Alumnus and served as President of the board as well as currently serving as a member of the Advisory Council. Brian has made a significant contribution to our community through his long-term commitment to mentoring others and helped create a new pilot program at SRP called “Sports Buddies” for Big Brothers/Sisters. 

 

Brick Shultz is the 2024 Bill Jenkins Youth Leadership Award winner.  Brick is a highly gifted senior in leadership as well as every area of academia. Even though he maintains an exceptional GPA, he finds time to take part in varsity baseball, leads the student cheering section at sporting events, is the school choir president and is on the Make-a-Wish Youth Leadership Council. He is also a mentor for the Mentor-Ambassador Program and a member of the National Honor Society and the Math and Science Academy. Even with all the accomplishments listed he shows a generosity of spirit to faculty and classmates and is someone who strives to make their environment more inclusive and united.  He will pursue a degree in finance and is motivated to start his own business.  

 

Erica Tatum-Sheade is the winner of the inaugural Frances Young Trailblazer Award. Erica is a tireless advocate for children, as a registered play therapist, specializing in child and adolescent mental health and trauma. She works with marginalized children as a 10+ year volunteer as a Maricopa County Court Appointed Special Advocate. She created and delivered a curriculum for girls’ self-esteem and empowerment titles “G.E.M.S. Girls Empowered, Motivated and Strong.” Erica always leaps headfirst into everything she does for the community and to better mental health for children. She is also the co-founder of the nonprofit “Black Therapists in AZ” which is dedicated to improving mental health in the Black community. She was named the NASW Arizona Social Worker of the Year in 2022. Frances Young would be proud to see Erica named the first ever Frances Young Trailblazer Award Winner. 

 

“Herb Drinkwater, Frank Hodges, Bill Jenkins, and now Frances Young would be so proud to see their legacy continued by awarding these community members for the passion, commitment, and leadership they have exhibited through the years and will continue to exhibit in the future,” stated Lee Ann Witt, Executive Director.  “It is our privilege to honor these elite leaders, both past and present.”

 

About the awards:

 

The Drinkwater Community Leadership Award is named after the Honorable Herb Drinkwater who served as Scottsdale’s Mayor and as a City Council member for more than 25 years.  He was always willing to introduce Scottsdale to people who might be interested in becoming a part of our city.  It is because of Herb’s on-purpose living and positive intent for the community that Scottsdale Leadership honors a similarly purposed community leader each year.

 

The Hodges Alumni Achievement Award honors Scottsdale Leadership alumni who illustrate the passion and commitment Frank Hodges, Scottsdale Leadership Class 1, had for his community.  Frank was an Assistant Fire Chief with Rural Metro and his dedication to the people of Scottsdale knew no boundaries.  His efforts were tireless, and his legacy lives on through the lives he touched.  His life, spirit and dedication are honored through this annual Alumni Achievement award.

 

Both awards are based on Community Service and Involvement which demonstrates commitment to Scottsdale Leadership’s core values; Leadership that is recognized by others for roles in various organizations or community initiatives; Consistency of Community Involvement over an extended period of time, and Humanitarian Values that exemplify inclusivity and concern for different groups of people with varying backgrounds.

 

The Frances Young Trailblazer Award honors a rising leader who may not hold a formal leadership title, but who shows community driven leadership through hard work and collaboration while inspiring others. The impact of their work in the Scottsdale Community is in progress, while showing stewardship for community betterment. Frances Young was a tireless advocate for minority rights, was a trailblazer and co-founder of Scottsdale Community Partners and championed many initiatives including the Vista del Camino Community Center. 

 

The Jenkins Youth Leadership Award honors William C. (Bill) Jenkins.  As a 29-year Scottsdale High School teacher and Scottsdale Mayor (1974-1980), Bill worked tirelessly for his students in the Social Sciences department and as their student government advisor.  As a mayor, Bill took Scottsdale through rapid growth and through a recession with accomplishments of building the first Scottsdale Senior Center, completing City Hall, Vista del Camino and Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt projects. 

 

 

Since 1986, Scottsdale Leadership has graduated more than 1,400 individuals who are prepared to take on leadership roles across our communities.  Through powerful, transformative experiences during its leadership development programs, Scottsdale Leadership enhances the ability of leaders and creates engaged citizens who ensure a sustainable future for our community.

 

For more information, call Scottsdale Leadership at 480-627-6710 or visit http://www.ScottsdaleLeadership.org

 

Contact

Lee Ann Witt

Leeann@scottsdaleleadership.org

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