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Hoekstra receives $100 developmental disabilities career awareness award from Bethesda

061011/06

Each year, Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services, Inc., gives out a number of awards and scholarships to deserving Lutheran students who are interested in pursuing an education in the field of developmental disabilities services.

Bethesda is pleased to award Sarah Hoekstra of LaSalle, Ill., with a $100 Developmental Disabilities Career Awareness Award for high school students. To be eligible for this award, students must be a junior or senior in high school and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Hoekstra had to complete a minimum of 25 hours of community service and/or church volunteer to benefit people who have developmental disabilities. She also had to interview two individuals in the developmental disability profession and submit a 100-word summary for each of the interviews.

Hoekstra, who graduated from LaSalle-Peru High School in May, participated in Drama Club for three years, serving as president her senior year; the Foreign Language Club for three years; the Student Communications Committee; and was an officer for the Peer Helpers and Peer Mediators clubs at school. She also was a member of the National Honor Society, the National Honor Roll, a Who’s Who Among America’s High School Students and an Illinois State Scholar.

She was also an active member at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Peru, Ill., where she served as an elementary grade Sunday school teacher and a member of the church’s senior high youth program.

In addition, Hoekstra, has served as a Special Olympics volunteer and assisted in a special education class for an hour each day her senior year.

“Observing these students learn and grow give me hope and joy,” says Hoekstra. “I know that someday they will become dynamic people of this world, passionate about a cause, living and loving life.

Now in its second century of service, Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services, Inc. provides services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities throughout the country and throughout the world. It is Bethesda’s mission to support the needs of the individual—both physical and spiritual—and as a result, Bethesda offers many different types of services for the individual and their family, including a variety of residential facilities, supported-living programs, outreach services and secular training workshops. For more information on Bethesda’s services and support programs, call the public relations office at 800.369.4636, ext. 3817, or email: pr@blhs.org.