Community Glade Valley Government 

Frederick County Human Relations Commission Announces 2019 Award Winners

The Frederick County Human Relations Commission will present its 2019 Awards, along with the Student Excellence Awards to an outstanding student from each of the county’s public high schools, at an Awards Dinner on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at Dutch’s Daughter, 581 Himes Avenue in Frederick, Md.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the program starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets and sponsorships are available at by calling Miles Ward at 301-600-1110.

Kris Fair, Chair of the Frederick Center’s Board of Directors, will give the keynote address at the Awards Dinner.

Award recipients who will be honored include:

Theodore W. Stephens Lifetime Achievement Award

Mary Ellis is a longtime advocate for the underserved, and an enthusiastic volunteer with many different groups and organizations in our community. Most recently she has served as a volunteer with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program that helps people who make $55,000 or less, persons with disabilities, and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. She has also served as a United Way Board member, and has worked tirelessly to find more resources for low-income residents, including hundreds of hours in research and grant writing. For two years she volunteered as Chief Operating Officer at Heartly House, and has also volunteered with the Child Advocacy Center.

Lord D. Nickens Community Service Award

Ben MacShane is an Alderman for the City of Frederick and the President of Principle Contracting. He and his wife, Kate, established a local chapter of SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice), a nationwide advocacy group aimed at organizing white people to stand up for racial equality and related social justice issues. This included supporting the Frederick High School women’s basketball team after it experienced racial animus, a community vigil against hate crimes in Charlottesville, Va., and rallies for immigrants’ rights in partnership with the Islamic Society of Frederick and Safe Haven.

Human Relations Award

Plamondon Companies is a family-run company, founded and headquartered in Frederick, that owns or oversees 50 Roy Rogers restaurants and 10 hotels. It employs 400 people in Frederick County, 44% of whom are non-white. The company’s mission is termed, “The Values You Respect,” and is based on a deep belief in the importance of families, safety, community involvement, education, and a culture of respect and caring for employees and customers.

Claire S. Knight Youth Achievement Award

Kyle Howes is a 16-year-old outstanding quarterback at Urbana High School. In February a disturbing video went viral. It showed a young middle school student being bullied, taunted and chased by a group of kids. They knocked him to the ground and beat him as he pleaded with them to stop. Kyle did not know the victim, but found out who he was and reached out, offering to walk home with him to keep him safe. Kyle later worked with his coach so the young student could stand on the sidelines with the team, and his family could attend games free of charge.

Students at the following county public high schools will receive Henry L. Templeton Student Excellence Awards and $100 scholarships:

  • Angela Adofo – Frederick High School
  • Shay Arneson – Linganore High School
  • Kelly Craemer – Brunswick High School
  • Madeline Crampton – Catoctin High School
  • Jayden Fosburg – Governor Thomas Johnson High School
  • Jacqueline Hubbard – Urbana High School
  • Emma Melton – Oakdale High School
  • Katelynn Miller – Middletown High School
  • Juan Diaz Morataya – Tuscarora High School
  • Cian Pickron – Walkersville High School

For more information, contact Miles Ward at 301-600-1110 or via e-mail at mward@FrederickCountyMD.gov.

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