Department of Corrections
Department of Corrections Presents Award To Reentry Advocate Sister Dorothy Schuette

Department of Corrections Presents Award To Reentry Advocate Sister Dorothy Schuette.

Gary Beckstrom Receives Warden of the Year Award; Christie Feldman takes P&P Supervisor of the Year Honor.

The Kentucky Department of Corrections this week honored Sister Dorothy Schuette, O.S.B., with the 2012 Lucille Hurt Robuck “Commitment to Corrections” Award. The award is given annually to an individual who has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the field of corrections during the past year and is named in honor of a woman who dedicated her life to the criminal justice field, Lucille Hurt Robuck.

“Sister Dorothy,” as she is affectionately known, is the pastoral associate at Our Mother of God Catholic Church in Covington. This role includes coordinating volunteers who visit offenders in local jails to discuss their challenges and communicate resources. She is a tireless advocate, and her years of service are evidence of her commitment to assist offenders, and their families, as they transition from prison or jail to their community.

Also honored at the department’s annual awards ceremony was Gary Beckstrom, who was named “Warden of the Year.” Beckstrom, a 33-year veteran of the Department of Corrections, is warden at Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex (EKCC) in West Liberty. Beckstrom was recognized for his outstanding commitment to the department, and to the community, immediately after and in the weeks that followed the March 2 tornado that destroyed West Liberty.

Christie Feldman was named “Probation & Parole Supervisor of the Year.” Feldman has served as supervisor of District 7 in Northern Kentucky for the past 10 years. Among the reasons Feldman was selected were her district’s community involvement and for a program she developed to recognize staff for their job performance.

 The “Rookie of the Year” award was presented to Jason Walker. Walker is a legal secretary in the Division of Parole and Victim Services. He joined the department in September 2011 and was praised for his willingness to take on additional duties and for assisting with the implementation of new processes within the division.

The agency’s top awards, called “Commissioner’s Awards,” were presented to:

Evan Roach, District 17 probation & parole supervisor; Danny McGraw, training coordinator/CERT commander at Little Sandy Correctional Complex (LSCC); Annyette Fleming, administrative specialist III, Division of Population Management; Mark Carpenter, construction superintendent I, Capital Construction Branch; Danny Norris, unit administrator, and Cole Morrell, training coordinator, Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women; Dave Edwards, maintenance branch manager, Northpoint Training Center; Ernie Williams, deputy warden, Kentucky State Penitentiary; Dr. Douglas Crall, clinical director, Health Services Division; and Steve Burnett, psychological associate, Division of Mental Health.

Department of Corrections Hero Awards were presented to: Sgt. Lawrence Betts and Officer Roger Edwards, Blackburn Correctional Complex; Jeff Havens, electronics technician, EKCC; Jeff Martin and Thomas Dusing, District 17 probation & parole officers; Andrew Hayes and Christopher Boggs, correctional officers, LSCC; Dennis Porter, correctional officer, Western Kentucky Correctional Complex; and Mark Wasson and Rob Storey, District 16 probation & parole officers.

(A complete listing of the awards can be found on the Department’s website at 2012 Award Winners)