Skip to main content

Advocacy & Leadership Awards

The Advocacy and Leadership Awards, hosted by the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD), honor the significant contributions made by advocates who are actively working to change attitudes, support greater choices, and build a more inclusive North Carolina for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD).

About the Awards

Each year in June, nominations are accepted from the public for the following awards: 

Kerri Eaker Mountain Mover Award: This award, established in 2024, celebrates the legacy of Kerri Eaker, a parent advocate from Western North Carolina and former Council Chair. Inspired by her son Dakota, Eaker was devoted to guiding families through the complex maze of disability services, healthcare, and support networks. The award honors individuals whose unwavering commitment have driven transformative systems change for North Carolina’s I/DD community. (Note: Nominations are not accepted for this award. The recipient is chosen by the Council.)

NC Leadership Achievement Award: This award is presented to an outstanding North Carolina self-advocate whose work has improved the quality of life for people with I/DD. This award was presented for the first time at the 2018 November NCCDD Quarterly Meeting.

Jack B. Hefner Memorial Award: This award celebrates the vision and achievement of North Carolina's families and people with I/DD. Jack B. Hefner served the State of North Carolina as a member of NCCDD from 1982 until his passing in 1994. As a father to a son with I/DD, "Big Jack" was willing to do whatever it took to enhance the quality of life for North Carolinians affected by disability. Jack B. Hefner's leadership inspired a generation of advocates and people with I/DD to work forcefully. On October 27, 1994, the NCCDD established the Jack B. Hefner Award to celebrate the vision and achievement of North Carolina's families and people with I/DD.

Helen C. "Holly" Riddle Distinguished Service Award: This award celebrates the work of professionals with North Carolina's families and people with I/DD. Helen C. "Holly" Riddle served as the Executive Director of NCCDD for 23 years. Through her professionalism, innovation and tireless dedication to look beyond the barriers and focus on creative solutions, she led the journey to make North Carolina a state where inclusion and full participation are possible for all citizens. This award is the highest recognition given by the NCCDD to those professionals who have made lasting contributions towards improving opportunities, breaking down barriers, and promoting increased quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In 2013, NCCDD established the Helen C. "Holly" Riddle Award to celebrate the work of professionals with North Carolina's families and people with I/DD.

Meet the Current Awards Recipients

Five North Carolina leaders in disability advocacy were honored at the 2025 Advocacy and Leadership Awards presentation at NCCDD’s  November Council Meeting in Cary, NC.

Kerri Eaker Mountain Mover Award: Lauren Howard & LaDonna Huffaker

The honorees were Lauren Howard, Director, NC Office on Disability and Health, and LaDonna Huffaker, Workforce Engagement Manager, Division of Human Resources, NC Department of Health and Human Services, for their work in Western North Carolina during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Howard took the initiative to lead daily video conferences from the North Carolina Emergency Operations Center, focusing on people with disabilities affected by the storm. She created a vital daily link among western North Carolina residents, state and federal emergency responders, local communities, disability providers, and disability leaders—ensuring people with disabilities in the region remained a priority.

Huffaker worked on the ground to address needs identified through disability calls, providers, and local communities. She ensured that people with disabilities were being checked on and that shelters were prepared to meet their needs.

North Carolina Leadership Achievement Award: Laura Newell

Laura Newell from Charlotte, NC Newell has been a long-time leader of a self-advocacy organization, Self Advocates of Mecklenburg. She supports self-advocates like herself to advocate and lead.

Each year, she organizes people with I/DD to travel to the NC General Assembly to meet their legislators and to speak up on what matters to them. Newell works at InReach, a nonprofit that provides housing, employment, and community support for individuals with I/DD in Charlotte/Mecklenburg and nearby counties. Newell is also a noted published author.

Jack B. Hefner Memorial Award: Ray Hemachandra

Ray Hemachandra, from Asheville, was this year’s recipient of the Jack B. Hefner Memorial Award. Hefner, also referred to as “Big Jack” was a fierce advocate for his son with I/DD. Hemachandra is a business consultant, an advocate for equity, and an author of many op-eds on disabilities in North Carolina. He served on the Vaya Consumer and Family Advisory Committee for seven years. Most importantly, he is a parent of and champion for his autistic son Nicholas.

Helen C. “Holly” Distinguished Service Award: Pat Kuel

Pat Keul, a champion of employment for people with I/DD, was this year’s recipient. She is the Director of Operations at Disability:IN where she has led several projects funded by NCCDD to increase I/DD employment across the state. Pat Keul has been a champion of employment for people with I/DD for over 35 years. She is the Director of Operations at Disability:IN where she has led several projects funded by NCCDD to increase I/DD employment across the state. She collaborated with people with disabilities to create the curriculum for the I/DD Peer Mentor training program, a pioneering curriculum that NCCDD and its partners have used to teach people with I/DD to mentor others with I/DD. She also founded Supported Employment Training (SET, Inc.) as one of the first supported employment programs in the state.

Past Award Recipients

Visit NCCDD's YouTube Channel to watch videos of all recipients from 2021 to present. 

2024

  • Kerri Eaker Mountain Mover Award: Sen. Jim Burgin (R-District 12) and DHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley
  • North Carolina Leadership Achievement Award: Cheryl Powell
  • Jack B. Hefner Memorial Award: Jessica Aguilar
  • Helen C. "Holly" Riddle Distinguished Service Award: Pam Shipman

Read more about the 2024 awardees

2023

  • North Carolina Leadership Achievement Award: Jacklyn Boeheler
  • Jack B. Hefner Memorial Award: Sarah Potter
  • Helen C. "Holly" Riddle Distinguished Service Award: Dr. Bill Milner & Betsy White

Read more about the 2023 awardees

2022

  • North Carolina Leadership Achievement Award: R.V. Kuser
  • Jack B. Hefner Memorial Award: Kerri Eaker
  • Helen C. "Holly" Riddle Distinguished Service Award: Matt Herr

Read more about the 2022 awardees 

2021

  • North Carolina Leadership Achievement Award: David Taylor, Jr.
  • Jack B. Hefner Memorial Award: Kathleen Dooley Roscana and John Rittelmeyer
  • Helen C. "Holly" Riddle Distinguished Service Award: Andrea Johnston Misenheimer

Read more about the 2021 awardees

Nomination Process

Each year in late spring, an announcement is made to submit nominations for each award. Both nominations and self-nominations are accepted. The deadline dates and other information will be updated on this page during that time.

When the nomination process opens, complete the online application form for the award you would like to nominate yourself or someone you know. Forms are available in English and Spanish.

Winners will be announced at the November Quarterly Council Meeting during the Advocacy & Leadership Awards Ceremony.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of nominees are you looking for?

North Carolina Leadership Achievement Award: The Council seeks an outstanding North Carolina self-advocate whose work has improved the quality of life for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.

Jack B. Hefner Award: The Council seeks family members or community members who have been involved in making an impact in their local communities that not only benefits their family member but will positively impact other individuals as well.

Helen C. “Holly” Riddle Award: The Council seeks nominees for professionals in the field who have devoted their career to improving the systems in NC that serve individuals with I/DD and their families.

How are the recipients selected?

A selection committee of NCCDD members reviews all applications and carefully considers all information submitted for the candidates, and chooses a candidate for the respective awards. These candidates are submitted to the executive committee for review and endorsement.

What do the recipients get?

The winners of the NCCDD Advocacy and Leadership awards are invited to the November Council meeting and can invite up to four guests to the awards ceremony. The award winners will receive a plaque, an opportunity to address the Council, and their story will be promoted on the Council website, the social media pages, and in their hometown newspapers.