During their annual convention (Sept. 24-26, 2024), the South Dakota Health Care Association recognized individuals and specific facilities for their exceptional service and dedicated commitment to the long term care profession. The awards and winners are listed below. ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD Lourdes Parker, Palisade Healthcare, Garretson ASSISTED LIVING ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD Krista Dittus, Peaceful Pines Senior Living, Rapid City SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS $1,000 from SDHCA and $1,000 employer-match Virginia K. Bleth, Avantara Clark Cheryl Block, Medicine Wheel Village, Eagle Butte Stephanie Coats, Avantara Huron Grace Erikson, Peaceful Pines Senior Living, Rapid City Breanne Fuller, Clarkson Health Care, Rapid City Breana Johnson, Westhills Village, Rapid City Shaylee Pekelder, St. Williams Care Center, Milbank Alena Pomponi-Rennich, Medicine Wheel Village, Eagle Butte Amy Roost , Avantara North Chantel Schroer, Highmore Health Flor Vizcarra-Serrano, Firesteel Healthcare Center, Mitchell Nakala Williams, Medicine Wheel, Eagle Butte AHCA/NCAL QUALITY AWARDS Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award: Avantara Clark Avantara Groton Avantara Lake Norden Avantara Redfield Avantara Watertown Bethany Brandon Bethany Home Sioux Falls Faulkton Senior Living Fountain Springs Healthcare Center, Rapid City Good Samaritan Society – Luther Manor, Sioux Falls Good Samaritan Society-Corsica Good Samaritan Society-St Martin Village, Rapid City Lake Andes Senior Living Walworth County Care Center, Selby Wheatcrest Hills, Britton   Silver – Achievement in Quality Award: Avantara Huron Avantara Mountain View, Rapid City Avantara North, Rapid City Prairie View Healthcare Community, Woonsocket   INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL AWARDS Activity Award – Marla Larson, Walworth County Care Center, Selby Dietary Award – Doreen Zomer, Good Samaritan Society, Canton Nursing Award – Patricia Knutson, Centerville Care and Rehab, Centerville Social Service Award – Amy Roost, Avantara North, Rapid City VOLUNTEER AWARDS Adult Volunteer of the Year – Genevieve Ewalt of Strand-Kjorsvig Living Center, Roslyn Group Volunteer of the Year – Mr. Justin Pitts and the 6th grade class of Estelline Public School MILLIE E. OLSON AWARD OF THE YEAR Shelly Kleven, Wheatcrest Hills, Britton DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD J. Lynn Thomas, Sioux Falls LEGEND AWARD Representative Mike Derby Mark B. Deak, SDHCA Executive Director shared, “Congratulations to our award recipients and all South Dakota’s long term caregivers who continue to strive every day to provide the quality of care that our elderly and disabled South Dakotans expect and deserve.” The recipients were recognized at the SDHCA 73rd Annual Fall Convention Awards Lunch.