won golds<\/a> in the 400-meter freestyle and 200-meter backstroke along with a pair of silver medals.<\/p>\n“We are very humbled and grateful for the award,” Michelle said by phone on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Special Olympics Alaska President\/CEO Nicolle Egan was on hand at the ceremony. Egan said families — and more generally, volunteers — are the drivers behind practically everything the organization does. She said family members sometimes remain active in Special Olympics for decades because their son or daughter is never too old to compete.<\/p>\n
Egan called the Umbs family “a great representation of all the families across the state that make this program happen.”<\/p>\n
In smaller communities like Juneau and Ketchikan the entire Special Olympics program is volunteer-run, Egan said. Families take on, “coaching, fundraising, recruiting for new people, everything,” Egan said.<\/p>\n
“The local program is where it’s at, that is where all the work is being done,” she said. “That’s the most important component of Special Olympics is the local program.”<\/p>\n
Other notable award winners include Anchorage’s Joe Pichler and Darci Owens, the co-athletes of the year.<\/p>\n
Pichler, now in his late 50s, has “probably done every sport that we’ve ever offered” and has served as a floor hockey official, Egan said. Owens is an advocate for the health benefits of the Special Olympics and a floor hockey player.<\/p>\n
Hal Lloyd earned coach of the year honors. The longtime volunteer coaches Anchorage powerlifting athletes. As the owner of Southside Strength & Fitness in Anchorage, Lloyd provides a safe and welcoming environment in which Special Olympics athletes can train, Egan said.<\/p>\n
The Jim Balamaci Legacy award was given to former Sen. Ted Stevens’ family and the Ted Stevens Foundation. Egan said Balamaci, the former president of Alaska’s Special Olympics who passed away earlier this year, worked hand-in-hand with Stevens to promote the organization.<\/p>\n
“His award is truly about having a vision and making things happen in your state, making things happen for individuals,” Egan said. “He and Sen. Stevens were good friends. We like to say, like Sen. Stevens shaped who Alaska is today, Jim helped shape who Special Olympics Alaska is today and who our athletes are. They both have put us in a position to really be able to move things forward and just keep getting more people involved.”<\/p>\n
President\/CEO Award Recipients<\/p>\n
Athletes of the Year: <\/strong>Darci Owens and Joe Pichler<\/p>\nCoach of the Year: <\/strong>Hal Lloyd<\/p>\nFamily of the Year: <\/strong>Umbs family<\/p>\nSchool Program Partner of the Year: <\/strong>Alaska Department of Education and Early Development<\/p>\nSponsors of the Year: <\/strong>Matson and Alaska Airlines<\/p>\nVolunteer of the Year: <\/strong>Jack Eppley<\/p>\nEd Stauber Award: <\/strong>Alaska Law Enforcement Torch Run<\/p>\nJim Balamaci Legacy Award: <\/strong>Sen. Ted Stevens family and foundation<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com. Follow Empire Sports on Twitter at @akempiresports.<\/b><\/p>\n
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