Student Awards

Presented to the rare graduate who, during their enrollment, makes an exemplary contribution to the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS), Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC), the Foundation, the Council of Organizations, the Alumni Association, or the Student Council. A graduate who also demonstrates excellence of character and behavior, and whose achievement in the program is above average as evidenced by leadership, volunteer service, personal growth, or service in the community.

Frank O. Birdsall was Director of WWRC from April 1948 until his retirement in August 1966. Mr. Birdsall is today remembered as a world pioneer in serving persons with disabilities. He was the moving spirit at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center whose foresight, true leadership, and personal commitment led to the tremendous growth, recognition, and national assent of WWRC in the field of rehabilitation.

Through his personal example of professionalism and dedication to his work, he established the standard for rehabilitation services to the disabled. During his tenure, across the world similar facilities were founded and their program managers and rehabilitation professionals traveled to Fishersville to learn from his guidance and experience.

Frank O. Birdsall's legacy is an example to both staff and students of how personal excellence, professional commitment to your work, and selfless service to others are rewards beyond any measure of mere material success.

Recognized since 1964 as the highest award presented on behalf of the WWRC staff and organization to any medical rehabilitation client and / or vocational school student who demonstrates all of the following:

• Excellence of moral character, peer leadership, and consistent adherence to WWRC behavioral expectations as defined in the student handbook while enrolled in program.
• A documented superior level of personal commitment, participation, and goal attainment in their own program above and beyond the average expectation.
• Recognition documenting important or noteworthy service to peers or staff at WWRC, DRS, WWRC Foundation, WWRC Council of Organizations, WWRC Alumni Association, WWRC Student Council, and / or in the local Augusta County area community.
• Recognition documenting exemplary personal growth as a result of their rehabilitation program (e.g., exceptional effort, initiative, or tenacity in reaching rehabilitation goals, significantly improved self-esteem, self-confidence, self-control, etc.).
• If involved in occupational skills training program, recognition documenting superior vocational achievement in that class and any related academic support classes.

This award requires a minimum of five (5) independent staff or outside professional / business nominations on behalf of the recipient.

Presented for exceptional leadership & service to others while in a rehabilitation program.

Mary Elizabeth Switzer is known as America's foremost leader and trailblazer for innovative programs at the national, state, and local levels for people with disabilities. Her influence was felt in the area of vocational rehabilitation as head of the United States Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), and head of Social and Rehabilitation Services of the U.S. Department of Health, Education & Welfare. She served and increased opportunity for tens of thousands of people with disabilities.

She found her greatness, however, when she touched each of us, bringing our full humanitarian efforts and qualities to the fore on behalf of people who have disabilities and who are disadvantaged in opportunity. Her true capacity and ability can only be appreciated when we realize that her accomplishments sprang from an inner expression of sensitivity, emotional refinement, and dedication to serve all less fortunate people. All persons with disabilities have had better, more meaningful, and more productive lives because of her presence and her work. The Mary E. Switzer Award is to honor those who have shown those same qualities of leadership and service to others.

Presented since 1999 to medical rehabilitation students and / or vocational school students who during their rehabilitation program have demonstrated the following:

• Above average character, peer leadership, and consistent adherence to WWRC behavioral expectations as defined in the student handbook while enrolled in program.
• Recognition documenting behavior above and beyond expectation providing EXEMPLARY service to others in at least two areas (e.g., WWRC staff or peers, DRS, WWRC Foundation, WWRC Council of Organizations, WWRC Alumni Association, WWRC Student Council, and/or in the local Augusta County area community.

This award requires a minimum of three (3) independent staff or outside professional/business nominations on behalf of the recipient.

Presented to graduates who demonstrate superior achievement in occupational or academic programs.

Richard N. Anderson was the first Director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Virginia Department of Education from its 1928 foundation until his retirement in 1962. Today "The Chief" as he was affectionately called, is remembered for his exemplary dedication to his work, and his exceptional career achievements.

Through years of single-minded effort over turbulent periods of inflation, budget cuts, national depression, world war, and successive changes in governors, his Division grew in prominence. In 1947 the grounds, buildings, and contents of the Woodrow Wilson Army General Hospital were transferred from the federal government, and Mr. Anderson subsequently supervised the opening of the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center that exists today.

Together with other early pioneers such as W. Kuen Barnett and Frank O. Birdsall and Dr. Roy M. Hoover, Mr. Anderson worked diligently to establish the Center as the first State operated comprehensive rehabilitation facility in the United States. His career goal, despite world and national recognition, was simply that Virginians with disabilities "…should not be denied the right to do for themselves" and were deserving of "…the investment, not the expenditure of public funds."

Of his life work he said, "Rehabilitation is a feeling, moving, living spirit. It is more than a job. It is an opportunity; a rare opportunity for constructive service. It is brimful of satisfactions seldom experienced in many other pursuits. It is a philosophy and a way of life for one who can capture the spirit." It is quite fitting that an award be presented in his honor to those who have excelled in their achievements in an occupational or academic program.

Presented since 1999 to vocational school students ONLY who are graduating from a specific PVT or E&OST occupational training program that have demonstrated:

• Recognition documenting outstanding vocational and / or academic classroom achievement.

This award requires one (1) staff nomination (e.g., typically the vocational or academic instructor).

Presented to graduates who demonstrate exceptional effort, tenacity, or initiative in achievement of personal and vocational growth goals while completing their program.

Thomas Woodrow Wilson first ran for public office in 1910 and was elected Governor of New Jersey. In 1912 he was nominated for President of the United States with wide bipartisan support and the Democratic help of William Jennings Bryan who became his Secretary of State. As President, he was an idealist who alienated many by putting his principles first, but he also engineered compromises and worked with those whom he did not agree while still holding fast to his values and beliefs.

He was known worldwide as a social and political reformer interested in helping all of mankind. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1919 for his efforts to end the war and find peace for the world. He created the Federal Reserve Board, and created the League of Nations, a forerunner of the United Nations. He signed the first Vocational Rehabilitation Act in 1920, providing services for people returning from World War I, as well as those injured in industrial accidents that were so very common in those times.

During his last years, President Wilson was himself in rehabilitation in efforts to overcome the many physical and mental disabilities brought on by a stroke. President Woodrow Wilson is particularly remembered today for his exceptional leadership, his enormous personal integrity, his initiative, his pride in himself, and his personal tenacity in setting and striving to achieve goals for himself and for his country. It is graduates with many of these same qualities that are honored with the award named for him.

Presented since 1999 to medical rehabilitation students and / or vocational school students who during their rehabilitation program have demonstrated the following:

• Recognition documenting exemplary personal growth as a result of their rehabilitation program (e.g., exceptional effort, initiative, or tenacity in reaching rehabilitation goals, significantly improved self-esteem, self-confidence, self-control, etc.).

The award requires at least two (2) independent WWRC staff nominations on behalf of the recipient.