April winner led way for innovative call-out system
SC School for the Deaf and Blind employee improves communications network

SPARTANBURG, S.C., April 12, 2004 -- S.C. School for the Deaf and the Blind (SCSDB) employee Linda Nodine is the April winner of the Blue Granite Recognition for her leadership in developing an emergency automated call-out system for the school that includes text messaging to one of the agency's key audiences: individuals who are deaf.

APRIL WINNER: Left to right: Dr. Sheila Breitweiser, President, S.C. School for the Deaf and the Blind (SCSDB), Norman Pulliam, Chair, Board of Commissioners, SCSDB; Linda Nodine, Communications Coordinator, SCSDB, and recipient of B.G.Recognition; S.C. Sen. Phil Leventis, S.C. Rep. Bob Walker.

Ms. Nodine is the first individual state employee in the Upstate to receive the Recognition started by S.C. Sen. Phil Leventis, D-Sumter. It recognizes extraordinary performance by S.C. state employees.

Leventis presented the award to Nodine, SCSDB communications coordinator, on Monday, April 12, at the school campus. The recognition, named after the state stone, recognizes extraordinary performance by S.C. state employees.

The text-messaging call-out feature suggested by Ms. Nodines got its first use during the February winter storms in the Upstate. SCSDB is a statewide school, which makes it more difficult to immediately communicate emergency information to all parents and families who live miles away from their child during the week - including those who are deaf.

"Because of Ms. Nodine's persistence and creativity, we now are able to immediately communicate emergency and routine messages to our students, families and staff who are deaf just as we do for those who are hearing," said SCSDB President Sheila Breitweiser. "She is truly deserving of this prestigious recognition. This recognition brings honor to our staff member for her exemplary service, particularly to our deaf constituents. It brings honor, as well, to our entire agency because it shows the world that we at SCSDB really care about providing quality services to those whom we serve.

OTHER WINNERS November 2005: David Fellows, Jutta Young September 2005: Sumter County DOT staff April 2004: Linda Nodine February 2004: SC Law Enforcement Officers December 2003: David Johnson September 2003: Richard Chesley August 2003: Paul Gowder July 2003: Walter Metz June 2003: SCDOT's Mabry May 2003: Rehabilitation Technology Program April 2003: SCETV

She added, "We are so very grateful to Senator Leventis for creating the Blue Granite Recognition to honor outstanding employees of South Carolina state government. He has given us the opportunity to recognize those heroes among us who otherwise might go unnoticed and feel they are under-appreciated."

The Blue Granite Recognition is a monthly program to highlight excellence achieved by South Carolina state employees. The Recognition, sponsored by the S.C. State Credit Union, is online at: www.bluegraniterecognition.org. It is deemed a "recognition" because winners are not picked as a result of competitions. They are being recognized for the fine work they do as public employees.

Prior recipients include employees at SCETV, S.C. Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, S.C. Department of Transportation, the Governor's Ombudsman office, the Department of Health and Human Services, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, and state law enforcement officers.

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