Awards And Certifications From May 16
2013 Merit Awards Recipients Honored at Merit Member Conference
By Patty Giorgio
ANN ARBOR - Merit Network Inc. announced the recipients of the 2013 Merit Awards, which recognize individuals and organizations that have provided leadership in technology and assisted the Merit Community. Award recipients were honored Thursday at the conclusion of the 2013 Merit Member Conference.
"In our role of promoting the advancement of networking in Michigan, Merit seeks to identify and support organizations and individuals that help enhance networking, technology and collaboration," said Don Welch, president and CEO of Merit Network. "Our awards program brings recognition to organizations and individuals that are particularly accomplished in this way, both to honor their achievements and to serve as an example and inspiration for others."
The following recipients were selected for their outstanding contributions to the Merit Community:
Award for Innovation in Networking and Information Technology -- Merit's Award for Innovation in Networking and Information Technology recognizes organizations and individuals that enhance their work by using networking and related technologies in novel ways. Winner: David Behen, CIO, State of Michigan. Behen was selected for this award to recognize the significant role that he has played in the launch of the Michigan Cyber Range. Merit applauds Behen's efforts to push the vision, help representatives from Federal and State governments, private industry and educational institutions understand why they should participate, and to eventually become partners in the Range, stated Donald Welch, president & CEO for Merit. As Joe Adams, Executive Director of the Michigan Cyber Range pointed out in January, "one year ago we had the Governor's vision and 22 PowerPoint slides. Today we have a functioning range. David Behen is a large part of the reason we have gotten from PowerPoint to reality."
Award for Community Building-Merit's Award for Community Building recognizes organizations and individuals that build communities to help enhance networking, technology and collaboration. Winner: Eric Macy, City of Hillsdale. Macy was selected for this honor for his tremendous success in bringing awareness of technology solutions to Hillsdale County. Macy has been a tireless advocate to bring advanced technology to the Hillsdale area, both through Merit resources and also through working with state and local officials. Macy has been an important presence in the ongoing partnership between the City of Hillsdale, Hillsdale College, Hillsdale ISD and Merit.
Meritorious Service Award-The Meritorious Service Award recognizes individuals who have shown long-term dedication to Merit's mission through their support and involvement.
Winner: Kim Frazho, Houghton Lake Public Library. Frazho was selected to receive this award for her enthusiastic involvement in the Merit community. Merit appreciates her passionate advocacy on behalf of Merit as well as the larger community. Kim is also being recognized for her ability to represent the need for increased broadband to libraries in her community as well as to Merit and the NTIA on their fall site visit to Michigan for the REACH-3MC project.
Winner: Larry Garter, COOR ISD. Garter is being acknowledged for his efforts to partner with the Roscommon Schools, allowing the schools to be connected to the Merit network via COOR ISD. Larry's willingness to work with Merit and other members of the community, including the Roscommon 911 facility, have been a great benefit to everyone involved.
Winner: Tim Brown, Regional Educational Media Center 4 (REMC 4) Tim has been selected for this award to recognize his efforts to make fiber available from the Shoreline Fiber Network in Muskegon. This allowed the Muskegon CMH, Muskegon County, and Muskegon 911 to connect as Members under an aggregate consortium bandwidth purchase by Muskegon ISD. Tim's continued work and support to provide networking to the libraries and health care facilities in his region are valued and appreciated by the community.
Merit Network Inc., a nonprofit corporation owned and governed by Michigan's public universities, owns and operates America's longest-running regional research and education network. In 1966, Michigan's public universities created Merit as a resource to help meet their common need for networking assistance. Since its formation, Merit Network has remained on the forefront of research and education networking expertise and services. Merit provides high-performance networking solutions to public universities, colleges, K-12 organizations, libraries, state government, healthcare, and other non-profit organizations.
For more information: www.merit.edu.
