Living The Mission Award – May 2026 Winner
About the Award
The "Living the Mission" Award is presented each month to one employee who demonstrates above-and-beyond dedication to DakotAbilities and the care and compassion shown to the people we support, their families, and fellow staff. Our goal is to recognize employees who not only fulfill their work responsibilities but also go above and beyond throughout the workday, making the extra effort to uphold and exemplify our Core Values.
The award is grounded in our six Core Value Statements, which should be at the center of every employee’s daily work. These values are our daily promise to those we support and to one another:
• Dignity and respect are demonstrated.
• Relationships are valued.
• Accomplishments are celebrated.
• Authentic compassion is experienced.
• Excellence is guided by best practices.
• Advocacy impacts change.
May 2026 Nominees
The following employees were nominated by fellow coworkers for the Living the Mission Award in May 2026. Please join us in congratulating all of the nominees!
- Shelly Eaglehorse (x3)
- Jada Barker
- Shania Mallory
- Sonia Moser
Congratulations to Our Winner – Shelly Eaglehorse!
We are thrilled to announce that the Living the Mission Award for May 2026 goes to Shelly Eaglehorse! Shelly’s unwavering dedication to the people she supports is a shining example of what it means to truly live our mission every single day.
Here is what the people who nominated Shelly had to say:
“Shelly consistently shows up to work and performs at a high level. Shelly is so beloved by those supported at Valley and greatly respected by her peers. Shelly does a great job of ensuring each individual gets their care needs met and takes the time to make each person feel special. Shelly treats everyone with dignity and respect. Her passion for this field is evident by her actions throughout each shift. Shelly does the right thing, even when nobody is looking. Whether it’s providing personal cares, socializing with the individuals, or performing various cleaning tasks she always seems to give it her all to make a positive impact on those supported.”
“Shelly has been an amazing person to work with. She is constantly going whether it be interacting and spending one on one time with a person supported or helping to make sure that the laundry is done correctly and in the correct rooms. She is always here with a smile, and an encouraging word for everyone around her. I have only been working here for a short time, but I have truly enjoyed working with Shelly and her willingness to always help others.”
“She works so hard. She is always moving and running around making sure everything is done. She is a great person to work with and a great friend.”
Thanks to Shelly and all of the nominees for Living Our Mission and going above and beyond to enrich the lives of those we support. Your dedication is what makes DakotAbilities a place where everyone belongs.