Northstar Academy Compass Awards
Nomination Packet

Deadline: December 18, 2009

Download Nomination Form (Doc)

Download Nomination Form (Zip)

The Compass Awards Dinner honors 10 leaders for their contributions to the advancement of the special needs community. The general public is invited to nominate an individual or organization in one of ten categories outlined below. Honorees will be celebrated at Northstar Academy’s Compass Awards Dinner on Friday, January 29, 2010 at the University of Richmond, Jepson Alumni Center.

Nominees must reside in Central Virginia and exhibit a high level of professional or volunteer achievement and leadership skills.

Award Categories:

Advocate – Recognizes individuals or organizations demonstrating significant accomplishments in serving as a voice for the special needs community in the state and local government.

Community Building – Recognizes volunteers whose work inspires, motivates and helps others in the special needs community.

Corporate Philanthropy – Recognizes businesses whose giving practices embrace the special needs community.

Education – Recognizes exceptional teachers, either in the educational system, professional training programs or community programs.

Entrepreneurship – Recognizes entrepreneurs who have established successful business ventures or non-profit enterprises that benefit the special needs community.

Outstanding Philanthropist – Recognizes an individual whose outstanding generosity, contribution of time, talent and resources have made a significant difference in the special needs community.

Self Advocate (Ages 14-18) – Recognizes a teen dedicated to advancing the understanding and expression of self-advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Self Advocate (Ages 19+) - Recognizes a young adult dedicated to advancing the understanding and expression of self-advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Service Provider - Recognizes individuals or organizations demonstrating significant accomplishments in providing academic, medical or psychological services for the benefit of the special needs community.

Workforce Support – Recognizes individuals or organizations whose personal or corporate philosophy advances employment opportunities for individuals with special needs.

Download Nomination Form

Click the image below to download Form in Word format.

If you are having trouble downloading these documents, please contact Edilia Bendel at ebendel@northstaracademy.net

Dear Friends:

The special needs community is as vast as the disorders that challenge our children and families. For this reason, Northstar Academy, in coordination with the Jepson School of Leadership Studies’ “Leading Change” Class, is hosting a Special Needs Forum on Friday, January 29, 2010 at the University of Richmond, Jepson Alumni Center. The event runs from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Keynote Address -The Changing Face of Autism
Dr. Fred Volkmar, Autism & Asperger’s Expert & Child Study Center Director at Yale University

Forum sessions and presenters:

Session One
- Autism & Asperger’s – Elementary School Age Child
  Dr. Fred R. Volkmar
- Legal Issues
  Audrey Burges, Strother Law Offices
- Teens, Tweens & Sexuality
  Jessica Baldwin, LCSW


Session Two
- Autism & Asperger’s – Middle School Age Child
  Dr. Fred R. Volkmar
- Brain Development & Executive Function
  Dr. Peter Patrick, Kluge Children’s Rehabilitation Center,
   University of Virginia
- Transition - Life Beyond High School
  Maureen Eberhardt & Juliette Tunstall-Mallory,
  Resources for Independent Living

Session Three
- Autism & Asperger’s – Teenagers and Young Adults
  Dr. Fred R. Volkmar
- Response to Intervention
  Susan M. Trulove, Virginia Department of Education
- Special Needs Planning
  Mary Ellis, Burdow, Bowen & Ellis, P.C.

This event should not to be missed! Given the current economic conditions, the rate for the Special Needs Forum has been reduced to $50 per person. Register today at NorthstarAcademy.net. Space is limited.

Job & Resource Fair

Job & Resource Fair Registration Form

Employers, click the image below to download the job fair registration form in Word format. The file is zipped for faster downloading, please unzip after download is complete.

Employer Registration Form (Doc)

Employer Registration Form (Zip)

Exhibitor Registration Form (Doc)

Exhibitor Registration Form (Zip)

If you are having trouble downloading these documents, please contact Edilia Bendel at ebendel@northstaracademy.net