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Chuck Schroeder, Mary Zerkel win MHAPC annual awards
The Mental Health Association of Putnam County conducted its Annual Meeting and Award Presentation Tuesday evening at the Lifebuilder Community Center in Greencastle.
MHAPC presented its "Person of the Year" and "Educator of the Year" awards to the "Heroes in the Fight" against mental illness.
The MHAPC Person of the Year Award recognizes an individual in the community who has shown outstanding dedication to improving mental health and wellness of individuals and families and who tirelessly promotes the mission of Mental Health America of Putnam County. The winner of the award this year is Chuck Schroeder.
Among his many accomplishments, in 1972 Schroeder was the youngest executive director to be appointed to an agency serving individuals with disabilities in Indiana.
"He has taken Putnam County Comprehensive Services from serving 19 individuals to more than 300 and from one county to 26," said MHAPC board member Lucy Wieland as she introduced Schroeder.
Comprehensive Services also recently opened a restaurant, Charlie's Chill and Grill, to train and place individuals with disabilities in a work setting with a hope of it becoming a model for other agencies.
In his time in Greencastle, Schroeder has served on numerous boards, including one that established the sports complex. He was also instrumental in establishing the Men's Softball League in Greencastle as well as raising money to build the baseball diamond at Robe-Ann Park. Currently, he serves on the Cummins Mental Health Board of Directors, Friends of the Park and several other boards and committees in the community.
On a state level, Schroeder volunteers his time with the Special Olympics and is tournament director for the Women's State Special Olympics Basketball Tournament held annually at DePauw, and is the only one in the nation for women.
"Surprisingly, with all the work Chuck has done for individuals with disabilities at the state and local level, people will recognize him most for his officiating of four sports at the local, state and college level," Wieland said.
"In all, Chuck has dealt with a lot of people in all ways of life and the one thing that he holds true is that we are all human beings that should be treated with respect."
The MHAPC Educator of the Year Award recognizes an educator in Putnam County who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the mental health and wellness of children, families and fellow education professionals. The winner of the award this year is Mary Zerkel.
Charity Pankratz had the honor of introducing Zerkel, who spent many years in secretarial positions before realizing her dream of teaching. She moved on to teaching students with emotional disabilities for 15 years before becoming an educational coordinator at the South Putnam School Corporation.
"The individual who has been selected for the Educator of the Year award is someone whose lifetime has been one of learning, serving and educating not only children, but the many adults in her life," said Pankratz.
"Over the years she has been a tireless advocate for students whose lives were less than perfect -- they needed extra time and help to make it through school and she was always there for them and their parents."
Zerkel is known for her dedication and positive attitude both as a teacher and a coordinator. She is known as one who is always willing to help teachers, students and parents whenever a problem may arise. She is a great advocate for special education students and always has the students best interests at heart.
"I have had the privilege of knowing her for many years, first as a teacher and more recently as the coordinator for South Putnam Schools," explained Pankratz. "I can say without reservation that she is among the finest educators I've dealt with in my more than 40 years."