2025 Governor's Ambassador Award Winners
Community Service and Volunteerism Award
Alkeshia Blackmon, Justice and Public Safety Cabinet
Ms. Blackmon has been instrumental in providing guidance, education, and suport to incarcerated and at-risk youth, helping them navigate the changes of re-entry and make positive, lasting changes in their lives. Her approach combines compassion with strategic guidance. She has also worked tirelessly in leading and organizing parent committees,emplowering families to become key advocates in the fight against gun violence.
Ms. Blackmon has helped build a network of support, offering both young people and their families the tools needed to break free from cycles of violence. Her work is a beacon of hope and a testament to the transformative power of mentorship and community support.
Courage Award
Keith Young, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
While traveling on Interstate 65 from Bowling Green to Cave City, Warden Keith Young encountered a motor vehicle that had recently been involved in a serious collision and was fully engulfed in flames. Upon approaching the scene, he observed three individuals lying on the ground in immediate proximity to the burning vehicle, which had caught fire and began to produce small explosions, sending dangerous shrapnel into the surrounding area.
Warden Young moved two of the injured individuals to safety. Upon reaching the third victim, he was able to relocate her to a safer area before using his patrol vehicle to transport her farther away from the flames. Recognizing the ongoing threat posed by the fire and explosions, he strategically positioned his patrol vehicle between the victims and the burning wreckage, providing critical protection to all three individuals until additional emergency personnel arrived.
Warden Young's quick response to persons in need saved three individuals who, without his intervention, would have most certainly sustained serious injury or loss of life.
Customer Service Award
Samantha Burriss, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Recognizing a critical need, Ms. Burriss made it her personal mission to bolster foster care resources in the Buffalo Trace area. Her success is evident in the lives she has touched and the stability she has provided to vulnerable children. This extraordinary dedication underscores her commitment to ensuring the well-being of children in DCBS foster homes, particularly those with higher needs and placement instability.
Beyond her direct involvement with foster families, Ms. Burriss actively engages with the community to raise awareness about the urgent need for foster homes. She regularly participates in community events and engagements, tirelessly advocating for foster youth and inspiring others to consider opening their homes and hearts. This commitment to community outreach is essential in fostering a supportive environment for children in need.
Ms. Burriss exhibits the highest standards of professionalism in all her interactions. She prioritizes teamwork and maintains strong working relationships with local offices and community partners, fostering a collaborative environment that ultimately benefits the children and families she serves.
The Extra Mile Award
Curt Pendergrass and Duane Wilson, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Curt Pendergrass and Duane Wilson have spearheaded a project to re-acquire nuclear gauges that have been abandoned at coal mines around the commonwealth. These gauges were once used in functioning coal mines until these sites were abandoned. In order to keep these gauges from being stolen or mishandled by members of the public, Mr. Pendergrass and Mr. Wilson inventoried multiple abandoned sites around the Commonwealth which were in various stages of disrepair.
Mr. Pendergrass and Mr. Wilson created a spreadsheet of all the gauges and set up visits to each site to evaluate the condition and accessibility of each gauge. They went above and beyond their job duties to identify that these gauges were a possible danger if the general public were exposed to them. Multiple gauges have been identified and will be disposed of in the near future.
Mr. Pendergrass and Mr. Wilson's efforts have prevented these gauges from causing harm to members of the public from being exposed to unintended radiation.
Team Kentucky Excellence Award
Mary Mosley and Katie Stratton, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Mary Mosely and Katie Stratton both work with programming specific to maternal health and parents who have or are experiencing substance use disorders who also have dependent children.
Ms. Mosley works closely with the Office of Drug Policy and the Community Mental Health Centers to ensure programming and services are available across the state that effectively address Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and pregnant women who have substance use disorders. Outside of work, on a volunteer basis, Ms. Mosley also assists women with finding community resources for them and their families.
Ms. Stratton oversees statewide operations of all KY Moms MATR programs. She can also can be found at various locations across the state raising awareness through presenting information about KY Moms MATR programs. This is more than a job for her. Helping pregnant and parenting women obtain long-term recovery from addiction is her passion.
Mary Mosley and Katie Stratton collaborate across departments and agencies to ensure the highest quality of services possible for women who are pregnant and parenting and also experiencing substance use disorder. They go over and beyond to serve the women of Kentucky and their hard work, compassion, passion and dedication improve the lives of women and their children everyday by supporting family attachment and reunification.
Teamwork Award
Kentucky Division of Water Drone Team, Energy and Environment Cabinet
On November 12, 2024, members of the Division of Water (DOW) Drone Team were scouting an area for sampling locations and flight launch areas at Great Crossing Park in Georgetown for a pilot study on thermal data collection and interpretation. Drone Team members Zach Campbell and Sam Sapeta observed that a man had fallen onto the rocks down a 10-foot embankment near a low-head dam, and his dog was tangled in the bushes.
Each member of the team jumped into action: Zach reached the man, observed a head wound, and administered first aid, and Sam contacted 9-1-1 to give the location and condition of the man. Sam also attended to the man's dog, while Team Lead Wesley Turner directed emergency responders to the scene and gave them an incident report.
Their quick response, willingness to help, and First Aid training ensured that the situation had a positive outcome. Kentucky Division of Water employees spend most days conducting field activities to ensure that Kentucky has the cleanest drinking water possible and the Drone Team supports the comprehensive planning and analysis of water quality and quantity on a watershed basis. But when lives were in danger, the DOW staff went above and beyond their normal field duties to render aid.
