Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, December 5, 1993                   TAG: 9312070257
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV10   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION HONORS 8

Lucille Calhoun of Blacksburg received the Roswell E. Round Award for her outstanding history of volunteerism in the field of mental health. Calhoun's generosity to patients at the state's psychiatric hospitals led to the development of the association's annual "Operation Santa Claus," a holiday gift drive which provides each patient at Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute with a box of individually-selected presents each December.

Loretta Criner of Radford was given the Mattie Lou Smusz Award in recognition of her volunteer work serving people with mental illnesses. Criner founded and coordinates a weekly peer support group for individuals and family members affected by manic-depressive illness. The group began last February with five members and now attracts more than 20 people per session.

Two Blacksburg residents, Sheryl Bolstad and Elaine Keyes-Alfonso, were recognized for outstanding service to the community. The two women, who received the Distinguished Service Award, were the general coordinators and driving force behind the Hand-in-Hand Playground dedicated in October 1992.

Two Pulaski women received the Mental Health Professional Award. Kathy Dobbs and Patti Dotson were recognized for their work in establishing a counseling program for adult survivors of incest. They also made mental health services available to deaf clients in Pulaski for the first time.

Jack Van Curen, minister of the Blacksburg Church of Christ, was recognized as a member of the clergy dedicated to serving the needs of others. He received the Gunner Teilman Award. Van Curen is a long-time member and past-president of the Mental Health Association. He is founder of a Divorce Recovery Support Group and a program for at-risk children.

Sandra Wiedegreen, president of the association, received the Charles H. Johnson Award for outstanding service to the Mental Health Association's board. She is leading the board in its current expansion to serve all of the New River Valley. She was cited for her strong leadership skills, broad vision for growth and profound commitment to the mentally ill.

The award recipients are nominated by citizens with winners selected by the association.