Shirley Hicks of Council Bluffs, Iowa has been selected as the recipient of the Hamilton Relay 2014 Deaf Community Leader Award for the state of Iowa. Shirley has played a large role in many different organizations and activities throughout the state.
Shirley is a graduate and former teacher for the Iowa School for the Deaf (ISD). For 44 years, she shared her love of literature, language arts and Deaf culture with a countless number of students. She is a founder and member of the ISD Alumni Association and is also a member of the ISD Foundation. She has established scholarships, coordinated ISD Homecoming and Hall of Fame, and co-chaired the ISD 150th Anniversary committee.
Shirley has worked tirelessly to ensure the ISD Museum reflects the collective experience and history of all that have walked through the school’s doors. She was instrumental in moving the museum to its current location in the Administration Building on campus. Shirley is in charge of securing volunteers to assist in documenting, displaying and indexing memorabilia that is donated to the museum.
Shirley is a member of the Iowa Association of the Deaf and served as both Secretary and President. Shirley is also one of the first deaf undergraduates to enter the Graduate School at Gallaudet University, and she continues organize university and class reunions. She is a member of the Council Bluffs Silent Club, and was a board member for the Iowa Utilities Board.
Shirley has worked hard to preserve the history and culture of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities in Iowa. We commend Shirley for her dedication and perseverance and are proud to present her with the Hamilton Relay 2014 Deaf Community Leader Award for the state of Iowa.
This leadership recognition has been brought to you by Hamilton Relay.
About Hamilton Relay
Hamilton Relay provides contracted Telecommunications Relay and/or Captioned Telephone services to 17 states, the District of Columbia and the Island of Saipan, and is a provider of Internet-based Captioned Telephone services nationwide. More information is available at hamiltonrelay.com.