ANCOR, the leading voice in Washington for community-based disability services providers, has announced that Minnesota-based Dungarvin has six recipients of this year’s DSP (Direct Support Professional) of the Year award. The Dungarvin winners join a total of 57 standout honorees from provider agencies across the country. This year’s awards garnered 544 total nominations of worthy candidates based on their skills in the following four disciplines: Person-centered supports, Relationships, Leadership and Innovation.
Stephen Kibii, ANCOR DSP of the Year for Indiana
“Dungarvin is so proud of each of our winners,” said CEO Lori Kress, who is also the president of ANCOR’s Board of Directors. “We look forward to celebrating all of the dedicated DSPs for this important recognition representing their incredible professionalism and work ethic. More importantly, we recognize that their collective dedication enables true community inclusion for the people we support in Minnesota and across the country. The supports they provide are an example of the transformative power of community-based, person-centered services.”
ANCOR recognized the following Dungarvin team members as winners:
Victoria Ward, ANCOR DSP of the Year for Wisconsin
- Stephen Kibii, Indiana
- Jene Morris, Oklahoma
- Brenda Olson, Minnesota
- Sampson Walloh, Kentucky
- Victoria Ward, Wisconsin
- Tyler Braden-Babkirk, Innovation Award (Compass Career Services, Washington
Since 2007, ANCOR’s annual DSP of the Year awards recognize outstanding Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who deliver long-term services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
Braeden Tyler-Babkirk, ANCOR winner of Innovation Award
The awards celebrate the important role DSPs play in ensuring people with I/DD have what they need to thrive and be included in the community.
These awards also seek to raise awareness about a direct support workforce in crisis. Inadequate investments in this essential workforce have led to a decades-long shortage of DSPs. These challenges have been exacerbated by significant recent cuts to Medicaid, which funds the vast majority of services delivered by the direct support workforce.
“I began my career as a direct support professional, and so I have witnessed firsthand just how powerful a difference a
Brenda Olson, ANCOR DSP of the Year for Minnesota
qualified and committed DSP can make in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” stated Kress. “Each of this year’s honorees exemplifies what it means to deliver supports that are truly person-centered, and each of these winners demonstrates what it means to be a bridge between people and their communities.”
Barbara Merrill, ANCOR’s chief executive officer, added: “Being recognized as a DSP of the Year is a tremendous honor within our direct support industry. But this year it’s particularly significant given the enormous pool of talented professionals from which our judges had to choose.
Sampson Wolloh, ANCOR DSP of the Year for Kentucky
And the timing couldn’t be better, as funding cuts at the federal level and in many states mean that our nation’s direct support professionals need to be recognized for their life-saving skills now more than ever.”
Each of the Dungarvin winners and the other 2026 honorees will be recognized during an awards ceremony in Boston, MA on Thursday, April 23, from 8:45-10:15 a.m. (EDT) during ANCOR Connect ’26, the association’s annual conference. Members of the press interested in attending the awards presentation should contact Sean Luechtefeld, ANCOR’s vice president for membership and communications, at sluechtefeld@ancor.org or 571-207-9108.
Jene Morris, ANCOR DSP of the Year for Oklahoma
About ANCOR
For more than 55 years, ANCOR has sought to advance the future of supports and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). As the trusted conduit of resources for providers, policymakers and the public, ANCOR enhances providers’ ability to support people with I/DD to be fully included and empowered in their communities.
About Dungarvin
Dungarvin is a family-owned organization that provides services and personalized community-based supports for children and adults with disabilities as well as others in need of supports.
The Dungarvin mission influences its approach to person-centered care: “Respecting and responding to the choices of people in need of supports.” Dungarvin believes each person has their own set of aspirations, goals, strengths, and dreams. Over the past 50 years, Dungarvin has grown to provide supports to over 16,000 individuals across 17 states. Dungarvin’s long and stable history demonstrates its unwavering commitment to quality, reliability, and integrity. If you would like to learn more about the organization, please visit www.dungarvin.com.