Award of Excellence

The field of senior care is full of unsung heroes. The Willging Endowment strives to recognize those individuals or organizations who have made a difference in the treatment, care, or quality of services to seniors in both a professional and volunteer capacity. We invite you to nominate such a person or organization for the Paul R. Willging Award of Excellence, initiated and sponsored by the Paul R. Willging Endowment. Presented at the Endowment’s “Area Wide Summit” to be held on September 28, 2017, this award recognizes that individual or organization found to have made significant contributions to improving the quality of life for older adults.

A nominee’s work should meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Demonstrated marked improvements to the quality of health and human services for the older adult;

• brought about change through innovation, e.g., workforce development and training, or strengthened public-private partnerships affecting care for seniors;

• improved delivery systems especially targeted at care for older adults;

• been significantly involved with volunteer initiatives affecting older adults at the community level.

Click here to nominate an individual or organization

Willging Award of Excellence for 2019

Laura Spada, Ed.D

Laura Spada received her doctorate in Educational Leadership in 1988 from the University of Vermont. She has been involved in education at various levels for thirty plus years.  Much of her experience has been implementing and managing technical and academic programs for high school and adult students.  In addition to this she possesses a strong business connection – providing opportunities for businesses to be involved in the development of relevant, effective programs that respond to the changing needs of the workplace.

Her work with workforce development has led to innovative programs within the city of Baltimore, which have benefitted unemployed and underemployed individuals while contributing to the economic development of the state. Dr. Spada was responsible for the change in the  apprenticeship regulations to allow for the inclusion of competency based apprenticeships.  She  designed and won approval for the first Healthcare competency based apprenticeship in Maryland.

Dr. Spada believes that the opportunities to develop career skills are essential to all students as we face the challenges of an ever changing economy, and those skills should match the needs of  the employers.  Her goal is to have an active role in providing these opportunities, while also ensuring that the needs of the employers are met. Laura lives in Baltimore City with her husband.

Willging Award of Excellence for 2018

Judah L. Ronch, PhD

The Willging Endowment recognizes Dr. Ronch’s outstanding leadership in shaping the professional careers of those serving older adults. As former Dean of the Erickson School at the University of Maryland Baltimore County in 2017, Dr. Ronch provided essential organizational support to the Planting the Seeds for Direct Care and Para-Professional Workforce Development Summit. In his long career as educator, author and as Board Chair of the Center for Innovation, he has enhanced the careers of countless professionals by focusing on person centered care for persons with dementia, care-giver education, and critical service delivery issues in the care of older adults.

Dr. Ronch is a nationally renowned expert on improving the treatment and mental well-being of elders. He is Professor of the Practice (2007- ) and former Dean of the Erickson School at The University of Maryland Baltimore County until early 2018 . He earned his BA degree in Psychology from Hunter College, CUNY, in 1966 and his PhD in Psychology from Yeshiva University in 1972. He has published six books, numerous journal articles and professional presentations that include contributions in organizational culture and person-centered care, psychotherapy and counseling with the aged, care of persons with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, caregiver education, and other service delivery issues in elder care.