Rapid City vocational rehabilitation counselor awarded the 2002 Distinguished Service to College and


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Department of Human Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 9, 2002

For more information: Sheryl Logan, (605) 394-2261

Rapid City vocational rehabilitation counselor awarded the 

2002 Distinguished Service to College and State

(Pierre) The Department of Human Services is proud to announce, vocational rehabilitation counselor Linda Jo Lockner, is this years recipient of the Dakota Wesleyan University's 2002 Distinguished Service to College and State Award. 
 lockneraward

"Linda's commitment to her profession and community is an asset to the Department of Human Services", stated Grady Kickul, Division Director of Rehabilitation Services, a division of DHS.

Each year the Dakota Wesleyan University presents an award to an alumnus/alumna who has made noteworthy contributions to the betterment of the state in which they reside and Dakota Wesleyan University. Betty Oldenkamp, Secretary of the Department of Human Services, was recipient of this award in the year 2000.

Linda Jo [Finley] Lockner graduated from Dakota Wesleyan in 1970 and earned a master's degree from Northern State University in 1974. Linda has lived and worked in Webster, Aberdeen, Eagle Butte, Cedar City and Provo, Utah, and Rapid City where she currently resides.

Linda has more than 25 years of experience in various human services related jobs specializing in employment and training programs. Linda has been a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the state of South Dakota since July of 1998. 

Linda's other accomplishments include:

  • current president of the South Dakota Chapter of the International Association of Personnel in Employment Security;    
  • a current member of the Rapid City Mayor's Committee on Disabilities;    
  • a certified rehabilitation counselor and holds a South Dakota teaching certificate with endorsements in language arts and social sciences;    
  • is in her second year as president of the Rushmore Optimists; and     
  • is a life member of the South Dakota Historical Society.

For more information on this award visit online at: http://www.dwu.edu/alumni. For more information on the rehabilitation services for the State of South Dakota call: (605) 773-3195 (voice) or (605) 773-5990 (TTY) or visit online at: http://www.state.sd.us/dhs/drs/.

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