BALTIMORE, August 22, 2024 – Gwena Herman, who co-directs Kennedy Krieger Institute’s youth adaptive sports program, recently received the Jan Elix Award, a national award from Move United that recognizes the work of a program administrator, coach or organizer to expand competitive sport opportunities for adapative athletes.
Since 1990, Herman, along with her husband, Gerry Herman, has lead the Bennett Blazers Physically Challenged Sports Program at Kennedy Krieger, which includes year-round athletic opportunities for children as young as two. The Blazers’ guiding motto has been to teach kids what they can do before someone tells them what they can’t do.
Many Bennett Blazers have gone on to participate in adapative sports at the collegiate level, and several have participated in Paralympics games, including track and field athletes Daniel Romanchuk and Tatyana McFadden. Romanchuk has won the wheelchair races at the Boston, New York, Chicago and London marathons and is a two-time Paralympic medalist. McFadden, who holds 20 Paralympic medals, is currently the most decorated U.S. track athlete at this year’s Paralympic/Olympic competitions.
“I often tell people I have the best job around as I get to use sports as an avenue to help kids see and reach their potential,” Herman said.
The Jan Elix Award is given in honor and memory of Jan Elix, a dedicated athlete who made an impact as a coach, mentor, national board member of Move United, mentor, and long-standing volunteer.
“Being recognized for my almost 40 years in this field is a great honor. Receiving the award that was established in Jan’s name made it that much more special as I had the opportunity to work alongside Jan,” Herman said. “The adaptive sports world is an amazing community, and lifelong friendships are formed, and Jan was one of those individuals that I thankful to have called a friend.”
Herman received the award last month at The Hartford Nationals, a Move United national adaptive sports competition held annually. For the second year in a row, the Blazers won first place in the team category.
“What Gwena has provided to young athletes through the Bennett Blazers program is simply amazing,” said Brad Schlaggar, MD, PhD, president and CEO of Kennedy Krieger. “The continuing excitement and interest we see around adaptive sports is because of coaches like her and Gerry, and organizations like Move United.”
- To learn more about Move United, click here.
- To learn more about the Jan Elix Award, visit this link.
###
About Kennedy Krieger Institute:
Kennedy Krieger Institute, an internationally known nonprofit organization located in the greater Baltimore-Washington, D.C., region, transforms the lives of more than 27,000 individuals a year through inpatient and outpatient medical, behavioral health and wellness therapies; home and community services; school-based programs; training and education for professionals; and advocacy. Kennedy Krieger provides a wide range of services for children, adolescents and adults with diseases, disorders and injuries that impact the nervous system, ranging from mild to severe. The Institute is home to a team of investigators who contribute to the understanding of how disorders develop while at the same time pioneering new interventions and methods of early diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Visit KennedyKrieger.org for more information about Kennedy Krieger.
